Wi-fi Troubles

[Ryan Z]

Hello all.

I currently am using a Dell B130 Laptop with a Dell Wireless 1370 Mini-PCI card.

Anyway, I have no trouble connecting to most free, open-access networks. This is never a problem.

However, the Wi-Fi in my school office never seems to work. This network is free for students; it is open-access, and without WEP. To tell the truth, I connect every time I am in the office, and my wireless settings tell me the signal is strong. Everything appears to be fine, except when I actually try to connect to the internet through, say Mozilla. I am given an error message telling me the server is unavailable.

I have been troubleshooting this for a while. I tried changing my group name, resetting the router, checking my IP address, repairing the wireless card, and just about everything I can think of.

Incidentally, I can connect to other networks in the same range while I cannot connect to this one. I have been leeching bandwith from another network until now; suddenly, today, the other open-access network disappeared.

Does anyone have any idea what may be the problem? I think it may be something easy. I use McAffee Anti-Virus and Firewall, but I have no trouble accessing other networks. Another student using a laptop supposedly accessed this Wi-Fi without trouble.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-ryan

[TheTROLL]

Sounds a bit unlikely... if it doesn't work, how do you KNOW it isn't encrypted?

[Ryan Z]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds a bit unlikely... if it doesn't work, how do you KNOW it isn't encrypted?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because the directors of the program have told me it's not encrypted, and it doesn't show up as encrypted when I view wireless networks. I really have no clue on this one.

[Freakin]

You could try chaning the channel or SSID

[Ryan Z]

Oh, and I´ve been looking at the wireless networks recently through Netstumbler, and for some reason the channel number is listed as 11*. I´m not sure what the asterisk means. Additionally, the SSID doesn´t show up under the SSID list, for anyone familiar with Netstumbler. It shows up under a different network which requires a WEP key. Any takers now?

[TheTROLL]

Well, it sounds increasingly like you've been given wrong info and it's WEP encrypted (the * means it's a network you're "associated" with). Can you check the setup of another PC that successfully accesses it?

[goldtoes]

Sounds more like they might have a proxy address for internet access. Check with the Network Admin and get the IP. Then in IE or FireFox just go to your Connection settings and enter it there.

gold

[IndyGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and I´ve been looking at the wireless networks recently through Netstumbler, and for some reason the channel number is listed as 11*. I´m not sure what the asterisk means. Additionally, the SSID doesn´t show up under the SSID list, for anyone familiar with Netstumbler. It shows up under a different network which requires a WEP key. Any takers now?

[/ QUOTE ]

I just purchased this laptop for my parents, and when setting it up, I connected it to my (WPA-PSK, TKIP, non-broadcast SSID) wireless network. After running netstumbler, I was seeing the same problem with not accessing websites via IE/FF.

A reboot did the trick. Not sure why running netstumbler causes the havok, but I believe it does something with the NIC driver (perhaps putting it in promiscous mode). Reboot after each time running netstumbler.

[niss]

I am sorry that I am not tech-savvy enough to give you a good explanation ... but there is a problem with Dell network cards and their failure to connect to some networks. I did a lot of searching on the net for an answer/resolution, and have not been able to find one. I will be going tomorrow to get a new card and stop using the Dell one that came with my laptop. I don't believe there is another fix.

[niss]

Follow-up -- bought a Netgear card this morning, installed, and am on the network which I couldn't get on yesterday no problem. In summary: Dell cards SUCK.