[Solved] WLAN connection problem on Compaq

[Moby]

Hi. I have a weird problem. My Compaq Presario CQ61 (Win 7 home premium) sees all wireless networks available except mine.

Basically, my network doesn't show up in "available connections" list when you click the connection icon in the systray.

Sometimes, if I reboot, it will initially connect (at this point my network does show in the list), but then fairly quickly loses connection (at this point my network has dissappeared from the list). More than often than not, it doesn't even try when rebooted. I've even tried it in safe mode.

It will connect via lan cable with no problem.

SSID is transmitting by the way.

 

I also have a Samsung 200B (Win 7), a Fujitsu (Win XP) and an old IBM Thinkpad (Win XP), all of which connect with no problem.

I also have two network media players, a wireless printer and an Android phone, all of which also connect with no problem.

 

I have tried all the usual things such as power cycling everything and SSID is turned on. Recently I took the Compaq and Samsung away with me and both had no problem seeing and connecting to my girlfriends network.

The same if I take the Compaq to a friends house.

 

It used to connect ok, probably up to about 6 months ago. Nothing has changed on the network since then. It's driving round the twist.

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

Try turning your firewall off - then try connecting again.

[Moby]

That was one of the first things I tried.

[Moby]

Any other ideas? Anything appreciated.

[KenB]

Hi sorry for the late response - I have been away for 4 days.

 

Start ....type in ....devmgmt.msc .....ENTER

Click the > next to Network Adapters.

What is listed?

Any yellow exclamation marks ?

 

Use the cable to connect and right click on the Wireless Adapter > update drivers

Let Windows do this automatically.

[Moby]

Hi Ken. I've also been away for a while.

Thanks for the reply. Realtek Lan controller and Atheros AR9285 WiFi adapters show up with no problems.

I have to connect by cable when I'm using it and I've tried updating the drivers a number of times, both by letting Windows do it automatically, and by searching for Atheros drivers and updating manually. Nothing seems to work.

As I've mentioned in my original post, what confuses me is that it has no trouble finding and connecting to any other wireless network, but it doesn't even "see" mine. And yet, all my other wireless devices have no trouble at all.

Just to mention, I've been through all the usual things, checking adapter settings, Wlan security settings, firewalls etc.

[KenB]

it doesn't even "see" mine

This could be explained if the router was set to disable "broacast SSID"

However -

all my other wireless devices have no trouble at all.

If other devices can see the network this is odd ???

 

Check in the router settings ( I assume you know how to access the router software ? )

Check that the channel number is either 1 / 6 / or 11

If it is higher than 11 the pc may not be able to "see" the broadcast channel for you to connect to it.

 

Try changing the channel number anyway [ use 1 / 6 or 11 ]

[Moby]

Sorry to be negative Ken but SSID is broadcasting and I've already tried changing channel numbers (sorry I didn't mention that).

Mind you, having said that, it's on channel 12 at the moment. I thought that was an ok one but I'll change it and see what happens.

[Moby]

Well ken, you've hit the nail on the head. Changed to channel 11 and voila, it's connected. All this time and that's all it was. You learn something every day.

Many thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[KenB]

Changed to channel 11 and voila, it's connected

Sometimes it is a simple fix :)

Good to hear that you are now able to use the internet.