| The wireless network in my house went haywire. | | | | can't ping a site on the Internet, the problem is |
| It worked on three PCs, one had a horrible | | | | most likely with your ISP.Have a cordless phone? |
| connection, and one can't connect. Between | | | | Some cordless phones disconnect wireless |
| Hubby and me, we spent a lot of time | | | | connections while you're using it. Stupid, but it |
| researching and trying to figure out the problem. | | | | happens. I have one that does just that and |
| We narrowed down the possibilities few by doing | | | | another that doesn't mess with it. Aggravating. I |
| tests. Hubby is the network king in our house and | | | | wanted to return the phone, but it was a "no |
| I learned a bit in working with him. In fact, I | | | | return" phone. If I had known it would mess with |
| solved the problem... temporarily.I believe the | | | | the wireless, I would have never bought it. So I |
| wireless on the router is bad. It works fine when | | | | learned that the next time I buy a phone, to |
| we hook miles of cable to it (I've tripped over | | | | check to see if it will kill the wireless or not.Ensure |
| them, knocked things down, and chased after a | | | | configuration is correct. Check the router's manual |
| toddler who grabbed one.). I'm tired of looking at | | | | to complete this step.Try changing the channel. If |
| the cables, so we're contacting the maker of this | | | | that doesn't work, change the SSID (aka name) |
| router as well as hunting for deals for a new | | | | and the channel. If your wireless' SSID is |
| wireless router with g (as in 802.11g). | | | | "Wireless" and is on channel 5. First, try changing |
| Here are some of the tricks and troubleshooting | | | | the channel to 11 or anything other than 5. If that |
| tips I've learned in playing with the router:Look at | | | | doesn't work, then create a new SSID like |
| how many computers can connect and how | | | | "Router" and pick a channel, any channel. It never |
| many can't. This tells you a story. If all of them | | | | hurts to reboot the router after each change, |
| don't work, then the problem is most likely the | | | | although when making changes to it, it resets |
| router itself. Maybe it needs a simple hard reset. | | | | itself. This step is what got our network working |
| Try a soft reset first (turning it off and back on). | | | | again. |
| If that doesn't do it, do a hard reset following the | | | | |
| instructions for your router. Mine required holding | | | | The process for changing it depends on your |
| the reset button while turning it off and back on | | | | router. For mine, all I had to do is enter its IP |
| and not letting go until about a minute after | | | | address (200.200.1.1, for example) in the browser, |
| turning it back on.If no computer wirelessly | | | | enter the ID and password, and I am in. It's |
| connects to the network, check to see if the | | | | similar to a software or application screen. Enter |
| router still works by connecting to it with a cable. | | | | info, select drop-down boxes, and click buttons to |
| If it works here, you know the router is still alive. | | | | change / save. |
| It doesn't necessarily mean the wireless is dead. | | | | Another good thing to know is to point your |
| Obviously, if your router is strictly wireless and | | | | mouse over the wireless icon in the system tray. |
| not dual like mine (cable and wireless), this won't | | | | It provides basic information about your wireless |
| work. Instead, you can test by bypassing the | | | | connection. It provides information on the SSID, |
| router and plugging your LAN cable directly into | | | | speed, and strength. The blacked out part in the |
| the DSL/Cable modem.Do a little pingin'. It could | | | | image is where the SSID is located. Also, get |
| be the ISP is down and not a router problem. | | | | more information by right-clicking on the icon and |
| Open a command prompt window (Start > Run > | | | | selecting "View Available Wireless Network" or |
| type "cmd" > hit Enter) and type "ipconfig /all" | | | | "Open Network Connections."You may have WEP |
| and you should get a response back with your IP | | | | turned on. This secures others from using your |
| address, subnet mask, default gateway and other | | | | wireless because it requires a password. If it's on, |
| items. What you are looking for is the IP address | | | | verify each PC has it enabled and the correct |
| of the "Default Gateway." | | | | password or passphrase. |
| At the command line, type "ping | | | | This is a handful of what you can do. Other |
| XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX" where XXX = the numbers | | | | options are more detailed and complex. But this is |
| listed as the Default Gateway. For example, my | | | | a good start and will help eliminate a majority of |
| default gateway address is 192.168.1.1, therefore, | | | | possibilities.Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven |
| I would type "ping 192.168.1.1" If you get a | | | | behind meryl's notes, eNewsletter Journal, and |
| response, then your router is working. Next, try | | | | The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC |
| to ping a site. You don't need to know the IP | | | | Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. |
| address. You can ping by Web address. For | | | | She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, |
| example, type "ping and you should get a | | | | content, and process needs. The native Texan |
| response with the ping times from an IP address. | | | | resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of |
| That IP address is Marqui's. How did your | | | | Dallas, and doesn't wear a 10-gallon hat or |
| computer know this? Through DNS (Domain | | | | cowboy boots. |
| Naming Service), but that's another topic. If you | | | | |