Netgear wireless issues

[Tr!une]

Have a client with a Netgear MR814v2 router. Three computers (all XP) need to connect through it. Right now I have a desktop with a MA111 USB wireless device that is working great. A laptop that works when using hardwire but not its own wireless adapter, but does work with the USB. Now I have another laptop that does not work with a separate MA111 USB adapter.

All SSIDs are auto, WEP is disabled and I have the router locked down to the three devices using the MAC. I tried changing the connection in IE, tried running the Connection Wizard and have messed around too long. Turned the firewall on/off. I have not tried the XP hotfix Q815485 yet.

What might I be missing? I haven't dealt with much wireless yet, but all the settings appear to be the same as the machine that works. Any tips for a lost techie?

Thanks

[NooNoo]

Which bit doesnt work?
The drivers won't install?
The usb ma3111 can't see the wireless router?
The wireless sees the router but gets no signal?
The wireless gets a good signal but is not showing as connected?

[Tr!une]

all the machines see the router, I can ping it and the signal strength is good to excellent. The device (in the network control panel) shows connected, but I can't get to the internet using that medium.

[NooNoo]

And you have used the internet connection wizard, setting it to connect through a lan, making sure that no proxy or automatic settings boxes are checked?

[Tr!une]

Did that today. No dice. The one laptop I just tried to setup today had a persistent MSN dial-up prompt too. I may end up nuking that because it kept taking over even though I set IE to never use a dial-up. But yes, I tried the IC Wizard using the LAN and removed proxies.

[Gollo]

Have a client with a Netgear MR814v2 router. Three computers (all XP) need to connect through it. Right now I have a desktop with a MA111 USB wireless device that is working great. A laptop that works when using hardwire but not its own wireless adapter, but does work with the USB. Now I have another laptop that does not work with a separate MA111 USB adapter.

All SSIDs are auto, WEP is disabled and I have the router locked down to the three devices using the MAC. I tried changing the connection in IE, tried running the Connection Wizard and have messed around too long. Turned the firewall on/off. I have not tried the XP hotfix Q815485 yet.

What might I be missing? I haven't dealt with much wireless yet, but all the settings appear to be the same as the machine that works. Any tips for a lost techie?

Thanks
double and triple check your mac addresses. You might even want to disable everything until you can get all systems on and THEN starte locking down the ap/router. Cheers.

[Tr!une]

I may do that. I got ambushed today as I stopped at noon to look at one problem and they had another laptop they wanted on the network. Perhaps with more time I will start over from scratch.

Thanks Gollo and Noo Noo.

[tommo6666]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere on some board or other.

Do the device channels need to match, if they're different the devices will see each but not talk. or something like that, allegedly.

[MobilePCPhysician]

XP firewall on? Can you ping outside? ie: yahoo.com? On the wireless side, set a specific ssid, and setup all machines for it.

Using Xp's setup? Don't. Use Netgear's software to setup.

[Tr!une]

double and triple check your mac addresses. You might even want to disable everything until you can get all systems on and THEN starte locking down the ap/router. Cheers.

Okay, well all is working now. The client went and bought another USB adapter by D-link and put it on the Desktop. That worked fine too. But for the Netgear they called the Netgear tech support who suggested using a Static IP. That solved the problem with the laptop that needed the USB. And then I went over to solve the issue on the laptop with the internal WiFi NIC. And it worked first time!

So I am thinking the Netgear USB adapter and the internal WiFI NIC were trying to grab the same IP. The only change was setting the USB to x.x.x.5 and suddenly the internal NIC works (it is grabbing .2) This internal NIC has always worked when the client took the laptop home on her WiFi network. Does Netgear have an issue with DHCP and other brands of WiFi cards?.

Anyway, thanks for the tips. All is working.


PS. I was actually impressed. The client went into the Netgear setup on the router and added the MAC address for the new D-link. I don't wanna lose business, but I like to see people understand and work their own products.

[Gollo]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere on some board or other.

Do the device channels need to match, if they're different the devices will see each but not talk. or something like that, allegedly.
No in a managed network (ap - client). The channels only have to be the same in an ad-hoc network (peer-to-peer)