My Wireless Router is not talking to me

Winga

Can someone please help me!!

I have an SMC2804WBR (BarricadeG) wireless router.

It was working fine until about 3 weeks ago. Checked the PC's the next morning only to see a red cross through the icon on the taskbar and the message that the wireless connection is unavailable.

The power and WLAN lights are on but all three of my PC's on the network just isn't seeing the router.
Of course with my limited knowlege of networking and computers in general, I assumed it was faulty and sent ti back to the manufacturer for replacement.

My replacement arrived today and it is doing exactly the same thing. Now I'm wondering whether it was faulty in the first place.

I don't know what else to tell you or show you, but any suggestions, requests or ideas will be extremely appreciated

kanezfan

Does it have any wired ports to test it out? I've had similar things happen to me with various brands of wireless routers, don't know why but they seem very flaky at times. There should be a small reset button on the back of it, usually you have to use a pin or something tiny like that to push the reset button. Most times, you turn the router off, push the reset button in and hold it as you turn it back on. Then you would set up the router again and most times that has worked for me.

Winga

Thanks for the tip.

Will let you know if it works

Winga

Okay I have tried everything bar smashing the router with a hammer.
(at this stage that is a very tempting alternative)

The router works perfectly when using the ethernet cables through the 4 ports provided. It just refuses to recognise the wireless connectivity.

Is there a way of conducting a simple test just to check whether the wireless connectivity of the router is indeed working?

Gobbles

Winga wrote:

Okay I have tried everything bar smashing the router with a hammer.
(at this stage that is a very tempting alternative)

The router works perfectly when using the ethernet cables through the 4 ports provided. It just refuses to recognise the wireless connectivity.

Is there a way of conducting a simple test just to check whether the wireless connectivity of the router is indeed working?

There is a program called net stumbler. It will see your wireless if its broad casting.

profdlp

Does "tried everything" include checking the following:

Firewall settings
Encryption settings
Re-running the Wireless Network Setup Wizard
Going through the settings in the router
Manually setting an IP address for one of the computers
Uninstalled any Internet Connection Sharing stuff

There's much more, but let's start with that.

One other thing worth checking since all the computers conked out at the same time is whether a Windows Update "fix" caused the trouble. Go into Control Panel>>>Add or Remove Programs and make sure you check the box marked "Show Updates", then see if there was a Hotfix or Security Update which was installed right around the time things went bad for you. I wouldn't recommend uninstalling anything just yet, but if there is one from around that time let us know what the KBxxxxxx number is.

Hang in there, Winga.

Winga

Thanks for the suggestions prof

I will answer your last query first:

1) I personally do not think the problem is a windows update. Not all the PC's are regularly updated. However the one I use for surfing the net does get all the updates and there are quite a few of them. If all the networked PC's can get affected by a hotfix or security update from the one PC, then I'm happy to check it out. There are no dates next to the updates so it's impossible for me to see when the updated were done.

2) I have no firewalls

3)Encryption settings Methinks if I don't know what you refering to then I have never messed around with them before.

4)This is where it gets interesting.....
When I attempt to re-run the setup wizard, it gives me the following message: "Adapter IP gateway address does not match Wireless Barricde router IP address. Please reset Wireless Barricade for 30 seconds and run setup wizard again."
No matter how many times I press the reset button or how long I hold it in for, it just doesn't want to know my troubles.

Also when I try to uninstall the current SMC wireless PCI adapter in Add or remove programmes, it does not allow it. The uninstall wizard flashes on the screen for a split second, then disappears into oblivion.

5) see number 4. The pc doesn't know the router exists. I think I can do it by plugging an ethernet cable into it, but I know the device is working with that method.

6) Is doing manual settings going to help my PC see the router and how do I go about doing that?

7) I don't have internet sharing enabled.

I know I'm probably missing something obvious. If I can just get a foot in and get something to work I know I will be able to work the rest of it out.
The manual is pretty comprehensive so the setup should be a piece of cake.

Thanks for your patience:)

Winga

The holidays and festivities are over, life has resumed some form of semblance and I am still faced with a crappy router that isn't working.:mad2:

Any suggestions or help at this stage will be appreciated.

I have spent too much money on this setup just to abandon it, and without it some of my rigs won't be able to receive or submit their finished work units.

Thanks!

Qeldroma

Any chance you could have your router pirated (hijacked)? You live in a densely populated area? A place where someone with a wireless set-up could get at your system? If you're not using a firewall or an encryption protocol ... your router may be fair game for anyone with a wireless set-up. If you're not using a security protocol, everything could be available if he/she is familiar with your router. If you've got an experienced hacker, you might want to try the newer WPA since WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) is vulnerable.

If it's possible for you to get attacked, here is what I suggest you do. Read your manual on your router and how to implement the security protocols. For my system it was basically shut down the system and hook up the wire port to your wired network and Reset the unit. Immediately set your security protocol. Once you've done this, you must give the encryption key to your client units.

It's a WAG Winga- but it was my thought when you wrote it down.

Hope that helps

Winga

Thanks Qeldroma

I do have the encryption protocol enabled on my router. Or should I say I did.
At the moment all the fields are grayed out when I open the software, so I can't tell what's enabled.

I doubt very much that anyone in my neighbourhood has hacked into my network. I live in a quiet suburb and the houses are far apart.
The range of my crappy router is really limited. It can hardly reach the furtherest room of my house which is about 25 metres(80 feet) away, never mind the guy next door.

I have spend quite a lot on this setup, so have decided it is worth my while to fork out a few extra greenbacks to get a network expert in to check it for me. If he gets it working, it's going to be far cheaper than replacing the whole setup.

Thanks for your input guys, I will let you know what the eventual outcome is.

Armo

upgrading the firmware would probably do the trick, even if theres not a new version of the firmware, i would *upgrade* it anyway, it will also set it to factory defaults when you do this so of it is software related in the router, that'll do it.

also i dont know if its possible for this to happen but what if your wireless computers were setup for Adhoc? does any one know iof that would effect the communiication to the router itself?

Winga

I have sorted out my problem!! The wireless network is up and running:celebrate

Thanks for all your input and advice guys.

Now I can take the errand PC's out my wife's office and put them back in their respective places around the house. In that way, restoring a modicum of peace and tranquility in the household.:D

profdlp

Aren't you going to tell us how you did it?

Winga

He He do I really have to??

This is going to be embarrasing....:o

I had the encryption enabled on the router.
It was the only real protection I had afforded myself. Somewhere along the line it must have lost or mixed those settings and blocked acess to the network, because it just refused to let the PC's see each other.

All I did was open the security tab and switched the security off.
Suddenly all was revealed

Some good did come from it though. I updated the firmware as was suggested and that has made a vast difference to the range of my router.