Can connect through wired, not wireless

Question

I have an Inspiron 1501 with a WLAN 1390 mini-card, connecting to a Netgear 814v2 router.  I get an excellent signal according to both Windows and the 1390 panel, as I am sitting right next to the router.  I can see the computer on the Netgear panel, so it appears I am 'connected' as the laptop see the router and the router sees the computer.  However, I get a 'Can't connect to the preffered network' message at startup and the wireless icon has a red x next to it.  I can connect to the same router via a wired connection and I can connect to the neighbor's network using the wireless - no problem.  This tells me, my mini-card is working and there are no IP conflicts, etc. as I can connect via the cable.  One more thing, I tried using a Netgear WG111v2 USB adapter and I can't connect with that either.    For some strange reason, I just can't access the internet using a wireless connection with this laptop on this router!  All virus scan and firewalls have been disabled and WEP has been disabled until I figure this out.    Finally, I downloaded the latest driver (R151519) for the mini-card thinking that might help, but the Harward Update Wizard keeps telling me it could not find a better match, even though the currnent driver is more than a year old (10/12/2006 version 4.100.15.5).   If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it.  Thanks.   Botch

volcano11 · Answer

The latest drivers are at:   http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R151517&SystemID=INS_PNT_1501&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=9805&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=9&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=5&fileid=202136   Don't use the update wizard (you should know by now that Windows wizards aren't very smart).   Just download the file and run to install the drivers.   As for not being able to connect to your network, it sounds like you have some kind of security enabled on the router.  Are you sure you didn't set it up with MAC Address filtering or some kind of encryption?   Steve

Papabing · Answer

I have the exact same problem. Were you able to get it fixed? What did you to to get it to recongize the Dell Wireless LAN card? I just got the computer today and have been stuggling with this same problem for 2 hours. Please help!

Papabing · Answer

Botch, I downloaded the latest driver for the wireless card and it didn't make any difference. And your right I have one other laptop that works fine with my router itis something deffinaltely with my new laptop.   Larry

botchagaloupe · Answer

Thanks for getting back to me.  SPI Firewall Disabled check box is checked and Authentication Type is set to 'Open' and 'Encryption Strength' is set to disable.  No firewall, no encryption, no filtering that I can find on the router admin panel.    Four other computers and an XBOX 360 use this router, so there is something specific to this laptop the router doesn't like.   I'll try updating the drivers and see if that helps.    Thanks again.    Botch

botchagaloupe · Answer

Not yet.  Still working on.  Sorry.   Botch

botchagaloupe · Answer

Try taking your laptop to Starbucks or somewhere where there is a free wireless network and see if it works.  In my case, I don't think its my laptop as I can connect to other networks.  There is something going on my latop and my router or perhaps my ISP.  You might have the same issue.    Botch

botchagaloupe · Answer

I found a post from Kyle1050 posted on 06-30-2006 in the 1390 Forum.    http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_wireless&thread.id=21492&view=by_date_ascending&page=1)   All it required was that I change the Wlan 1390 Antenna Diversity from Auto to Aux and I am up and running.    Click the link above for the full thread or below is the excerpt that helped me:   I finally found the problem and fixed it, without help from dell support. It turned out to be the internal antenna. In Windows, go to Device Manager, open properties for the 1390 card, go to Advanced tab, select Antenna Diversity. The default value is Auto. If I change it to Aux, the card can connect to the router very quickly and maintain a stable connection. If I change it to Main or Auto, the card has trouble connecting to the router and if it does connect, the connection is unstable, and also the sensitivity is very poor. It can detect much fewer hotspots than using Aux. This has nothing to do with the position of the router.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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