Inspiron 9300 and wireless network

If you go to View Available Wireless Networks, does your wireless network show up in the list?  Have you set any security settings on your router, like hiding the SSID, enabling MAC address filtering, or WEP or WPA encryption?  If so, try removing the security settings until you can get a connection.   Do you have any firewalls installed that may be blocking network access?  Can you make a connection through a wired ethernet connection, just to see if your computer can connect?

Steve

Yes I am using WEP, 13 characters text, hiding SSID, and MAC Filter.  You are correct.  I need to troubleshoot the security settings.  I can connect to pretty much everyone else in my building without any problems.  Have you had a similar problem to mine?  What was the cause?  Thanks.

Funny, I was doing everything you just said and it wasn't working.  I now have it working with just MAC filter.  Which I guess for the time being is secure, but I'll continue to troubleshoot.  Thanks for your help.  Do you know anything about "Key Select" and a specific Keys Position within firewalls and their configuration on systems trying to access them?  In other words do I have to tell my laptop what position in the listing the Key in the firewall is they are supposed to be using?  Wow, I am confusing myself now.....

If you have hidden the SSID, then you will have to enter it in the configuration of the wireless network properties box.  If you have MAC address filtering enabled, then you have to enter the MAC address of the new network card in the allowable MAC address list in the configuration of the router.  If you have enabled WEP, then you have to enter the hex key into the wireless network properties box.  Note that if the router and the wireless network adapter are from different manufacturer's then the hex key is required, you cannot use the pass code.

Steve

I have no idea what you are talking about in terms of keys in a firewall.  What model router is this?

Steve

Jurjose:

I have the 9300 with Intel Pro wireless adapter and it behaves wonderfully.  I'm connecting to a Linksys WRT54G router, SSID is not being broadcast, 128bit WEP.

There are 4 keys generated on the router numbered 1-4. I specify one of those keys and indicate this on the laptop when setting up the wireless connection.

-Mike

 

Thanks for the replies.  After two days of struggling with this I think I figured out a solution.  I was using Windows to configure my wireless network connection.  However, once I switched to using the Intel Pro Wireless software to configure my wireless network connection everything works great.  I am using Hidden SSID, MAC Filtering, and WPA instead of WEP.  Whats the difference anyways, between WEP and WPA-??  ? 

 

 

I just got my new 9300 today and the wireless connection keeps fading in and out and dropping off... I've tried all the things I've read here... except I'm not sure how to disable the xp wireless part and only use the cards settings.   Any instructions on how to do that?  Sounds like I basically have to start over with my router settings.  Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.  Steve

Thanks.... I have the built-in Intel PRO/wireless 2200 card... I'll go in there and see if I can find what you're talking about on the windows portion of the network setup.  Other than this, I love the laptop and I'm sure I'll get this worked out.   This is strange tho... One second I'll have an "excellent" connection and the next, it'll be disconnected.  If nothing else, I'll try a PCMCIA network card.

Actually I spoke too soon.  I thought I fixed the problem, but now its cutting in and out again.  Originally I thought it may also be my router, but all other wireless systems on my network work great.  Its just the Inspiron 9300.  Um....I guess at this point I am ready to return the item because I have done all I can do.

Oh wait, while I was typing this email(using a wire) it connected back to my wireless network.  That means I can actually go into the other room for 2 seconds until it disconnects again. 

Hey, atleast I won't be out of shape any more.....

How do install the other software (so that Windows doesn't manage the wireless settings)?  I have a 9300(just got it a few days agao), basically I do like it except I can't connect to our home network printer via IP.  I can ping to it, I just can't print to it!!:smileytongue: