Merry X-mas??

Question

First post, but anyway. I have been racking my brain (and a few friends of mine) all day on how to get my router and my card in my new Inspiron E1705 to work!!

The Wireless Router is a U.S. Robotics - USR8054 802.11g Wireless Turbo Router.
My dad ordered the best specs he thought I would use for the Inspiron and the Wireless card is a Dell Wireless 1500 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card.

Now, maybe I'm a bit slow, but do the 802.11(LETTER) have to match for the wireless card and wireless router to work? If so, what would be the easiest solution if my dad already has a computer with an external wireless card?

((sighs)) Thank you in advance for any help. This has been a hectic holiday.

Bobmitmen · Answer

No...you do not have to match letters.  I have the Draft N card in my 1505 and use it with a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router.  The card is actually very good at being backward compatible with both G and B.  Just connect to the router and you will see it run in G mode.   Bob

NemesisDB · Answer

You should upgrade to the latest drivers here: http://ftp.us.dell.com/network/R140747.EXE   Make sure the firmware on the router is current as well.   Lastly, this patch may help:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

NemesisDB · Answer

'N' really isn't a standard yet (and is only a 'draft' as of recently).  N devices are supposed to be capable of working with 'G' devices (at 'G' speeds) though.   Firmware is basically the internal software for your router.  The procedure for updating varies by brand and I've never used a USR router.  Usually if you log into the router's web GUI you will have an option to upgrade the firmware by directing it to an upgrade file you have previously downloaded onto your computer.  The procedure is low risk though, as with any firmware or bios upgrade, there is a small chance of bricking your device.   The USR page for your device is here I believe:   http://www.usr.com/support/product-template.asp?prod=8054   It seems that teh most current firmware is 1.67b44 -- given that this was released in April of 2005, you may already have it installed.  Be sure to follow USRs instructions -- particularly related to resetting to factory defaults both before and after the upgrade.

CollegeKid19 · Answer

Okay. These are the only things I know how to do.

That USR8054 is mine. The other's must be my neighbors or something. But, mine is strong because I'm only in the next room over from the router. And I've used wireless in that room before, so I don't think that's a problem.

What is a problem is that the other "Wireless Network Connection" doesn't even recognize that there is something.

So, I choose USR8054 and I click Next.

Nothing new really, so I hit Next.

Now I hit connect... It closes out and... nothing happens.

Just thought I'd give someone a visual if they needed it.

Message Edited by CollegeKid19 on 12-29-200603:36 PM

NemesisDB · Answer

windows has a utilizy to manage wireless networks called Wireless Zero Config (WZC).  Dell also has one.  The problem is, you're trying to use the windows utility when the Dell utility currently has control of the card.  Either one is fine to use, you just need to pick.  To try using the dell utility, click on the icon in the lower right hand of your screen that looks like a signal bar graph (small bar, bigger bar, bigger bar, etc).  I've never used the dell utility, but I believe that icon is it.

CollegeKid19 · Answer

How do I upgrade my 'firmware'? I'm not exactly sure how, but I am installing the patches/upgrades or whatever you told me to. So, thank you for explaining how to help. The Dell technician couldn't help me online, so. Thank you! Also, the letters do NOT have to match for my router and card to work? Again, the card is N and the router is G. I have learned, by reading, that G and B can work together, but N and G can work together as well? Thank you both for your time!

CollegeKid19 · Answer

Okay. So I think my firmware is the same as what you just said. And I updated my drivers. And all that. So, now what do I do? Because I don't have any idea.

NemesisDB · Answer

I've never used the dell utility ...  is there an option to disable it and let windows take over anywhere?

CollegeKid19 · Answer

Is this how I disable the Dell Wireless thing?? I circled it using my paint skills. Hah. Anyway. Yeah... am I getting closer?

CollegeKid19 · Answer

Okay, that's what a friend of mine was trying to say.

But, how do I disable one or the other?

Technology is so frustrating.

So... when I hit connect for the USR8054 and try to Connect it doesn't do anything.

NemesisDB · Answer

looks like that should do it.  try the windows screen you had up before (the one that said it was being controlled by something else) and see if you can use it to connect.   I have messenger but won't be able to use it till later tonight when I'm at home.

CollegeKid19 · Answer

Okay, so I did.

And that's what it was. Thank goodness. It notices that it's there. And it's the strongest signal (again, the others must be my neighbors.)

So, I highlighted it and hit Connect.

And after it pulled up that mini-box. And started "connecting", but... nothing happened. So... now what?

Again, thank you for all the help!

CollegeKid19 · Answer

Would this help any if I showed you this? It is showing that it can't connect to the wireless connection for some reason, but that it is trying...

NemesisDB · Answer

when that has happened to me in the past it usually indicates an incompatibility of some sort between the client and access point.  you don't appear to have any security enabled on the AP so that rules out a lot of issues.  i assume that you're absolutely sure that you don't have mac filtering enabled on the router?   the next step, in my opinion, would be to check the wireless settings on the AP and on the card, and change them to ensure more compatibility.  This would involve things like disabling any speed extentions on the router and possibly forcing the card into G only mode, if that's possible.  I'm not sure what options USR offers -- you'd need to log into the router's web GUI and take a look around.  Same goes for the wireless card -- check the advanced tab in the driver properties and see what's there.

CollegeKid19 · Answer

M'kay. I started to mess around with the things I understood under the Advanced Tab, but still nothing. If you could say one way or the other, which do you think is the problem... The wireless card or the router?

My guess is the router, because it seems to me everyone is saying that my card is fine, but it's having trouble connecting with the router.

That and it's a new PC with a new card.

So, should I pack up the old router and convince my dad we need a new one?

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Merry X-mas??

Was this post helpful?