Need help with wireless connection...

Question

I just got an Inspiron lap top and the only thing I need is to connect it to the internet. I have  DSL network at home using a Linksys Broadband  Router. So my question is how do I get connected? I've read the manual but have no idea what it is talking about. If anyone can help me I will appreciate it very much. Thank You.

Mutt26 · Answer

The connection here in my house is like this, the wireless broadband router is connected to a box called Speed Stream which is connected to the main computer and the main computer is connected to the telephone line. Now the second computer which is the one I use the most is connected to the wireless router via a USB network adapter. Now as far as I understand is that wireless info is sent via radio frequencies or something like it. Now could it be that the reason Im not able to pick any signal for my laptop at all in order to connect is because I may need an adapter or something like it??? P.S. I'll look into the rest of the stuff you mentioned. Thanks.

volcano11 · Answer

Is your router a wireless router? If you open Network Connections, right click your wireless network and select View Available Wireless Networks, does your router show up there? If it does, what happens when you select it and then click on the Connect button?

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Which model Inspirion is this?  Did it come with a wireless network adapter?  If you open Network Connections, does a wireless connection show up there? Steve

Mutt26 · Answer

It's an Inspiron 6000. No it did not come with a wireless network adapter. When I open the Network Connections there are 3 icons, one Local Area Connection with an X, Wireless Network Connection with an X and another with four numbers followed by Connection. This last one says connected, firewalled, then four numbers followed by Net Adapter.

Mutt26 · Answer

Hmm that's the thing my router doesn't show up. Even if it did how would I know which one it is, perhaps it shows up as Linksys or something like it.

volcano11 · Answer

If the wireless connection shows up in Network Connections, then it means you have a wireless network card in your computer. It wouldn't show up there if there wasn't a wireless card in your computer. If you right click the wireless connection and select "View available wireless networks", does your router show up there? If it does, select it and then click on the Connect button.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

The router will show up with its default name, unless you have changed it. Linksys is the default name for Linksys routers. Netgear for Netgear routers. It's always a good idea to log into your router's configuration routine and change the name so that you can recognize your own network.

Steve

Mutt26 · Answer

Hmm thank you very much Steve! So how do I log into the router configuration and change its name?? I mean just in case! :smileywink:

volcano11 · Answer

For Linksys routers, on a computer that is connected to the router by ethernet, you open a web browser and type http://192.168.1.1 into the address bar. On the username and password screen you leave the username blank and the password should be admin, unless you changed it. It should be easy to find where to change the name once you are in.

Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Need help with wireless connection...

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