Connecting To A Router?

[Chaos]

Apologies if this topic has been posted before, I'm new here.

I cannot use my mobile broadband as the signal is so poor despite the website stating a good coverage. I'm well out of the return period and thought I would just use it with my router instead. However I simply cannot get the internet. Is there some software blocking usage? It's a Dell Inspiron 1010, it finds my router but won't connect to the internet. I'm currently in discussion with Vodafone to see if I can be released from this waste of money contract but no luck so far. Can I sell the netbook at the end of contract? There's no system restore so I don't know how I would return it to factory settings.
I'm so disappointed with the whole thing :angry:

Thanks in anticipation.

[DPH]

Are you connecting to the router via Wi-Fi or via an ethernet cable? You may have to change the LAN settings on your browser. If you connect it up and open a command window (Start, Run, then type cmd into the box and press enter), type ipconfig and see if you have picked an IP address up on the ethernet port/wireless. If you have an IP address are you using internet explorer, firefox or a different browser?

[Chaos]

Are you connecting to the router via Wi-Fi or via an ethernet cable? You may have to change the LAN settings on your browser. If you connect it up and open a command window (Start, Run, then type cmd into the box and press enter), type ipconfig and see if you have picked an IP address up on the ethernet port/wireless. If you have an IP address are you using internet explorer, firefox or a different browser?

Hi, I'm trying to connect via Wi-Fi. I don't know if I have an IP address. I have internet explorer on the netbook. Will try what you suggest thanks. I'm not very techie, sorry!!

[Chaos]

PS is there a way of resetting it to factory settings/ I've checked other forums and it looks tricky for the Dell but no clear instructions.

[DPH]

Not sure about the factory settings, but i'm sure one of the administrators will know that one.

Regarding the Wi-Fi, when you search for available wireless networks can you see yours? If you can see it but still can't connect to it then there is a possibility that there is an access list on the router stopping you connecting to it, do you have access to log onto the router? If so what make router is it?

[Chaos]

Not sure about the factory settings, but i'm sure one of the administrators will know that one.

Regarding the Wi-Fi, when you search for available wireless networks can you see yours? If you can see it but still can't connect to it then there is a possibility that there is an access list on the router stopping you connecting to it, do you have access to log onto the router? If so what make router is it?

Hi, yes I can see my network and I have my network key. But when I put it in it says that Windows can't configure the connection. Router is a Belkin N150. Thanks

[DPH]

Next question, is it WPA, WEP, AES-PSK encryption that you are using? I know on one of my routers I have to enter the actual network key and not the passcode (the WPA key is 25 digits from memory). If you look on the underside of the router you should see a label with the information how to log onto it, it may have an IP address like 192.168.0.1 or give you a URL like http://routerlogin.net, it should also have the username and password (which you should change the password to something memorable as the default password is normally "password" or something simple). If you can log onto the router see if you can find an option for an "Access List", if there is an access list set up it might be the router that is refusing the connection because it doesn't recognise the MAC address of the wireless card in the laptop.

[Chaos]

Next question, is it WPA, WEP, AES-PSK encryption that you are using? I know on one of my routers I have to enter the actual network key and not the passcode (the WPA key is 25 digits from memory). If you look on the underside of the router you should see a label with the information how to log onto it, it may have an IP address like 192.168.0.1 or give you a URL like http://routerlogin.net, it should also have the username and password (which you should change the password to something memorable as the default password is normally "password" or something simple). If you can log onto the router see if you can find an option for an "Access List", if there is an access list set up it might be the router that is refusing the connection because it doesn't recognise the MAC address of the wireless card in the laptop.

Thankyou, I will try this and get back to you.

[Retired-Adam_V]

Apologies if this topic has been posted before, I'm new here.

I cannot use my mobile broadband as the signal is so poor despite the website stating a good coverage. I'm well out of the return period and thought I would just use it with my router instead. However I simply cannot get the internet. Is there some software blocking usage? It's a Dell Inspiron 1010, it finds my router but won't connect to the internet. I'm currently in discussion with Vodafone to see if I can be released from this waste of money contract but no luck so far. Can I sell the netbook at the end of contract? There's no system restore so I don't know how I would return it to factory settings.
I'm so disappointed with the whole thing :angry:

Thanks in anticipation.

Hi Chaos,

Welcome to the eForum you've come to the right place and we'll do everything we can to help you out. I've actually got the Dell laptop myself and I know from experience that there is nothing preventing you from accessing WiFi networks with that laptop. It sounds to me there's either an incompatibility with the Belkin router (which has been known with various manufacturers) or your settings aren't quite right yet.

Thanks to DPH for the sound advice that's definitely worth a try and you might have some luck with this. If at all possible I'd recommend trying to turn off your encryption temporarily to see if you can connect and then build up the security settings from there.

Also, in regards to ownership of the laptop, when you reach the end of your contract you will have complete ownership of the device. The same rules apply to mobile phones bought directly from us when the contract expires

Let me know if you have any joy and we'll do all we can assist.

Thanks,

Adam
eForum Team.

[Chaos]

Hi Chaos,

Welcome to the eForum you've come to the right place and we'll do everything we can to help you out. I've actually got the Dell laptop myself and I know from experience that there is nothing preventing you from accessing WiFi networks with that laptop. It sounds to me there's either an incompatibility with the Belkin router (which has been known with various manufacturers) or your settings aren't quite right yet.

Thanks to DPH for the sound advice that's definitely worth a try and you might have some luck with this. If at all possible I'd recommend trying to turn off your encryption temporarily to see if you can connect and then build up the security settings from there.

Also, in regards to ownership of the laptop, when you reach the end of your contract you will have complete ownership of the device. The same rules apply to mobile phones bought directly from us when the contract expires

Let me know if you have any joy and we'll do all we can assist.

Thanks,

Adam
eForum Team.

Thankyou, I've been out all day so will try and sort out later tonight. I've looked at the bottom of the router and there's a pin number but no username or password.

Will report back.