Laptops Can't See Router

[Tuffers1875]

Hi, first post. This problem is really puzzling me. LAN won't connect to anything but WAN connects to everything apart from my laptops. My laptops can see other networks in the area but my Vodafone doesn't show at all. I can connect my laptops to the internet via an Ethernet cable. 

I had big issues connecting my printer wirelessly but somehow I managed it in the end.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is?

[Cynric]

These laptops; what operating system do they run? Have you got anything in the house using WiFi? Have you got a WiFi scanner app on a mobile device to see what, if any, signal is coming from the router? Have you tried a factory reset on the router? 

[Tuffers1875]

Hi Cynric, the laptops are Windows. We have 3 iPhones, 1 iPad, TV, printer, PS5 etc all connected to the WI-FI. I'm not tech savvy so no I haven't tried using a scanner. I wouldn't know how to do a factory reset.

LAN doesn't give a signal to anything and the red light on the router flashes constantly. WAN gives a signal to everything apart from the laptops. The router is not visible at all on them but loads of other routers in the street are visible.

[Cynric]

@Tuffers1875 There should be a small hole next to the power button on the router. Insert a stiff blunt wire, say an unfolded paperclip, and push the recessed button holding it for 10 seconds. The router should restart but all your configuration will be reset, so backup your settings first unless you have left the router at its default settings.

[Tuffers1875]

I've done that. Several times.

[Jayach]

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@Tuffers1875 wrote:
Hi, first post. This problem is really puzzling me. LAN won't connect to anything but WAN connects to everything apart from my laptops.

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This comment really has me puzzled too.

You later say you can con connect your laptops over Ethernet.

Ethernet is the LAN (as is the Wi-Fi), the WAN is the connection to the ONT (assuming you are on Full Fibre)

Have you tried compatibility mode in the router?

[Tuffers1875]

Hi, I'm on full fibre. I've just gone in to the router's settings and enabled compatibility. Vodafone is still not visible in the available networks. There is one network that is called 'Hidden Network' I tried to connect to that just in case it was mine but it failed to connect.

[Jayach]

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@Tuffers1875 wrote:
Hi, I'm on full fibre. I've just gone in to the router's settings and enabled compatibility. Vodafone is still not visible in the available networks. 

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O.K., so the next possibility is that the router is using channel 12 or 13 for the 2.4GHz band, and your laptops are 2.4GHz only and not caple of seeing those.

So check the router under Status&Support, and scroll down to see what channel it is using,

Main Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz

Status On

Name Vodafone

MAC Address 0A-C7-F5-97-E6-xx

Security WPA2-PSK-WPA3-SAE

Channel 8

[Cynric]

Only in the last few days someone reported a similar situation and they fixed it by getting a USB WiFi dongle. Perhaps this may be the answer again?

[Jayach]

Yes, but they were using an old dongle previously, I find it difficult to believe a laptop's internal Wi-Fi would have the same problem.

@Tuffers1875 How old are these laptops, and are they Windows 10 or 11?