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?

[Tuffers1875]

Red light flashes continually if I plug the Ethernet into the LAN. Nothing connects when the cable is connected to LAN at all.

[Jayach]

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@Tuffers1875 wrote:

Red light flashes continually if I plug the Ethernet into the LAN. Nothing connects when the cable is connected to LAN at all.

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I think we are having terminology problems here.

WAN is Wide Area Network, and is the input connection to the router from the ONT (Optical Network Terminator)

LAN is Local Area Network, and is the output from the router to your Ethernet connected local devices.

[Tuffers1875]

Thanks for the reply. You have now solved the problem I have when I plug the ONT to a LAN port.

[Jayach]

But, are the laptops seeing the Vodafone SSID's?

[Tuffers1875]

The laptops are not seeing the Vodafone SSID's when I'm trying to connect via Wi-Fi. I keep the laptops in another room to the router. I don't need internet on them much because I do my internet stuff on my iPad. I haven't looked into seeing if they see the SSID when I'm connected via Ethernet as it's a ballache moving them from one room to another. I haven't got a battery in the one and it has to be connected via a mains lead.

[Jayach]

They won't see the SSID when connected to Ethernet, any more than when they are not.

Now you have enabled compatibility mode you will have two SSID's, they will be the same but one will have _extra on the end. That is the one that should be more compatible with older devices.

If you get a Wi-Fi analyser from the App Store for your iPhone or iPad you should be able to see all the SSIDs and the channels they are using. Unfortunately there will be lots of other info. and you may find it overwhelming.

[Cymroffyddlon]

Evening all, I’m having exactly the same problem as Tuffers1875:

Dec 2nd Full Fibre 500 with WiFi 6 router installed. All devices except laptop connected up and working no problem.

Toshiba Satellite laptop running Windows 10 does not see router on WiFi. Compatibility mode button is on. Laptop connects and runs via Ethernet cable no problem. After much discussion and setting changes with Vodafone techies, a manager has acknowledged that there are a number of laptops that will be incompatible with their WiFi 6 router. Their only offered solution now is to allow me contract release without termination fees. However………if any of you guys can suggest a solution I’d be keen to listen.

[Jayach]

Did you check to see what channel the 2.4GHz band is using?

[Cynric]

@Cymroffyddlon A usb WiFi dongle may sort out the laptop rather than change your broadband.

[Cymroffyddlon]

Just had one delivered, driver free 600mbs dual band HAL Wi-Fi usb dongle £6.45 from Amazon . Plug and play and works a treat. Thx for the suggestion. I might also however try @Jayach s suggestion regards checking the channel the router is using. I’ll update if good news. Thx all