wireless network adapter

[Tequila Sunrise]

ok, using an Actiontec USB 802.11b adapter to conect to the router supplied by my ISP, Sky broadband. The adapter is detecting the router which is only 10ft away yet when promted to conect informs me i am out of range. The instructions for both the Adapter and Router state that when atempting to conect I should be promted for the Netwrok key however there is no promt, I am simply told I am out of range....
The tech help at sky were more or less useless asking me to conect with an ethernet cable which isnt long enough to bridge the distance from router to PC.. somehow couldnt get them to understand that bit...

anyone have any ideas?

[ozzy72]

Okay things to check;
Signal strength?
WPA keys?
Security settings?

[Mazza]

Okay things to check;
Signal strength?
WPA keys?
Security settings?

And how far the router can pick up signals( if it's cheap )

[ozzy72]

Err that would be signal strength

[Tequila Sunrise]

antivirus off, firewall off (temporarily of course) and range should be up to 100m.

been onto Actiontec about this as well and theyve been sending me after options menues that dont exist  :-?

really not fond of this wireless business, are wires really that awful lol  ;D

[Wingo]

I've had a similar prob with a ISP supplied router myself. The problem with mine is it came pre-configured to channel 3, which had some interference on it stopping me from connecting. The symptoms were the same as what you are describing. To fix it you need to temporarily move either the router or computer so you can connect via Ethernet. Access the routers configuration page and find the wireless settings. Change the channel to 11, this is apparently the channel which gives you the largest range and reception. Save the settings, move you devices back to where they were and give it another try.

[Tequila Sunrise]

thanks but I've already tried that, it was preset to 11, also tried 1, 3 and 6 same result as 11.
Bought a new adapter today so going to give that a shot and if it still isnt working then I'm blaming the router.

[Tequila Sunrise]

got it working intermitently, and lost what little faith I had in wireless systems, after having to reconnect every 2 minutes...
looking for an extremly long ethernet cable now  8-)