Wireless networking made easy

By Alex Kidman on 19 July 2006

When things go wrong
So, you've followed the tutorial, installed all the necessary hardware, and yet your PC has about as much Internet connectivity as a week-dead ferret. This can be frustrating, but there are several avenues of support open to you.

Firstly, you should check to see if you're able to connect to the wireless router itself -- most routers use a web-browser based approach to configuration, found in the installation manual. If you can connect to that but not the Internet itself, it's an issue with your connection -- check that all your settings are entered correctly.

If you can't connect to the router itself at all and can detect no nearby wireless networks, try moving the PC closer to the router (if practical - easy with notebooks, hernia-inducing for some desktops) to see if you can detect the router. If you can, then you may need to invest in an additional wireless access point or a more powerful wireless antenna to further propagate your signal. If you're in an area with heavy wireless competition, you may need to change the channel you're using to broadcast your signal on -- this can have a profound effect on signal strength.

If for whatever reason you end up with a router that just plain won't talk to anything and you've somehow totally messed up the settings, you can in most cases reset the router back to its factory defaults. On most routers there should be a small pinhole button -- your product manual should direct you where -- for resetting the router. A small press will just reboot, but holding the button down for a good five to ten seconds will normally reset all the router's settings, at which point you can safely start all over again.

Topics: broadband, networking, wireless, home, setup, wifi, route, connection, wep, configuration

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Comments (6)

  • Davo commented on 24/09/2009 20:32 Report abuse

    Can anyone reccomend an easy to use wireless router that will connect to my PC via my DSL modem.
    I need one that plugs in and works without the hours and hours on the phone to support who cant help me set up their on product. please help

  • Davo commented on 24/09/2009 20:27 Report abuse

    Dont buy Netgear. You need to be an IT expert to install it and when you have difficulties the support cant help either. After 2.5 hours they suggested I return the product to the point of purchase. An absolutely useless product for the average user and useless support.

  • DPogo commented on 02/09/2009 08:02 Report abuse

    The wireless connection for WiFi at my work shows connection and connectivity on my laptop but my browser (firefox) wont connect to any page, I keep getting the "Address Not Found" screen saying firefox can't find the server. Is it my laptop or my business' WiFi settings?

  • vicky commented on 26/04/2009 05:26 Report abuse

    thanx budd

  • stilldizzybizzylizzy1964 commented on 05/03/2008 22:24 Report abuse

    THE ARTICLE WAS EASY TO READ, THANK YOU.
    I AM ABOUT TO SET MY FRIENDS LAPTOP UP TO THE INTERNET. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I WILL DO THIS AS WHEN MY PC WAS SETUP TO THE INTERNET A FRIEND DID THIS FOR ME AS I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO AS I WAS A NEW USER. NOW THIS IS THE SAME FOR MY FRIEND.
    MY FRIEND WANTS TO GO WIRELESS BUT YOUR ARTICLE STATES THAT 2 COMPUTERS ARE NEEDED?
    COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I MUST DO TO SET MY FRIEND UP WITH HER INTERNET CONNECTION?
    THE ISP WILL BE BIGPOND.
    IF I CANNOT SETUP WIRELESS THEN WHAT DO I NEED FOR ADSL?BROADBAND, EQUIPMENT ETC?
    PLEASE I WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT FOR MY FRIEND AND PROVE TO MYSELF THAT I CAN DO THIS.
    I WILL BE MOST GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SUPPLY TO ME REGARDING MY QUESTIONS.
    THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
    KIND REGARDS.
    CHEERS!!!!!
    Elizabeth Bruinsma {aka} Liz
    PS. Not sure if this is my username but its the only one I have written down in my Computer Diary logbook.

  • TonyT commented on 27/02/2007 08:09 Report abuse

    Thank goodness for a simple self explanatory networking setup
    Thank you

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