Troubleshooting Wireless Devices and Connections to the Wireless Access Point

If you are having trouble installing and/or configuring your wireless network device or you are unable to connect to the The Wireless Web (Log-in Page does not appear when you launch your web browser, etc), follow the troubleshooting steps below to correct the problem. Perform the steps in the order presented (Windows Based Computers).

Step 1. Verify Device Recognition and Proper Driver Installation

The First Step in troubleshooting your connection problem is to verify that your computer is recognizing the wireless device and that the driver software is installed properly. Follow the steps below to confirm these settings:

A. Click the Start button and select Settings>Control Panel.

B. Double-click the System icon.

C. Click the Device Manager tab (In Windows 2000, you will need to select the Hardware tab followed by the Device Manager button).

D. Inside the Device Manager window, click the "+" mark to the left of the Network Adapters listings. The name of your wireless device should be listed. If your device does NOT appear in the list, proceed to the letter "E". If yours does appear in the list, proceed to the Letter "F".

E. If your wireless network device does not appear in the Network Adapter list, do the following:

1. Inside the Device Manager window, click the Refresh button. If your device then appears in the Network Adapter list, proceed to letter "F". If the device does not appear, perform the stem below.

2. Power down your computer, remove the wireless device from its current slot, and re-insert it

3. Reboot your computer, and perform letters "A-D" again. If the device then appears in the Network Adapter list, proceed to the letter "F". If the device still does NOT appear in the list, you will need to uninstall and re-install the software driver before proceeding.

F. If your device is listed in the Network Adapter list, click on it and select the Properties button.

G. A Properties window will appear. Check under Device Status and confirm that the following message is displayed: "This device is working properly". If this message is displayed, proceed to the letter H. If the message is NOT displayed, you will need to uninstall and re-install the software driver before proceeding.

H. Click on the Resources tab. Check under Conflicting device list to identify if there are any existing conflicts. If a conflict is NOT reported, proceed to letter "I". If a conflict is reported, you will need to uninstall and re-install the software driver before proceeding.

I. Click the Start button and select Settings>Control Panel.

J. Double-click the Wireless Device icon.

K. The wireless device Properties window opens. Check that the name of your wireless device is displayed under the Socket Status tab. If the name of your device is NOT listed, you will need to uninstall and re-install the software driver before proceeding. If your device is listed, click OK to close the window and proceed to the letter "L".

L. Click the Start button and select Settings>Control Panel.

M. Double-click on the System icon.

N. Click the Device Manager window, click the "+" mark to the left

O. Inside the Device Manager window, click the "+" mark to the left of the Wireless Device listing. A Wireless Device should be listed.

P. Highlight (select) the Wireless Device, and click on the Properties button.

Q. Check under Device Status and confirm that the following message is displayed: "This device is working properly". If this message is displayed, proceed to letter "R". If you do NOT receive this message, the socket controller is not loading automatically. You will need to contact your computer manufacturer to troubleshoot the problem.

R. Click on the Resources tab. Check under the Conflicting Device List to determine if there are any existing conflicts. If no conflicts are reported, proceed to the next step of this troubleshooting document (Step 2). If a conflict is being reported, you will need to uninstall and re-install the software driver before proceeding.

Step 2. Check the Network Settings of your Wireless Device

In order to connect to the Wireless Access Point, your wireless device’s network settings must be configured properly. If you have completed step 1, above, and you are still unable to connect to the Wireless Access Point, your next step is to verify the network settings (configuration) of your wireless.

The network settings (configuration) of your wireless device must be as follows:

· SSID / ESSID Setting (network name): thewirelessweb

Note: the network name is case sensitive and must be entered exactly as shown above.

· Network Type or Network Mode: Infrastructure

· Encryption Type: Disabled

The Procedure for setting the network parameters of the wireless devices varies depending on each devices manufacturer. For specific instructions on how to configure your wireless device and/or check its settings, refer to the manufacturer’s documentation supplies with your wireless device.

Step 3. Check Your Signal Strength and Link Quality

Almost all wireless network devices have monitoring software, which measures the strength and quality of the wireless signals. If you have completed troubleshooting steps 1 and 2 above, the next step is to check the strength and quality of the signal.

The procedure for checking the signal strength and quality varies depending on each devices manufacturer. For more information on how to use your particular devices monitoring software, refer to the manufacturer’s documentation supplied with your wireless devices.

NOTE: When troubleshooting, it is always a good idea to move as close as possible to the wireless access point. This will help eliminate poor signal strength and/or quality as the cause of a connection problem.

Step. 4 Check your Web Browser Settings

If you have completed steps 1-3 above, and you are still unable to communicate with the Wireless Access Point, the next step is to check the configuration settings with your web browser. With your web browser open, check the following:

a. Select Tools>Internet Options>Connections>LAN Settings.

b. In the LAN Settings, make sure that none of the options available are selected (no check marks). If any of the options are selected (check marked), de-select them and click OK.

c. Exit your web browser, and then re-open it. If the problem is corrected, the The Wireless Web Log-in Page should appear. If the problem is not corrected, proceed to the letter d.

d. Select Tools>Internet Options>Connections

e. Under the section of the window entitled, Dial-up and Virtual Private Network Settings, make sure the option "Never Dial a Connection" is selected (if selected properly, a black dot will appear inside the circle to the left of the option.

f. Exit your web browser, and then re-open it. If the problem is corrected, The Wireless Web Log-in Page should appear. If the problem is not corrected, proceed to step 5.

Step 5. Release and Renew Your IP address

If you have completed steps 1-4 above without success, the next step is to release and renew your computer"s IP address. Follow the steps below based on your computers operating system.

Windows 95 / 98 / ME Users a. Press the Start button and select Run. Type winipcfg in the "Open:" field and press OK. An IP configuration window will appear. b. Select the name of your wireless device from the drop down box at the top of the window. c. After selecting your device, click the Release All button at the bottom of the window. d. Next, click the Renew All button at the bottom of the window. Click OK. e. Open your web browser (if your browser was already open, close it and then re-open it). If the problem is corrected, the wireless Log-in Page should appear.

Windows 2000 and NT Users a. Press the Start button and select Run. Type command in the "open" field and press OK. When the command prompt appears (C:\>), type the following bolded commands in the order shown: i. C:\>ipconfig/release-all ii. Press the enter key. iii. C:\>ipconfig/renew-all iv. Press the enter key v. C:\>exit vi. Press the enter key. b. Open your web browser (if your browser was already open, close it and then re-open it). If the problem is corrected, the Wireless Log-in Page should appear.

Step 6. Confirm the Installation of the TCP/IP protocol.

In order for your wireless device to communicate with the Access Point and the Internet, you must have the TCP/IP protocol installed and "bound" to your device. If you have completed steps 1-5 above without success, you will need to confirm the installation of the TCP/IP protocol.

To check your devices TCP/IP settings, do the following (Windows Based Computers Only):

a. Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel

b. Double click on the Network icon (for windows 2000, click Network and Dial up connections>Local Area Connections>Properties).

c. Highlight the name of your wireless device, and click the Properties button (for Windows 2000, confirm that "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" is listed in the components used box. If it is not listed, click the install button and proceed to step #5 under letter "D").

ii. d. Click the Bindings tab. Confirm that TCP/IP->(name of your device) is listed and that a check mark is present (skip this step if you are using Windows 2000). If TCP/IP is not listed, you will need to install it before your wireless device will work. Follow the instructions below to install the TCP/IP protocol:

i. Go to the Start>Settings>Control>Panel

ii. Double Click on the Network icon

iii. Click the name of your wireless device, and click the Add button

iv. Select Protocol and click Add

v. Under “Manufactures”, select Microsoft

vi. Under “Network Protocols,” scroll down and select TCP/IP. Click OK

vii. TCP/IP protocol is now installed and available for your wireless device to use

Repeat letters A-D above to confirm proper installation and binding.

If you have done all of the above email support@bglug.net