Cant connect laptop to internet

[essjay]

OK... bear with me....

We have a PC that is connected to the internet through a netgear router via our adsl modem.... Just as the instalation cd told us to do..... All working brilliantly NO PROBE THERE.....
We got the router so we could have my laptop connected via a 'wireless' network card which we purchased.... It's a SMC network card....
Well the guy at the shop did all of the installation etc and he tested it and he was able to connect to his network to test it out.... All good.... the network card picked it up straight away.....
So i get home and turn the laptop on and the little icon says disconnected.....
I rang the guy at the shop and he said that it should automatically detect the router and connect.... Mmmmm!!!
I open up the card manager program and it's like dutch to me....
I understand the SSID and passphrase... I know those.... but i am thinking it should be configured possibly??!! and i don't know how to do that....

the router is definately working cause i'm typing this....LOL!!!! it's configured correctly via the 'wired' pc but it's the wireless connection i'm having the problem with.....

Does anyone have any suggestions?... I'm ready to throw it out the window.... *sobbing*

[essjay]

Here is all of the info i have....

Router: Netgear 54 Mbps WGR614 v7
2.4GHz 11 Mbps Wireless Cardbus Adapter :
SMC Networks. Model no. SMC2635W

I'm running WindowsXP (pro) SP2

There is not a lot of phone support for SMC products in Australia and when i rang Netgear they could not help me as the card is not one of their products.....

As i said before my current connection(pc) is 'wired' through the router without any problems....

Thanks in advance... x x

[johnwill]

Try configuring the router with NO encryption or MAC filtering, then see if you can connect. You can add the encryption in as a separate step if you get it connecting without it.

[essjay]

You are spot on....

I did this whilst i was waiting for a reply and searching for answers.... I understand you are so busy, so thankyou for the speedy reply...


I disabled all of the security on my router and my laptop connected...
I also reinstalled the software for the network card just to make sure but it wasn't that as i still couldn't connect, so when i went to my router login via my pc and disabled everything as you said..... whoo hoo!!!
Obviously i want to configure this so i can be on the internet safely.
If you could help me do that i would be so grateful....

Thank you so much x x

[johnwill]

This is for the same router, but a slightly older hardware board, but I'm guessing the screens will be the same: http://www.portforward.com/english/r...4/wireless.htm

[essjay]

thanks for your help....

I havent explained myself properly and im sorry for that.... I appreciate your time and understand how busy (and in high demand you must be)

I dont have a problem creating a SSID and passphrase on the router.... This is the easy part....
How do i configure network card to access the internet via the laptop? (which is wireless)
IT is a SMC card (exact model is in my second post)....
It wont connect cause is says that the network i am trying to connect to is encrypted and when i think i have entered everything right it does nothing....
Would you know how to set up the card so it knows the SSID and passphrase?.......
i have tried to find something via google but i cant find anything or simply dont know where to look.... i have read the manual but as i am all new to this 'networking' it's just not clear to me....

thankyou so much again.....

[johnwill]

You need to first remove any existing wireless profiles on the laptop, and then create a new connection. It will ask you for the passphrase for an encrypted connection. For a new connection, you will select the wireless network after searching for available networks.

Note: If you're using WEP, use ONLY the hex key options, do not use the passphrase option, many brands of WiFi convert the same ASCII into different HEX keys.

[essjay]

Gotchya!.... Done....

Thank' mate....

Cheers x