Does anyone know about wifi connection, I have problem...

[Davincimath]

Hello, I'm Davin from Long Beach, CA. Birthday October 7th, 1988

Yes, I was wondering if anyone could help me resolve some issues I have with the DWA 130 USB Adapter. I just bought it yesterday at Office Depot.

The good news is that I can see wireless availability to choose from, e.g. the library has free wifi; and I could see the name of the wifi connection on my laptop. By the way, I have an A30 IBM Thinkpad, XP SP3, 256Mb ram, etc. But see that's the problem, I cannot connect to it.

First of all, my IBM laptop already has a built in minipci/infrared port for wireless connection. So, I do not know if enabling both on at the same time, the dlink and the built in wireless would be a problem.

Moreover, I bought this DWA 130 USB Adapter because I wanted to reach an area further in distance in wireless signal. Even if I could get FREE wifi connection, I still have a problem connecting to it, like when I was at a local library with free wifi pass, or Starbucks, etc. SO, if you didn't catch that, Wink, I can double click or connect to a wireless name or choosing from the wireless LIST, it'll show up that it's connecting, but it'll take just a tad long, and that when it's finished TRYING TO CONNECT, the TRYING TO CONNECT fails, and it fails all the time so far.

I'm not sure if it's the product in itself which would conflict with the built in wifi, or, something, like I have two antivirus program running in secret at the same time, and I have my fire wall turned off. Friends say that the fire wall turned on would be a problem, or that and the two antivirus program...

If it's a driver's update thing, I've tried long and hard to look for a driver's update, but most of the websites are untrusted or invalid...

If you can help, thanks for helping. Like seriously, I'm about ready to return the product. Undecided

[ausmike]

Hello Davin.....

welcome to TP world!!! ......

Ok wireless , not sure what model of TP you have? a model number and Model type be nice to determine what (if any) WIRELESS CARD you have 'built-in" you laptop.

There are a few "known problems" with A30 TP models when it comes to installing LAN CARDS ..... here is one link that might be wise to read...
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/MiniPCI_slot
Also please search this website for other pple who have reported issues with 'A300 wireless' .... you will see lots of results ,,,,,,,,

Also , if you have another WIRELESS (i assume a USB donggle and not a big fan of DLINK) , it would (for sure) confuse the builtin wireless card in your LAPTOP.

Normally , you can hit - FN + F5 Buttons (hold Fn and F5 buttons down at same time) and you will see a MENU appear. In that menu - you can 'switch off the built in wireless card. Than you can use (you might have to reinstall the APPS from DLINK) the USB wireless donggle ONLY. Follow the instructions of Dlink CD you got .....

And things should be good ....

Hope this helps ,,, and good luck

[gb_ibmguy]

Yes, it would help us if we knew the exact model number of your A30. But in the meantime, just a few thoughts.

I've got several A31p's all with built in A/B wireless cards. I disabled them in device manager because they don't support any advanced security and then just installed PCMCIA cards
I've had great success using PCMCIA wireless adapters. Right now, I'm using Linksys dual band N cards. I've also used D-link's and Belkin's 'G' cards with no problems.

I'm not a big fan of USB adapters in these unit's the placement of the USB slots makes them prone to getting whacked. And don't forget, the USB's in these A3x machines are only USB version 1 not 2. Make sure your dongle is backward compatible.

AFAIK, the Fn-F5 sequence doesn't work on the A3x units, at least it doesn't work on any of mine.

Good luck

[ausmike]

Ooops my bad ,,, you are SO right ....

sorry about Fn + F5 on A3x dont work ,,,,,was late (earlynighter... which is dangerious ....... but was awaiting words of friends from peru ..... saddest events > good thing they ALL OK >>

Sorry again

[Davincimath]

Well, I don't know but...Hmm, I think found the solution, a friend at Office Depot helped me with my IBM Thinkpad A30 computer, even though it's an old computer, he still managed to help. HE said that there's nothing wrong with the usb and software in itself. The problem is connecting to someone else's wifi, I somehow may not be able to connect to their router since perhaps others are trying to do the same, like at starbucks, or the library, etc. And it's some other issue with the router too, I'm not really too sure. But if anything, let me know what you know, please, because I think the solution is keeping my adapter, and buy an antenna so I could get longer range from my home to some other place.

Funny, because my friend Brian at office depot said that there are antenna that can reach from Long Beach to the LA convention and somehow get connection. But in any case, if you have any thoughts on this please. I think the ipconfig /all, is probably too personal?

[Bruce Guttman]

Does the Wireless you are trying to connect to have a WEP code protection?

Generally when I'm in a new location i will create a new connection with a name. For example, I have a Home connection, a Work connection, a Hotel connection when I'm staying at a hotel with free WiFi, a Subway connection (the local Subway has free WiFi, as does Starbuck's; but I don't use Starbuck's).

When I go to each location I first do a SCAN (it comes either from Windows or the software for your USB Dongle) and look at the networks found. If one has a little key symbol on it, you will need an access code. If there is no key symbol you can try to log in.

Warning: I have found unprotected wireless networks that require you to log in with an account. If that's the case, unless somebody will give you the information to log in you are out of luck.

Hope this helps.