usb wireless adaptor won't auto detect

**Brownfloaty** · March 30th, 2003, 06:52 AM

I've just purchased a new linksys wireless access point router and two of the linksys usb wireless adaptors. I have the router working, but I can't get either of the usb adaptors to auto detect. I've tried them on two computers running xp and two different computers running win98. I've tried using the control panel detect new hardware and it shows nothing. I've tested the usb port with other usb devices and it functions normally where it auto detects right away. On both of the usb adaptors the power led lights up when connected to all 4 computers. Am I missing something here or is it possible I managed to pick up not one, but two dud adaptors?

**Whir** · March 30th, 2003, 07:34 AM

Do the adapters come with software, or an installation program? Sometimes (in my experience) USB stuff won't show up unless you use the prop. software to install the hardware. Typically that involves starting the software install, and then waiting until it asks you to plug in the USB peripheral. Something to try anyway.

**M_Six** · March 30th, 2003, 08:23 AM

Your router or access point must be in broadcast mode. For security reasons you'll want to kill that after the adapters find the network, but in order for them to detect it initially, the broadcast feature must be on.

**Brownfloaty** · March 30th, 2003, 08:27 AM

Yep, all the software installed correctly.

I fiddled with them a little more and swapped the usb cord around then tried plugging it back into my laptop running xp and now amazingly they are working. I can't imagine the usb cables ends were directional for the adaptor and computer, or somehow it took the xp to initalize the adaptor for the first time. Just glad it's working now.

I'm getting a good signal and writing this right now on the xp laptop. I still need to do some tweaking for the win98 desktop... It's recieving an excellent signal and is connected to the router but i'm not able to access the internet. I think my network protocols might be off. I have the router set up default everything with wep off at the moment, so hopefully a reinstall of the protocols will fix that.

So far my first wireless experience is good even if it's taking some work to set up.

**Brownfloaty** · March 30th, 2003, 09:11 AM

Ok... So I have the wireless usb adaptor connected to my win98 desktop and am recieving an excellent signal from my wireless router. The router is setup totally open in the default mode with wep off. I have 3 adaptors installed in my network control panel: dial up, ethernet, and this new wireless. For each of those adaptors I have 3 protocols: ipx, netbui, and tcp/ip installed.

What am I missing that is keeping me from connecting to the internet?

**M_Six** · March 30th, 2003, 09:44 AM

You should probably try disabling the ethernet adapter. Your PC is trying to use that to get to the internet. I have a PC at home that refused to use the wireless adapter until I disabled the ethernet card.

**Brownfloaty** · March 30th, 2003, 04:55 PM

M_Six, Thank you! It was the ethernet card keeping me from connecting. My new wireless network is up and running like a champ now.

**M_Six** · March 30th, 2003, 08:06 PM

Piece-o'-cake.

99.9% of the time when I know the answer, it's because I've dealt with the problem myself.

**Brownfloaty** · March 31st, 2003, 02:59 AM

Ok, new twist to the plot... I've got wep 128 enabled and ssid broadcast disabled. I've got the usb wireless adaptor hooked into my laptop running xp.

I can't get the laptop to connect unless I go to the router settings and enable ssid broadcast, then I can punch in my 26 digit wep key and it works.

I've tried configuring the wireless settings for the network on the computer by entering the 26 digit wep key into the settings but the laptop still doesn't see the router unless ssid broadcast is on.

I have the data encryption wep box checked. Network authentication unchecked and "the key is provided for me automatically" unchecked.

**M_Six** · March 31st, 2003, 08:30 AM

I take it the wireless USB adapter on the laptop is a Linksys adapter? Does the same adapter work ok on a workstation with broadcast disabled?

**Brownfloaty** · March 31st, 2003, 08:12 PM

Yes, it's a linksys usb adaptor and I havn't had the chance to grab a wireless card for the laptop yet so I just unplugged it from the desktop and plugged it into the laptop.

The difference between the two systems is the desktop is running 98 and laptop xp. The desktop has no problem with broadcast disabled. I can shut the system down and start it up and it finds my router no problem.

The laptop with xp can only find the router if I first enable the router to broadcast the ssid.

I'm sure i'm missing something in the xp setup on the laptop but I can't figure it out. I've punched the 26 digit key in correctly a couple times and played with a few of the other settings but can't seem to get it to work right.

**M_Six** · March 31st, 2003, 09:33 PM

Excuse the twenty questions, but I want to make sure I have this right. If you leave the USB adapter plugged into the laptop and turn it off, then turn it back on, the laptop cannot find the network? Or are you disconnecting the adapter and then reinstalling it?

**Brownfloaty** · April 1st, 2003, 06:05 AM

No problem at all on the questions, I appreciate any help I can get.

I've been doing some reading this evening by microsoft and it looks like the problem I am having is definitly because of xp. More specifically, Windows wireless zero configuration (wzc). The article I was reading is here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811427

and here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tre...guy/cg1102.asp

"All access points must broadcast their SSID to identify themselves to potential clients that are in the area. Disabling SSID broadcasts on an access point is not considered a valid method for securing a wireless network."

Leaving broadcast ssid on solves the problem I was having and according to this article it doesn't help me with security anyhow. So I guess I can leave it on and not worry?

"If there are no preferred networks in the list of those available, the WZC service attempts to configure connections to the preferred networks in their configured order. This is done in case the access points for the wireless network are configured to prohibit the beaconing of their network name (SSID)."

From this second quote, It sounds like (wzc) should be finding my network when I have it set to not broadcast my ssid? But it doesn't... hence my problem.

So, the quick simple fix is to just let it broadcast my ssid to my neighbors. What are the odds I have malicous neighbors where I live? Pretty small I'd venture to guess.

I'd still like to manage to make it work and keep my ssid hidden, though. At least I am learning new and interesting things from this whole experience!

**M_Six** · April 1st, 2003, 06:18 AM

I have a new laptop coming from Dell next week and I have the Linksys USB wireless adapter, too. I'll let you know how it works with mine.

**Brownfloaty** · April 1st, 2003, 08:41 PM

Ahh, did you get the 8500? I've been waiting for people to get theirs before I ordered mine. I wanted to read some real world reviews first, but I think I'm tired of waiting and will probably put my order in tomorrow after I see what the new deals they have running are.

I'm definitly going to order the internal minipci wireless antenna.

I'm out of town till next week so I can't really play with the wireless settings till then, but I'm going to make this thing work with ssid broadcast off when I get back, even if it kills me.

**M_Six** · April 1st, 2003, 08:53 PM

I only needed a laptop for surfing and email when I'm on the road and my g/f needs it for a summer writing project, so I went with a 2.0GHz Celeron Inspiron 1100. It was $750 shipped and I bought 512MB RAM for $67 from Dell also. Should work fine for what I need. I'll let you now how I make out with the Linksys wireless adapter.

Have a good trip.

**M_Six** · April 4th, 2003, 11:18 PM

Got an answer for you, BF. When you're connected to your wireless network, go to the wireless properties by clicking on the connection icon in your tray (or right-click on My Network Places and choose properties). Then in the Wireless Networks tab uncheck the box that says "Use Windows to Configure My Wireless Network Settings." Now when your laptop goes into sleep mode, it should come back up on the network normally when it comes out of sleep mode.