need help getting wifi and broadband working

[Soundguy]

ok.. got the winxp netbook tonight.. got hom.. plugged into the dsl model.. got ont he internet fine.. after I got it all setup, I put int he wep key for the wifi connection.. that worked.. tested by unplugging network cable.

everything is hunky dory.. wifi works good.

then I install my sprint usb broadband modem, that sets up fine.. gets ont he internet fine.

now... I can't get wifi to work??? If I plug in the network cable it finds the internet.. but if I unplug it.. and load up explorer.. it can't find anything???

signal strength is good, and shows as connected in the tray?

under tools/connections in internet exploroer, I see the broadband connection listed, and wonder if it is trying to use that as the sole connection or? ??

any ideas from the guru's out there?

Ideally I need to be able to use this netbook while out of the office on jobsites.. where there is no wifi, thus the broadband modem... when i get home or back to the office or a site with wifi, I'd like to pull the broadband modem out and go wifi.. can you not have both?????????

pullin' my hair out here...

soundguy

 

[MossRoad]

Its been two years since I last set one up. It was a Verison card. As I recall, when you log on, it would ask if you wanted to load the Verison card or not. The Verison software had a little control panel to turn it off and on. You could not use both the broadband and wifi at the same time. Sorry I am not more "up" on that.

 

[tawilson]

ATT's usb modem doesn't play well with wifi either. I called tech support and they had me disable the wifi on my laptop to get their modem working. Then to get wifi working when I needed it I had to remove it in Device Manager and then reboot to let Windows reinstall it.

 

[Soundguy]

I dinked with it another 2hrs last noight and kinda got it working.. well.. I got it working.. but in a similar setup as yall mention.

gotta disable wifi and then load broadband.. that's fine.. gotta remove broadband connection ( argh! ) to get wifi working again.. sometimes have to tell windows to repair wifi connection.. but it worked.

be nice if these would all play together.. I mean.. the 10bt and the wifi play together seamlessly..

thanks for the ideas guys.

soundguy

 

[JC-jetro]

Chris,

Do you have a Wifi/ wired router in addition to an air card? if so then there is a conflict between which signal for the laptop to pick. You can select the one you want automatically and the other one on demand. Do you have a switch on the laptop to enable or disable the wifi? if so you can disable it when you use your air card. I take it you want to use wifi at home and air card at work or any place outside of your wifi coverage, is that a correct assumption?

On your card, do you have to set up a proxy? what setting do you have under network connection?

JC,

 

[Soundguy]

correct.. I'm not trying to use both at the same time.. I want to use wifi where wifi is available, and broadband when there is no wifi.

yes, there is a switch to disable the wifi.

no proxy settings.

the problem is, after installing the air card, the wifi connection won't work again... even after you remove the air card, and reboot the machine.. finally got windows to use the wifi connection last night by removing the aircard connection profile in explorer/internet options, then telling windows to repair the wireless connection to restore conectivity... kicker was.. the wifi card was seeing the access point and was connected the entire time.. good strength.. etc.. windows just wasn't using the connection for some reason.. ??

soundguy

 

[JC-jetro]

Apparently air card is enforcing default setting to It's. I can speak to my son tonight as he is pretty knowledgeable about the stuff and works part time while going to school doing stuff like that for the K-state library. Let me know if it persists.

JC,

 

[Soundguy]

I will let you know tonight... I got the wifi to work at the house then went to bed. fully expect to have to reinstall the aircard software to make it work when i go out to the jobsite at lunch... and trhen.. if I do.. I expect to have to remove it and repair it again to get wifi to work.. but keeping my fingers crossed!

soundguy

 

[rharkins]

When you install the Sprint Smartview software, it wants to take control of your WiFi, too. There's an option in the Smartview (tools -> settings -> client) that says "Use this as my default WiFi management utility". Clear that checkbox.

I suspect the Sprint software is conflicting with either Windows, or whatever management software your WiFi card is using.

Good luck...

Rick

 

[/pine]

The conflict that has been mentioned is most likely a problem with two DHCP servers running on the same network...this will not work...

DHCP servers are programs that give the modem, router etc. to assign a unique IP address to all the computers etc onthe ntework...

try disabling the DHCP on one or the other of the two wireles boxes

 

[Tig]

If you can connect but can't get to a URL then you may have a DNS problem.
Can you get to the router default IP? 192.168.x.1?
If so then try inputting the TBN IP address (208.100.11.68 ) into your browser.
If the page comes up then it's just a matter of getting your DNS sorted out.

 

[Soundguy]

When you install the Sprint Smartview software, it wants to take control of your WiFi, too. There's an option in the Smartview (tools -> settings -> client) that says "Use this as my default WiFi management utility". Clear that checkbox.

I suspect the Sprint software is conflicting with either Windows, or whatever management software your WiFi card is using.

Good luck...

Rick

it's sprint mobile broadband , by franklin wireless evdo.. etc... I don't have smartview software.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

The conflict that has been mentioned is most likely a problem with two DHCP servers running on the same network...this will not work...

DHCP servers are programs that give the modem, router etc. to assign a unique IP address to all the computers etc onthe ntework...

try disabling the DHCP on one or the other of the two wireles boxes

not sure how this would happen since I'm not on wifi when i fire up the broadband, and vs a vs.

no 'wireless' box on the wifi.. it's built into the computer.

the settings for dhcp are set to not let others connect to the internet thru this cpu.. that's the only think I can find.. don't even actually see 'dhcp'.. just those settings.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

ok.. so get this.. weird...

I get to lunch, whip out the netbook, slap in the aircard, figure I will have to reinstall software.. nope.. internet comes right up..no problem.

just stopped back at the office and for S & G's I whip out the netbook, turn on, re-enable wireless.. nothing happened.. it did not auto reconnect.. I double click on the wireless icon.. says no network in range.. I refresh it.. our network appears.. and it auto connects.. and poof..I can browse..

so.. can worrying about a problem actually fix it?

did nothing different last night and had a hard time.. had to have xp 'repair the connection.. etc..

weird..

holding my breath now to see if it keeps doing it correctly..

soundguy

ps..

will post back.. and thanks for all the sugestions

 

[/pine]

OK sorry....I misunderstood the "air card" as being some sort of wireless access point...

But I'm still not sure what you are using the "sprint USB modem" if you have wifi ?

where is the wifi being transmitted from your modem or a router? or possibly a combination?

 

[riptides]

What software is the Franklin Wireless connection calling to enable EVDO?

Your PC must have a toggle somewhere on it for WiFi - turn it on.

The software for the aircard needs to also take control of the WiFi connection.

 

[MossRoad]

so.. can worrying about a problem actually fix it?

Yes! Many times a week I am called to help someone with a computer problem. I walk up, say howdy do, show me the problem.... they cannot reproduce it. Good mojo!!!

 

[MossRoad]

OK sorry....I misunderstood the "air card" as being some sort of wireless access point...

But I'm still not sure what you are using the "sprint USB modem" if you have wifi ?

where is the wifi being transmitted from your modem or a router? or possibly a combination?

He uses Sprint broadband when out of the office for internet access. When in house or at home he uses the local wireless network instead of Sprint. He is having trouble switching from one to the other.

 

[Soundguy]

OK sorry....I misunderstood the "air card" as being some sort of wireless access point...

But I'm still not sure what you are using the "sprint USB modem" if you have wifi ?

where is the wifi being transmitted from your modem or a router? or possibly a combination?

Ok.. I have a usb broadband modem for when I am on the road and there is NO wifi available.

when I am around wifi, like at work, where our DSL modem is also a WIFI access point, I remove the usb broadband modem, and then switch over to wifi.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

What software is the Franklin Wireless connection calling to enable EVDO?

Your PC must have a toggle somewhere on it for WiFi - turn it on.

The software for the aircard needs to also take control of the WiFi connection.

Spriont mobile broadband connection manager is what the software calls itself.

Yes of course it does.. and I AM turning it on / off.

soundguy