Annoying issue with wireless Laptop

leche solara

I have a Netgear wireless router connected to PC. I have just got laptop and want it to pick up signal from router.
laptop sees Excellent Signal but will only connect after about the tenth attempt. When it connects its says its with Limited Connectivity which means no internet on laptop. Does this mean that only PC or laptop can be on at the same time. If so thats a bloody nuisance.

ethernet

You usually get that 'limited connectivity' error when your PC can't get an IP address by DHCP. Make sure the DHCP server is enabled on your router.

Alternatively, specify a static IP address for your laptop. You'll need to open the connection's properties, choose static, enter the address. Set subnet to 255.255.255.0 and gateway to your router's IP address. Also, set DNS server to your router's IP address also, e.g. 192.168.1.1

leche solara

The PC is fine. Its the laptop thats getting the limited connectivity. Where do i need to change settings in the PC or laptop? How do I find the IP address of the router?

wingnut

You will have to look at the manual or goolge the router to find its IP. You will need to connect to it with a cable. You should then be able to configure the wireless settings. There may also be a default password for the wireless connection check that too.

Default IPs on routers are usually like:

192.168.1.1

leche solara

I need some expert advice here.
My wireless modem/router is wired to my PC upstairs.
The laptop is wireless. When I look for a wireless network on the laptop it finds 3 or 4 networks (neighbours?) the top one with Excelllent Signal is my Netgear upstairs. It won't connect and keeps offering help with poor signal networks. But this is not my problem. If I turn off upstairs PC the laptop has a better chance of connecting. Can only 1 be connected at a time. I thought they would share bandwidth. Is there some setting I need to change in the router?
Driving me nuts

ethernet

Both PC and laptop can be online at the same time no problem.

Your laptop needs an IP address to get on the network. I'm not using Windows ATM, so these steps aren't too accurate:
1. Open the Control Panel
2. Open up 'network connections' or similar
3. You should see something called 'Local Area Connection 1'
4. Right click this icon and choose Properties
5. Choose to 'obtain an IP address automatically' for both the IP address and the DNS address
6. When you find your network in the list of wireless networks, IIRC, there's a connect button or advanced button. You'll need to do this once to enter your router's encryption key you would have set up earlier [ideally WPA-PSK, not WEP]
7. Your laptop should now connect. If it doesn't, it could be that the DHCP server on the router is off. This allocates IP addresses automatically to all devices trying to connect to the network. No two devices can use the same address.

leche solara

I changed the channel from 11 to 2 on the router and problem seems to be solved. Is this ok to do?