I'm rather ignorant about WiFi I must admit - where I'm living, we have WiFi, but I never manage to get out on the net using this signal, because I get a message it is very weak.  So, my question is, is there anything I can do?  Are there boosters or anything like that I can use on my laptop?  And hey, if anybody answers ... I'm deffo not a computer nerd, so I need "simple" answers ... sorry... :(
199920
Buy a cantenna. It's a Wifi receiver that boosts the reception range of your PC or laptop's wifi card. They sell for about 50 dollars.
429436
It would help if you provided more information eg state how you connect to the internet...wired modem or router or modem router.\nPeople are not going to give the best solutions to something so vague.\nIf you use a modem router try this for starters...unplug it from the mains, wait 10 seconds & then plug it back into the mains. Wait another 10 seconds & try accessing the internet again
178928
your internet doesnt work because your network is not established\nmake sure channel, wep key, ssid are same on wireless adaptor and router,\ngo to router configuration page...\n1.see if it have access filter on,\n2.release and renew the ip address.\non your laptop, make sure it is using dhcp server\nif still not working you have to use a ethernet cable to connect laptop and router to do the above mentioned check on the router configuration.
618154
If you have a wireless phone, with the battery out the base is still sending a signal.  Is it 2.4MHz?  Is this PC whether a laptop desktop; is it using a wifeless connection via wireless router to the dsl modulator?  If so each time you power off the router and wireless receiver in the PC will reset to find the clearest signal; then ask is this what you want.  If the range of your system is very far, you may be interfering with your neighbors' devices also.  Again if this is the case, call your dsl tech support, they have some tools to determine issues; if not the will provide you with the information you need(company name ,machine name I.P. address etc.) for the router technician to finish the fix.  Before you call run all virus, spyware and addware cleaning programs  and reboot the entire system pc, dsl unit router for 15 seconds.  that alone may clear it.  It is not ruined; do not sell it for 10$.
339835
I'm assuming you're using wireless Internet, it's probably that your computer is disconnecting from your Internet, it happens to me a lot, I'm not quiet sure how to fix it, you could try to simply plug in your laptop/computer to the modem directly instead of using a router... that should keep it from happening.\n\n- Oh, well then I don't know... that's weird.  It might have to do with your computer.
166372
OK first, your router has nothing to do with a hotspot. A router turns your internet connection into a wireless connection..your own hotspot so to speak.\nYou either have a DSL or Cable Modem that connects to the phone line  or the cable line. From the modem, you run a network cable from that to the wireless router. If your laptop has built in wifi, you can pick up the signal from the router.\nSo in short, you can't install a router to pick up a signal, you need a pcmcia, usb or built in wifi on a laptop or a USB, PCI card for a desktop.
496768
You might be able to, depending on whether you can get signal or not. \n\nMore than one computer can connect via a wireless router with no problems in most all cases. If your neighbor has secured the network with a password then you are out of luck unless you can hack it or get the password from him.\n\nI 'borrowed' signal from my neighbor while I was reconfiguring my router but his network is unsecured.\n\nIt sounds like he is not being completely honest, most likely to keep his network private...
350348
This reminds me of a very similar problem I had with the D-Link wireless router.  I tried reinstalling the drivers for the wireless router itself to no avail.  I finally wound up taking it back in buying a Linksys router.  The problem never was with my laptop computer.  It was always in the wireless router.
268256
i hve a linksys as well and have no trouble with wep.  in theory, enabling wep should only affect wireless traffic (not the net connection), so I would check to make sure you have the internet cat5 in the right plug then take it back and get a new router- if you're good at this stuff then configuring wep shouldnt do anything bad- assume it's bad hardware once and give it a go w/ another unit.
9543
Unfortunately, the above post is almost completely wrong.  WEP is broken, WPA, the succesor to WEP is much more secure,and used with a combination of a password from grc.com  The next 2 links are audio "shows" in these 2 WEP and WPA is discussed in length, as well as how to use it.  If you want it as "Secure as possible" this tells you how to do it.\n\nIf you use a linksys wrt54g with a hardware version below 4, (you can probably find one on ebay) you can upload a different firmware that will allow you to increase the transmission power of the router, such as dd-wrt or hyperwrt.  \n\nI have dd-wrt istalled ad it gives me about 250-300 feet, more than enough for my house, and my neighbors.  It is also possible to change the antennas of the router so that you can get a signal hundreds of yards away, or use a cantenna (google pringles wireless).
849
Are you saying that the laptop does not already have a wireless card in it.  Most new laptops sold are already equipped with 802.11g (aka 54g) wireless cards.  I would check your manual or specs to make sure that it doesn't already have a card in it.  If it doesn't read on.\n\nIf you want to use WiFi in your home then you will need a router.  My personal favorite is anything by Netgear but any basic WiFi router should serve your needs.\n\nAs I said above if your laptop doesn't already have a WiFi card, then you will need to get a PCMCIA or USB wireless adapter.\n\nI would bet though, that the new laptop does already have a WiFi adapter in it.
600362
This could be a number of problems, but I would not go buy a new card so quickly, and that first answer is not even the same kind of network card.\n\nHow far away is the computer from the router?  I've seen this problem with a computer too far away in my house before.  Also, the 2.4Ghz band is pretty clogged with consumer electronics, especially coreless phones.  These can affect the performance of your wireless network, even if they are in your neighbor's house if they aren't too far away.\n\nWithout much more information, I would suggest resetting the router to factory defaults and starting over.  Good luck.
61177
Are you sure the access point actually reaches the internet?\nCould the access point merely be a node for reaching a netowrk or segment of computers?\n\nIf you cannot figure this out, you can email me...\njesselasalle@hotmail.com\nI am a very efficent Network administrator
142466
1. Cox has the best support anywhere, because they don't do like Dell and put kids at computers looking up answers that you already looked up.  They actually know how this stuff works, and you can get live help in online chat through their website.\n\n2. Make sure you don't have too many splitters before the cable hits the modem, because that weakens the signal.\n\n3. This may be a dumb question, but did you try resetting the modem by unplugging it for 30 seconds?  That often solves a lot of problems, and they usually have you do that first.
488570
There should be an icon on the right bottom corner that has a bubble that pops up when it detects wireless internet. Apparently your computer has a built-in wireless card so it should pick up signal. It is probably turned off, you can turn it on by going to the bottom right corner and looking for the icon with the little signal bars (sort of like on ur cellphone). Right click it and see what the status is, you might be getting low connectivity that does not allow you to connect. If it's not on, turn it on (enable). Your internet should work, it might not the first couple of times you open internet explorer (or whatever browser you use), but it will. Try it out at a library, coffee shop, or any place that offers free wi-fi.\nHope this helps
439708
- come near to your access point or wireless route\n- Buy a new wireless access point or route has stronger signal\n- Buy wireless boost device\n- Buy more access points and routes
2517
Yes, you can!  Here is what I do.  I use my Internet cable (or DSL) box they give you when you get fast internet.  The back of your wireless router has several ports.  Simply put the ethernet cables from that device to your PCs or laptops.  I even have a 50 foot ethernet cable so I can move my laptop around.  You will have to use the wireless router software to configure the network according to your ISPs settings and your ISP can help you do that through their tech support