Wi Fi network advice needed

[Gipsy]

Looking for some advice re my son's sky internet network. He is able to access the internet on his laptop using an ethernet cable plugged into his router, but even though his laptop and his Iphone "see" the wifi network he is unable to join. He has spent hours on the support line, and is on his second router, all to no avail. The last comment from the support line was something to the effect, " well, not all networks work "
He isn't desperate as he has internet access. He will happily admit to not being the world's most IT literate individual, but neither is he stupid. I've had a look, and can't see where to go next, short of paying for someone to come to the house and sort it.
Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

 

[er-minio]

Is the router new, or did someone already fiddle with it?

It might be that the router has been set up in order to require MAC address identification besides the password.

 

[wessie]

Where are you in S Wales?

Plenty of IT savvy tossers about but it is a big place.

 

[Buz]

Can he log in to other WiFi Networks ok?
Can other people log into his Network?
Due to it being a second router you'd assume its a config issue.
Has the security side been looked at? is he entering the correct key? (its usually on the rear of the router, make sure he is entering the correct one, not a MAC address for router)

I've heard others say the Sky router can be an awkward beast, they lock things down like AOL)

 

[hank]

Tell Sky where to stick their services and sign up to an ISP that actually wants customers to be satisfied with the product.

The support help line to telling you " Well, not all networks work " is just not good enough. If they are going to take your money then the least they can do is give useful support when things go wrong.

Like others have said it is probably a security issue requiring the code from the router, I recently had problems adding a new machine to a network that was caused by me mistaking a D for a 0, maybe I should go to spec savers.

 

[Gipsy]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Will ring him later and pass on the tips.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Did he?

Did he download a software package provided by Sky for laptops?
In my experience, when you install a package provided by the network supplier, it is almost impossible to get wireless system working afterwards.
Solution is easy if this is the case. Just uninstall the provided software, and look for Wireless system with original laptop installed drivers. It nearly always works.

Myke.

 

[rjsmith26]

Am guessing you my have walk about phones in your house or wireless video senders (room to room video). If either of these, turn them all off and then try again. If it then works - you will need to ask sky how to change the wifi channel in use.

 

[Pukmeister]

If he can 'see' the network wirelessly then the router is broadcasting the SSID (or network name).

To join the network wirelessly once he clicks on it, he then has to enter a security code eg WEP key or WPA key (assuming security has been set up).

TO FIND WEP KEY:

If he gets into the network locally via a cable, he should log in to the router (typically typing 192.168.2.1 or similar into the URL section of a web browser), then using the access code eg ROOT for user and ADMIN for password (or similar).

Once he has got past the router login screen he can check the wireless security page and find the WEP or WPA key. Make a note of this, log out then try to wirelessly connect and enter the code when prompted.

 

[bumpmuncher]

type in 192.168.0.1 into the adress bar in a internet explorer. username = admin password= sky you are now in the router setup page. now click the setup tab look down the list for Security Options and click disable then apply.

This will remove the security key. you should now be able to connect to the wireles network.

once you have found it works then select the WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) option and put in a nice simple to remember and type password dont forget to click the apply button.

you have now enabled the security and will need to put the password in on the machine you are trying to connect to the router.

once you have done this if you still cant connect click the Wireless Station Access List button and make sure the Turn Access Control On button is not ticked.

If that doesnot work get someone round that can use a computer

 

[Gipsy]

He has wifi. He tried all the suggestions above, and still no luck, until last night when Elvie and I were around for a meal, and lo and behold she gets on line with her Iphone, then I managed the same with my phone, and finally my son's laptop went on line via the wifi.
Goodness knows what's happened. He'd been trying various suggestions for well over 9 months to no effect, and now out of the blue!!!!
Thanks all for your advice, even if we can't be specific about who to thank most of all.

 

[Zoomboxer]

He has wifi. He tried all the suggestions above, and still no luck, until last night when Elvie and I were around for a meal, and lo and behold she gets on line with her Iphone, then I managed the same with my phone, and finally my son's laptop went on line via the wifi.
Goodness knows what's happened. He'd been trying various suggestions for well over 9 months to no effect, and now out of the blue!!!!
Thanks all for your advice, even if we can't be specific about who to thank most of all.

errr can you clarify this?

My phone is paired up with my Wi-Fi network and is a "known" connection and I can connect with no problems. Mrs Z's phone is NOT connected up and if she tries to get into the network it asks for the router password.

Have your phones been paired up previously? If so all is well but if not then it is letting every Tom, Dick and Dai onto the network.

Someone in my street does not have security on his/her connection and I used this a few times when there were problems switching ISPs

 

[Gipsy]

errr can you clarify this?

My phone is paired up with my Wi-Fi network and is a "known" connection and I can connect with no problems. Mrs Z's phone is NOT connected up and if she tries to get into the network it asks for the router password.

Have your phones been paired up previously? If so all is well but if not then it is letting every Tom, Dick and Dai onto the network.

Someone in my street does not have security on his/her connection and I used this a few times when there were problems switching ISPs

Thanks for the concern and I fully understand the point you are making about securing the network. We got on line only after entering the password my son had been given when the original set up had been attempted all those months ago. The really strange bit is that we had all tried the same process many time before, without any success!!