Wireless connection. Easy question.

[Hustler]

And I'm sure it's an easy answer as well.
I connect to the internet through an Orange Livebox which connects to the telephone cable which connects to the UKGSer site and these words are using this actual connection.
The Orange box is wireless enabled and has a little red light next to the wireless symbol and it's on now.
We've also recently aquired a laptop which will connect wirelessly in a couple of friends houses but will not connect here.
I've tried the laptop downstairs away from the PC and even right next to the PC and it "sees" the connection but cannot connect.
I do not get as far as putting in the big long passcode number.
I ask the laptop to diagnose the problem but it says it doesn't know what the problem is.
So finally getting to the question -
I assume the problem is our Orange livebox but when you connect wirelessly does the laptop connect to the Orange box and then connect down our telephone line or is the whole connection for the laptop done wirelessly ie into our livebox and then off into the atmosphere somewhere totally ignoring the telephone wire.
The reason I ask is that we live next to a great big hill and reception for mobile phones and Sat Nav. is virtually nil.
So is it the livebox or the hill ?
Cor, a lot of writing for a simple question.
Thanks very much.

 

[Rushy]

So finally getting to the question -
I assume the problem is our Orange livebox but when you connect wirelessly does the laptop connect to the Orange box and then connect down our telephone line YES or is the whole connection for the laptop done wirelessly ie into our livebox and then off into the atmosphere somewhere totally ignoring the telephone wire NO
.

And unfortunately thats about as much as I can help you with ......someonelse will be along soon

 

[cookie]

it connects down the phone line, via a wireless link to the livebox.

are the laptop and livebox using the same encryption standard?

 

[Hustler]

it connects down the phone line, via a wireless link to the livebox.

are the laptop and livebox using the same encryption standard?

Thanks very much Rushy and cookie.
Don't know about encryption standard I'm afraid, in fact don't really understand the question.

 

[cookie]

WEP or WAP or WAP2 needs to be the same at laptop and livebox end.

this is what the"big long passcode number" is for.

 

[Hustler]

WEP or WAP or WAP2 needs to be the same at laptop and livebox end.

this is what the"big long passcode number" is for.

But as I never get as far as putting in this big long passcode number then I assume, don't know what I can assume to be honest.
Errrr, do I need to check this WEP, WAP, WAP2 ?
But the laptop does run at 2 other places and they both use Orange liveboxes if that helps.
Thank you, I'm going out to the workshop now to change the oil as I understand how to do that. Hope I'm not tempting fate by saying that.

 

[Rushy]

Just a suggestion

I take it that Orange is your broadband provider ?

If so call then perhaps call their techie helpline and if the service is anything like I have had from them regarding my mobile in the last 15yrs or so since they launched then I am confident they will help you get the wireless access for the laptop sorted out.

Try to have all the password information etc etc at hand and maybe call them from your mobile so you can get it working with them over the phone. The call may cost you a fiver but it will be worth it

Ian

 

[Dale]

Hustler,

I assume that a "livebox" is a DSL router of sorts?? if so, can you access the settings in the router? - usually done via your browser - have a look for an address on the livebox itself - should look like http://192.168.0.1 or something similar.

Find the address and type it into your browser on the PC which is hardwired to the liveox. it may need a password. if you didnt set one up yourself, then 'password' or 'admin' or 'administration' are common defaults.

once you are into the settings of the livebox / router, check the following ...

1. wireless network is enabled and you have given it a name.
2. the router and your laptop use the same encryption - WEP is the most basic and even old machines use it - start with WEP and change it to something better later.
3. on some routers you can specify the mac adresses of the computers that can access the network - if this 'feature' in enabled, you need to tell the router what the mac address of you laptop is. best option is to disable mac address security till you have it setup and working.
4. lastly, check that the network is not "hidden". dont think this is the case if you can already see it with the laptop, but worth checking.

HTH,
Dale

 

[Dickieboy]

On the bottom of the Livebox is the wep key can't remember if its 24 or 32 characters, no 'o's only zeros.
On one of the sides near the base of the box are 2 buttons 1 & 2, when your laptop picks the signal up for the first time enter the Wep key in the relevant box or boxes if you have to enter it twice, then before pressing 'connect' press the No1 button at the base of the livebox and wait a second or so and then press connect

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

On the bottom of the Livebox is the wep key can't remember if its 24 or 32 characters, no 'o's only zeros.
On one of the sides near the base of the box are 2 buttons 1 & 2, when your laptop picks the signal up for the first time enter the Wep key in the relevant box or boxes if you have to enter it twice, then before pressing 'connect' press the No1 button at the base of the livebox and wait a second or so and then press connect

That is exactly the answer, Press the '1' button on the livebox until the wireless light flashes slowly, That will enable it to pair with you're laptop.
You will then just need to enter the WEP key (On the bottom of the live box)
Job done!

 

[BillN]

Hustler

I have a Livebox in France.......they are quite common in FRANCE

you just need to set up your laptop correctly

1). "Google" Livebox............that will help with instructions.....if you do not have them

2). The livebox is protected against unauthorised access so you need to type in the Wireless key, (left click on the icon in Available networks)
Find available networks by right clicking on the wireless icon at the bottom right of the "Start" Bar. You should have the wireless key on the letter or on the unit that you received from your internet provider, if not see 3).

3). Go to the http address, (the one given earlier in this post, if correct, or the one from the livebox instructions......from your IP or from the net), in your browser on your DESKTOP and you will find the password and encryption key that you need

Also try connecting your laptop to the Livebox with an Ethernet cable and see what happens
you can convert, thru your browser, the "TV" ethernet socket on the livebox to a "computer" one.......so that both can be used with computers

(Edit: If all else fails you can try using the set up disk that came with the Livebox to set up the Livebox on your laptop)

Good luck

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

On the bottom of the Livebox is the wep key can't remember if its 24 or 32 characters, no 'o's only zeros.
On one of the sides near the base of the box are 2 buttons 1 & 2, when your laptop picks the signal up for the first time enter the Wep key in the relevant box or boxes if you have to enter it twice, then before pressing 'connect' press the No1 button at the base of the livebox and wait a second or so and then press connect

I had the self same problem Hustler and posted on here - Dickieboy sorted it for me with the above answer

Andres

 

[Hustler]

Thanks very much people.
I have tried these 1 and 2 buttons but alas that didn't work but I'll go through all the responses and follow all the suggestions.
Telephoning Orange is not really an ideal option as we're in la belle France now and whilst my French is a little better than it was it's not up to tech speak, but having said that I don't really do English tech speak, so will probably go and see them as face to face clutching an Orange box should be much easier.
When we lived in the UK we had this geek friend, single bloke in his 50's, and we simply swapped a roast dinner and a few beers for his time sorting out our PC problems but he's flatly refused to fly out to France and help us out.
No consideration some people.
Thanks again folks, really appreciated.

 

[Zundapp]

The button on the bottom of the Livebox - I think it's button 1, hold it in for 3-4 seconds before releasing it. I need to do this with mine before it goes into pairing mode, ie light flashing.