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    WiFi catcher

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by jhawk, Jul 11, 2008.

  1. jhawk

    jhawk Notebook Guru

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    Can someone explain how the wifi catcher works, seems like if I'm connected to a network and I push the button in nothing happens. If the computer is in a sleep state with the lid closed, I push the button and the light turns blue, but when I open the lid, it only comes out of the sleep state. Have also tried disconnecting from the network and then pushing the button, nothing happens. Not sure what to do. Either a defect or I'm doing something totally wrong. Any help would be appreciated.
     
    jhawk, Jul 11, 2008
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  2. macreyes

    macreyes Notebook Guru

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    if you switch it, it should pop up a window of available networks. it only works when your wireless switch is on
     
    macreyes, Jul 11, 2008
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  3. jhawk

    jhawk Notebook Guru

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    Wireless switch is on, and when i push the catcher button, nothing happens.
     
    jhawk, Jul 11, 2008
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  4. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    That means there is no wireless network around, either that, or the network is in stealth mode.
     
    Forte, Jul 11, 2008
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  5. jhawk

    jhawk Notebook Guru

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    Why is it when i go to my wifi card and select connect to a network it shows about 7 of them? Including mine.
     
    jhawk, Jul 11, 2008
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  6. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Wireless Catcher switch is probably off. Switch it the other way.

    If your asking about why you see 7 of them, it is because your laptop sees all the wireless connections available even in other peoples homes, and more. It doesnt mean you can connect to them because they are most likely password protected and have security in WPA, etc.
     
    Forte, Jul 11, 2008
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  7. jhawk

    jhawk Notebook Guru

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    wifi switch is on. As I said earlier, when the computer is in the sleep mode i push the button and it lights up blue, but nothing on the screen. Guess will have to go back to Dell and see if there is a problem with the catcher itself. Is there a driver that this function uses? If so then maybe it is the driver itself. But in devise manager, only thing that shows up is my wifi card, which by the way is Intel 4965AGN.
     
    jhawk, Jul 11, 2008
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  8. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Wifi Catcher doesnt detect all the wireless internet connections. All it does is let you know if there is a wireless internet connection in the area without booting up your notebook. It doesnt have anything to do with your wireless card.

    There is a light that is supposed to come on, but.... it doesnt work for most notebooks. I never really checked mine, but I don't typically use it.
     
    Forte, Jul 11, 2008
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  9. XPSboy

    XPSboy Notebook Evangelist

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    when i reformat my XPS....i got the same problem with you.

    but the first time i used my XPS my wifi catcher is working....i guess i missed something when i reformat/re-install my OS.
     
    XPSboy, Jul 11, 2008
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  10. jhawk

    jhawk Notebook Guru

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    Found the answer. Unless your bluetooth is enabled, the wifi catcher won't work. Once i enabled the bluetooth, everything worked fine. Whewww long way around a simple problem. Take care and thanks for all your input.
     
    jhawk, Jul 11, 2008
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  11. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Ah, great job finding the solution. Gotta keep that in mind. :)
     
    Forte, Jul 11, 2008
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  12. Tusin

    Tusin Notebook Evangelist

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    Isn't WiFi catcher (well the GUI) part of Dell quickset? Do you have that installed?
     
    Tusin, Jul 11, 2008
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  13. Tusin

    Tusin Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh glad you found the answer :) That is strange, I don't even have BT in my M1530 (no need for it for me), but WiFi catcher works.
     
    Tusin, Jul 11, 2008
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  14. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Yeah, the Wifi Catcher is its own device separate from everything else. You can use the catcher to detect the presence of a wireless internet connection in the area.

    I guess when you have bluetooth installed, it does something with it or maybe the catcher is bundled with bluetooth drivers.

    If you ever feel like it, try removing the bluetooth card from your system and test to see if it works. It should.
     
    Forte, Jul 11, 2008
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  15. pavo

    pavo Newbie

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    As Tusin said you need to have Dell QuickSet installed if you want Wi-Fi Catcher to work. With QuickSet installed, when you push Wi-Fi Catcher and the computer is on, a window opens with all the available wireless networks.
     
    pavo, Jul 11, 2008
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  16. philiptha

    philiptha Notebook Geek

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    my wifi catcher doesn't work unless the pc is off, can someone tell me what the lights mean though? Dell didn't exactly provide adequate documentation...

    i assume solid blue means strong, i have also seen orange, flashing blue, and no response
     
    philiptha, Jul 12, 2008
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  17. sfokevin

    sfokevin Notebook Enthusiast

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    As Pavo said the wifi catcher is controlled by Dell QuickSet
     
    sfokevin, Jul 12, 2008
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  18. benna

    benna Notebook Evangelist

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    It wont come up until you have Dell Quickset Installed. Have you got Quickset installed? Because the WiFi catcher app come with quick set.
     
    benna, Jul 12, 2008
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  19. pavo

    pavo Newbie

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    Wi-Fi Catcher™ light — The light operates as follows:

    o Blinking green: Searching for networks
    o Solid green: Strong network found
    o Solid yellow: Weak network found
    o Off: No signal found
    From the QuickSet Help file. I suppose something is wrong, as they don't refer to blue. I imagine green = blue for M1330.
     
    pavo, Jul 12, 2008
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