Dell Studio users - Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator Button

Dear Dell Studio 15/17 owners,

Please press your Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator button WHEN your laptop is switched OFF.

In case you dunno what and where is the Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator button, this is a picture from Dell



According to the manual,

Press the WiFi Catcher Network Locator button for a few seconds to scan specifically for wireless networks in your vicinity.

The WiFi Catcher Network Locator has a light that operates as follows:

* Flashing white: Searching for networks
* Solid white for 10 seconds and then turns off: Network found
* Off (flashing white turns off after 10 blinks): No signal found


Link: Dell http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=507F988649BE166CE040AE0AB7E163E6&journalid=529794D1E184EE5DE040AE0AB7E172AF&Query=&SystemID=&ServiceTag=&contenttype=28792~7~262222&os=-1&component=-1&lang=-1&doclang=en&toggle=false


Well what does yours do?

Mine actually couldn't light up at all since the first day i got my Dell Studio 15. Then I called up Dell and have them sent over a new LCD backcover (since the the Wi-Fi Catcher button is a part of the cover) and a technician to solve the lighting problem.

After the hardware was fixed, we tried, it lighted up, wheee. But it was only 3 blinks then off. What does 3 blinks mean?

the technician called over the Dell technical support, and asked them what seems to be the problem. The other technician, said, the dell studio 15 he's trying now blinks 3 times only too, so he thinks it's normal (???)


anyways, does yours perform normally as stated in the manual? or does yours blink 3 times then off? any solutions to this?

 

I am typing it of my studio connected to my home wifi...and right now the catcher does nothing but if I were to sleep/shutdown the machine, it does 3 blinks and then a 10 sec solid and then off.

PS: You do have a connectable wi-fi network around, I presume?

PPS: There was another thread on the exact same topic....search for it too

 

yeah, i've been using wi-fi network all these while - 3 blinks and then off. even if there weren't any network available, it's suppose to have 10 blinks then off.

yeah there was another thread... i posted in it too... but i couldn't find it xP...

i'll search for it again, mayb ethere's a solution

 

# Flashing white: Searching for networks
# Solid white for 10 seconds and then turns off: Network found
# Off (flashing white turns off after 10 blinks): No signal found

...according to dell

I'll check mine next time my computer is off and let you know.

 

3 blinks then 10 second solid then off

 

Folks

A started a thread on this topic not so long ago.

I got no-where with it.

Mine does 3 flashes then nothing, despite my home network being available. Haven't been to any hotspots to try yet.

Its not supposed to flash if the machine is ON.

Catcher works fine when machine on (get the prompt) as does the wi-fi itself.

Heres my email response from Dell (not yet tried it):

Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Technical Support. Sorry for the inconvenience caused due to delayed reply we have lots of emails and we are trying hard to reply to emails in time.
I have reviewed your e-mail and have understood that you are facing issues with the Wi - Fi Switch of your computer. I appreciate your efforts as you have tried almost every step to resolve the issue and would like to assure you that we will resolve this issue as soon as possible.
Please follow the steps as mentioned below to check the wireless settings . WIRELESS To help you resolve the issue I request you to perform the steps given below:
1. Please enable the radio for all the wireless devices. You can slide the wireless button from 0 to 1. This action enables the wireless devices.
2. Please enable the Wireless Network Adapter.
3. Click the Start button, and then click Run. In the Run window, type devmgmt.msc in the Open box, and then click OK. In the Device Manager window, click the plus sign (+) that appears next to Network adapters to expand the Network Adapters node.
4. Under Network adapters, right-click the wireless network adapter, and then click Enable.
5. Close the Device Manager window
6. Please visit the following link to download and install the wireless driver: http://tinyurl.com/6s9zef
7. We can also update the wireless card settings: Please click on Start <in the search box type device manager <select Device manager from the menu above.Right click on Wireless 1510 Under Network AdaptersOpen properties for the 1510 card Go to Advanced tabSelect Antenna Diversity. The default value is Auto, change it to Aux. Restart the Notebook and check or Wireless connection.
* Please note that antenna diversity might not be available. In that case we can avoid this step. 5. Checking Wireless Connections in Control Panel:- Click on Start, and then click on Network.- In Network, we get Network and Sharing Center.- On left side of the screen we get a choice for Manage Wireless Networks.- Under this we get a list of Network connection appears.- Select each network, click remove.
Remove all networks coming in the list.- Click on Add, we get a windows which says ?How do you want to add a network??- Here click on Add a network that is in range of this computer.- We get all the connection within the range, select your Network name and click Connect
Please reply to me if issue persists with the observations made and I will be glad to assist you accordingly. Besides, please let us know if internet is working through wire.

I'll post back when I get chance to try this. Bit relucatant to change drivers though as my wifi does work at the mo - don't want to break it

 

boy. this is what you get for not looking at your manual. I will need to check this out when I get home. maybe this will solve my "Local Access" network problem.

 

Chaps
I started to go through Dell's recommendations last night (as per their technical support email) and got to the 'update the driver' part. I downloaded the driver from the link that they provided, but realised that a) it is older than mine (both date and version number) and b) my wi-fi card and laptop model is not listed in the list of compatible hardware (for the driver). Luckily I never installed it.
I get the feeling that the tech support guy thinks I've got wifi probs.
I've replied to him and re-iterated that my problem is ONLY with the catcher, and that the wi-fi itself works fine.
Watch this space.
Thanks
Kai.

 

Chaps
Latest update ; response from the Dell tech support guy saying that the wi-fi catcher is not supposed to work when the laptop is switched off. Clearly he is mistaken.

I think he thinks I have an inspiron - I've reminded him its a Studio.

I have responded to him with a referral and quote to the manual (as at the top of this thread) and the link to the dell page.

Lets see what he says now.

To be fair, the manual does not specifically say "with the machine switched off" but I think its fairly obvious, if it was on you wouldn't need to view the status of the light.

Keep you posted

Kai

 

I am having the same problem its really annoying I would find it handy cuz I take it almost everywhere I go but oh well I hope it just a Bios problem and that it can get fixed

 

Here is a questions for you guys who are having the 3 flash then off issue.

1. Is your wi-fi network hidden or broadcasting it's identity?

By this I mean have you set it to have a hidden SSID. If a network isn't broadcasting it's SSID the wi-fi catcher can't see it. You would have to know it was there.

I have set my network to have a hidden SSID as I don't want anyone trying to grab free wi-fi from me. My friends studio 15 does the 3 flashes and off at my house but, because he has paired it with my network using windows networking and the WPA key I gave him. He connects immediately his laptop is switched on.

I should add that his laptop does 3 flashes and then the 10 second thing if I set the router SSID to broadcast.

 

My wifi catcher doesn't work anywhere. I just get the 3 blinks, but when I turn on my Laptop I can find/connect to the networks

 

The latest from Dell in my case is they wish to ring me up and go through it.
PeterDW, your post is interesting. I am going to check this with my wireless network tonight, as when I set it up I recall making the SSID hidden. This makes sense.
Also, to be fair, I have not yet managed to get out somewhere like Starbucks etc with free public wi-fi to try it.
Maybe its not broken after all.....
Keep you posted
Thanks.