Fujitsu C2310 - Wireless Connection Problem

Hello Everyone,

I just got myself a Fujitsu C2310 laptop last saturday (2 days back). I ordered it from Portableone. I was pleased with everything until i got to the wireless connection part. It just doesn't work!!

I am trying to connect to my room-mate's wireless router (D-Link). He doesn't broadcast his SSID, so i had to manually add it under 'Preferred Networks' tab, i provided the SSID and Network key and hit OK. But even after giving all the correct information its not able to connect!! After several attempts I observed that after I set up the connection i can see a small antenna like icon under the 'Preferred Networks' tab. Upon hitting the 'refresh' key i can see a blue color circle appearing on top of the small antenna like icon. I assume that that indicates a connection has been established, but once i hit the OK button and try to get onto the internet its the same story again, No wireless connection!! I check back in and observe that the blue icon is gone!! its hardly there for 2 seconds.

I then tried to connect to some of the other wireless networks that were showing up under 'Available Networks'. Possibly they cud be some neighbours'. The same thing happens there too. I am going absolutely crazy with this stuff. I called up Fujistu Support and they couldn't fix my problem. They have escalated it to level 2 support. I got to wait and see what happens but i thought i can get some help from this forum in the meantime. I referred to so many postings here before i decided to buy a Fujitsu laptop. I was originally planning to get a Dell, but after seeing so many good things about Fujitsu i went for it and now feel that I have made a mistake. Its hardly 2 days old and its giving problems already. I have lost 3 days b'cos of this problem. I would greatly appreciate any help !!

 

See link:

http://www.notebookreview.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3705

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Fujitsu S6210: 1.6Ghz PM ~ 768MB RAM ~ 60GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
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how do you know if they have mac filter or not? So, you expect Fujitsu tech support to help you get into your neighbor network? Dude, get your AP, and try connect to it, instead of relying on other people AP, which you don't have access of.

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Fujitsu S6210, 1GB DDR333, 80GB 5400RPM, DVD+/-RW
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Freeman,

Thanx for taking time to answer my question. I think you misunderstood about my mentioning of neighbors' networks. I had clearly stated that I was trying to connect to my room-mate's D-link wireless router for which i am paying half the share. Since it did not work i wanted to know whether the problem was only with my room-mate's router or it was something else. I attempted to connect to one of the networks that were showing up in "Available Networks" only to find out where the problem really was. Its just like trying whether a public hotspot connection in starbucks or an airport works or not. If it works then i will know that the problem is with the D-link router that i am trying to connect. I am not requesting Fujitsu or anybody to teach me how to use my neighbors' networks for free. I am a working professional with a Master's degree and I don't indulge in such cheap things. Thanks for your understanding.

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by freeman

 

then you should get inside your roomie's AP, and see what's the current setting on that.

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Fujitsu S6210, 1GB DDR333, 80GB 5400RPM, DVD+/-RW
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-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.jotographer.com -=-=-=-=-=-
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OK, let's talk through a couple of things.

The way wifi cards work is they "scan" the channels looking for networks. So my first comment is, sometimes it takes a little time for them to find a network. Don't expect an immediate connection. (Though I do not think this is your issue as I suspect you are waiting well past the 30 - 60 seconds that would normally be required).

Next, if encryption is enabled (as I suspect it is based on the fact that you are entering a key) then there are a few additional things to consider. First, obviously ensure the encryption settings are the same on both ends. Next, encryption keys are hexidecimal strings of numbers and unfortunately the various standards did not set specific ways for text to be converted into keys. One might reasonably expect the ASCII numbers to just be used, but unfortunately that isn't always how it is done. I would suggest entering the key as a hexidecimal value on both sides instead of a text value. It is just more reliable.

Finally, it is possible that all the APs around you are configured to the same channel (6 seems to be used as the default for several brands) and that your machine keeps losing signals as the various APs overlap and compete for the same frequencies. I'd recommend changing the channel on your roommate's AP to 11 if he doesn't mind. That tends to be a clearer channel and should benefit him as well since there will likely be far less interference.

Those are the thoughts that come immediately to mind. Give it a try and let us know how it turns out.

 

Thanks a lot for giving some suggestions jchastain. Today i got off the phone with Fujitsu's 2nd level support totally disappointed. They have just told me that the problem is only on my side!! I just want to give some more information to you. I input a 26 letter (english alphabets) key in the "Network Key" field and it is exactly the same as my roomie's and also on the Dlink router. I am also noticing on the task bar a message that says "Intel PRO wireless.. Out of range network". That "out of range" thing worries me a lot when i am actually hardly 10 feet away from the router. Anyway I will try whatever you have suggested me here and let u know what happens.

-Ram

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jchastain

 

go into DOS, and type "ipconfig /all", no quote. look for your wifi card, it should have 6x16bit hex, 12 digits total. that's your wifi card mac address, which you need to add it in your roomate's AP, if he have mac filtering on.

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Fujitsu S6210, 1GB DDR333, 80GB 5400RPM, DVD+/-RW
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-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.jotographer.com -=-=-=-=-=-
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that's exactly the same error message I got, when I forgot to add the mac address of my newly S6210 into my AP.

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by rabalakr

 

Hi Freeman,

You got the same error message? This is interesting. When I issue an 'ipconfig /all' i see the MAC address but also see a "media disconnected" message for both LAN and Wireless. Yesterday I confirmed that my roomie's Dlink router does not have MAC filtering turned on. I will still try to add the laptop's MAC to the AP and see what happens.

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by freeman

 

I agree with freeman - don't worry about the range message. That likely is just a default message that is displayed anytime you can't get a connection. In your case, the issue is far more likely to be some of the security constraints that have been added to the configuration.

Take a look at the configuration on the Access Point. If there are MAC restrictions, then you will need to add the mac address as freeman indicated. If not, the problem is likely encryption related. I would test that theory by turning encyption off on the AP and then see if you can connect. If you can, then you have confirmed the encryption is the problem. Since you are using a text string as the key, that is certainly suspect in my mind. I know it sounds strange, but I have seen the same text string not work across devices when a hex key would.

If turning off encryption doesn't help then it is obviously something else. Leave encryption off while you troubleshoot just to simplify the equasion. I'd start by confirming there isn't a typo in the SSID you've assigned.

 

Thanks for the suggestions jchastain and freeman.

I did have some progress, i was able to connect to one of the networks appearing under "available networks". earlier i had trouble connecting to this as well. so now its clear that the problem is not with the wirless in my laptop but with the link between my laptop and my roomie's Dlink router. i definitely need to get it fixed because i don't want to use some stranger's connection.

unfortunately i could not try out any of the suggestions that u gys have provided. when i spoke with him about the suggestions he bluntly refused to try them. he said he just can't try something without knowing whether it will work for sure. he plainly said if i can find an exact case with a known solution then he wud be willing to incorporate the changes in his router. i just got stuck here cos i don't know how i can find a similar case like this and arrive at a solution without trying some suggestions. Anyway the problem is no more technical, its human so i will deal with it. Nevertheless I thank u guys for taking time and offering some ideas.

-Ram

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jchastain