Trouble scanning for wireless network

[evilbrent]

Have successfully connected to my router three times. Once on the first scan, but didn't get the password right. Then I sat there hitting the scan button for a half hour, intermittently finding zero networks or the neighbours, before finding my own. Then the computer crashed without saving the settings, and it took an hour before finding our internet. Then I got the password right, and internet connection was really really good. Downloaded about 100MB of programs and utilities.

Then computer had to reboot after installing Samba.

Now, counting last night and today I've spent upwards of three hours sitting here pushing the scan button. Mostly it finds nothing. Sometimes it finds next door. Sometimes down the street. But not the router three feet away (which works fine - have uninterrupted connection on my phone, and this computer was connecting just fine last night.)

Is there anything I can try, other than pushing the scan button and hoping?

Why does it only find my network once every 200 times? And then work perfectly after that?

Any help appreciated.

Computer is a Thinkpad T22, wireless adaptor is an SMC2835W, driver is ndiswrapper, router is Netgear Wireless Cable CG3000, Puppy is Lucid Puppy Linux 2.3.33.2 (I think)

[bigpup]

If you are using Lucid Puppy.
Look here for a specific driver for your hardware.
If there is one, you will not need ndiswrapper.
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=59000

Make sure you are trying to use the latest version of Lucid (Lupu) Puppy.
Version 5.2.8.005.
Get it here:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=70855

[cthisbear]

Specs:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... IGR-4PEJF4

""""""'
On most Linux forums this is rated as a crappy wireless device.
Might be better off getting a cheap N150 dongle,
around $15 Australian.

However here are some posts.
Try blacklisting the driver.

And try the latest Lucid...or 3 headed Dog.

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=70855

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=70736

::::
2007 ...Ubuntu.

" First, blacklist the prism54 driver so it won't load every time you
insert the card:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... ts-551492/

""""""

" Youre best bet is to use ndiswrapper as the previous person stated
but be aware that some distributions of linux mis-detect this card
and load the wrong driver (due to different revisions of the same card).

Ensure that the prism54 and firmware_class drivers are not loaded (use lsmod to find out, and rmmod to remove them if they are present).

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... ed-334259/

"""""

Chris.

[evilbrent]

Thanks for the replies.

I have some extra diagnostic information - I was able to log onto my dad's wireless network and use the internet there. And when I scan for networks here it finds next door's quite easily. It seems that the SMC2835W wireless adaptor is working fine through ndiswrapper. It's just my own network that it's unable to find.

If it were a problem with the wireless adaptor wouldn't it be unable to find any networks at all?

----

I just rebooted from the live CD using using 'puppy pfix=ram' and was able to scan and configure my wireless internet fine. But then when I restarted the computer using a puppy savefile created from that session I can't find it anymore.

This is getting frustrating...

----

edit: well that was a short lived success. It did it again - connected to the internet from a live session but then not after that session was saved as rebooted. Then the third live session it remembered how to not find my wireless but can find next door's just fine.

This may be the death of that computer.

[bigpup]

Are you using the latest version of Lucid Puppy?

[evilbrent]

I've been using Lucid 525. I'm going to make a new iso disc when I go to work today and give that a try.

[evilbrent]

Well, it's confirmed.

Same behaviour in 5.2.8 current lucid puppy downloaded today.

if the wireless didn't work on my computer how come I can connect to myDad's?

If the router isn't working how come all my other devices have no problem connecting? It's a good new router, my phone connects as I drive in the driveway, I'm during here typing this on my phone on the network right now.

Flummoxed.

(tried wary puppy too but it didn't have any graphics when it installed.:

[Burn_IT]

Try changing the channel on your router. The default one often gets clogged and confuses your network card.
I cheat and use channel 13 in the UK as very few router will use that so I am the only one in my neighbourhood using it.

[evilbrent]

Thanks Burn_IT, that's a really good suggestion and it does seem to fit the symptoms. I tried each channel three times and had no luck.

But what you did do there is give me hope. So I started fiddling with the 802.11 mode buttons, and when I got to "b & g only" it started working - and importantly still worked after a restart (although I had to teach it ndiswrapper where the driver is again.) I've read the netgear documentation on it and don't really understand - I think it means I won't be able to transmit wirelessly at 270MBPS now, which isn't really an issue for me.

So now I'm going to use gparted to format this computer, and start it from scratch again.

I KNEW it could be done, I just KNEW it.

Thanks all.