Having trouble setting up wireless network

[Misty77]

I've just bought a new wireless laptop (a HP G70 111). I'm trying to get a wireless network set up, the laptop first and then my PC. I'm with AOL - the router is working properly, and everything works fine - until you get to the stage where you remove the yellow ethernet cable - it seems as though the laptop and router aren't speaking to each other ! According to the laptop the wireless is enabled and working fine....I can get online when the ethernet cable is plugged in, but cannot get onto a wireless network. once it's removed. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Huderon]

Misty, you might be better off posting this somewhere in Technology rather than How It Works, and include the router make and model

OK, so you used the ethernet cable to connect to and set up the router I'd guess (things like your connection security level, passphrase and the type of wireless connection to be used). There is more than one standard for wireless and if your laptop is using one and the router is set to accept a different one, they won't talk to each other.

Connect to the router with the cable again, go to the admin page for the router (the web address will be something like http://192.168.x.x the last two numbers may vary according to the router, but it will be in the documentation), log in and set your security level to None to start with and the mode to g and b, then disconnect the cable and try again.

If that works, reconnect the cable, log on to the router again and change the security level to WPA-PSK (TKIP) and enter a passphrase. But remember that the passphrase will be case sensitive (A is not the same as a) so note exactly what the passphrase is including capitals, numbers and special characters. Disconnect the cable and try to get on line again, entering the passphrase exactly as you entered it on the router.

If that works, all well and good, if not, I'm stumped ! Well not entirely stumped - for example if you set up a wireless card access list to restrict which computers can use the router and entered the wrong MAC address for the laptop you would be blocked, but try the other stuff first and if you get no joy repost in Technology.

[webdude]

Two good answers there - all I would add is check your network connection for the wifi, and in the wireless network connection properties, click on TCP/IP, then properties, and under the General tab make sure that the option to Obtain IP Address Automatically is enabled, then try re-connecting.

[dm1982]

some laptops you need to hold in the function key and either f1 or f2, simultaniously of course.

[Misty77]

Thanks guys, I'm going to try again later. I'm fairly sure that the wireless function is enabled - the laptop has a light when is red when it's switched off, and blue when switched on. It's always blue right from it being started up.