Trying to connect a laptop to wireless internet...?

Question

So our school issues every student a laptop for use during the school year. I've never had any trouble with connecting to my home's wifi before, but this year, when my brother and I tried to connect, we couldn't get on the internet. After entering our network key in, our computer said that we were connected and showed full signal strength. However, it also had in bold letters: "No or limited connectivity." We've restarted our laptops, we've reset the modem, and even though the other computers in our house are working perfectly, we cannot find out why these laptops are not connecting to our internet when they have in the past.

I have heard none of my friends having the same problems, so it as to be on our side, but we have no idea what it is.

Answer 1

Are your laptops configured for DHCP still?

Answer 2

I've had a problem like that in the past. My cousin was visiting and brought her laptop with her. On trying to link it to our wireless network we encountered the same problem you are having now.

The problem was with the software on the laptop that was sending the passphrase to the router. It wasn't converting the passphrase into the correct hexadecimal code (which is the passkey) so the router was rejecting it. Normally you can use either a passphrase or a hexadecimal passkey to secure the wireless router. using the hexadecimal passkey is more likely to work because the software will send the key as you have it written instead of working it out the hexadecimal based on your passphrase.

So if you're using a passphrase, you should try to find the passkey from the router settings, write it down and use it as it's written, rather than use the passphrase.

Also remember that the length of the passkey is determined by the encryption type that you use (WEP 64bit or WEP 128bit or WPA or WPA2)... make sure that the laptop supports the type of encryption you use at home.. it's very likely that it does.

Oh, about the signal strength. That doesn't indicate that you have a connection, it just tells you that the router's radio signals are very strong. You can get signal strength information whether or not you have a connection to a particular router.  

Answer 3

When I was in high school they wouldnt even give you pens,