ok, so im working for the SCDNR, out in the middle of nowhere, and to get internets in my house it's ridiculously expensive. however, we have a wireless network at the office, granted the network filters out all the stuff internets are good for. nevertheless, i wanna know why the hell my laptop will not detect the network whatsoever. it's something like TKIP, with obvious security and all that, but first and foremost, i need to get my computer to detect the signal. can anyone help? ive got a toshiba (satellite A135) laptop with built-in wifi, running vista. ive gone 6 months without internet and i think im going crazy.

can anyone point me in the right direction? or am i going to have to waste time with tech support on the phone?

10/15/2007 5:47:44 PM

umm...do you live NEAR the office? that might be part of the problem

or are you saying you can't get on the network while you're at the office?

this thread is teh sucky

10/15/2007 6:18:15 PM

it might not be broadcasting an SSID

or, you're out of range

10/15/2007 7:23:15 PM

Quote :

"or, you're out of range"

10/15/2007 7:25:03 PM

^^ or make sure the wifi radio is turned on.. they're may be a Fn key attached to an F key that has an antenna looking symbol.

but it's likely both.. I doubt Gov't networks, if very secure, will broadcast their SSID.

10/15/2007 7:28:22 PM

heh please tell us how far you are from the office when trying to get on the network

10/15/2007 7:29:41 PM

Quote :

"but it's likely both.. I doubt Gov't networks, if very secure, will broadcast their SSID."

10/15/2007 7:42:07 PM

i know its a government job but..

if it cant even pay for teh internetz you need a new one

10/16/2007 7:42:18 PM

im not dumb enough to post a thread like this when the problem would be as simple as being out of range. im not talking about getting the signal at my house, which i know is out of range, but more so being able to sit on the office porch and check email and shit after office hours. and it's not something like just making sure my wifi is turned on.

sooo...if its the whole broadcast of the SSID thing (sorry, im not tech-savvy these days, especially not having internets) is the problem, is there any way around it? my boss has told me some peoples' wifi will pick up the wireless signal, others unfortunately wont.

11/4/2007 8:57:12 AM

im sure you have an it department/person at that job

talk to them. we wont be of much help to you, but they will.

11/4/2007 3:22:58 PM

It could be that they are on a timed wireless setup where the wireless only works during business hours, but is off during off hours to minimize security concerns.

11/4/2007 5:54:02 PM

let me preface this by saying I'm not IT, but this is how I understand it

often times on secure wifi networks like this, certain software is required to see the network.

the client will be able to scan and find the network (often showing with a blank ssid) where as the regular wireless network service included with windows will not

normally, these clients will also handle logging into the network at the point of entry.

chances are that the connection also has encryption scheme that you will not have on your personal computer if you are able to detect the network.

they probably wouldn't just give you a license to the client tool, they're usually on a per head cost to the business, but i dont know how the government rolls on that type of thing. then there's also the inherant risk of allowing personal computers to access a privante network.

11/4/2007 6:34:56 PM

^thanks, i cant really understand any of that, but perhaps if i do get someone who does, it will help.

^^no

^^^actually, we dont. im out in the middle of nowhere, it's the south carolina DNR...not like im working at a central office. but my boss is finally lookin into getting in touch with the IT guy in columbia, so maybe he'll help.

11/10/2007 4:48:43 PM

If the people who designed the wireless infrastructure were good, they would have done a site survey and determined exactly what placement and signal strength is necessary to limit wifi to only indoors.

At my workplace, i can get wireless signal in the lobby of my building all, the way up to the door, but just a foot outside the door and i get nothing.

11/11/2007 9:55:27 AM