I just moved into a new apartment, and no longer have internet. As fun as toting my notebook around town to get wifi at the coffee shop is, I'd like to be able to access it at home... I have a Dell Inspiron 600m.. with the wireless card that came "built in" with it. It can see there's wireless access, but can't connect due to "no signal". I was wondering whats the best wifi acess-thing (sorry, I'm not big on my computer vocab) that would work... Thanks
You may want to try a PCICIA wireless card (fits in the slot on the site of your laptop). By having the antenna out site the laptop's case you may be able to use the signal you get, however there is still a good chance the access point is just to far away. I have used both D-link and Netgear with good results. Linksys is said to be good also, however I have never used their cards so I cannot speak for that.
There is a pretty neat antenna thing called the can-tenna. It is a directional antenna, so just point it at wherever the signal is coming from. I don't know if it is still being made, so look it up.
If you have a GOOD wireless in your laptop you shouldn't have a problem picking up a signal. If it's not one of the newer ones that have the ability to pull in weak signals, then you may need to do what Jedite says. Make sure your new one has "more gain" or whatever so that it gets better reception. You may just need to "activate" your wireless card if it's not turned on or receiving. Also try different rooms in your house. Some may have better reception. But if you continue to get "no signal" it just means nobody around you has wireless. Are you in a city or the country?
I think the real problem is that you don't have anyone with wireless around you, as Skip said. Also, stealing wireless isn't the nicest thing in the world, since it really slows down the connection of the people who are using it and actually paying for internet. I use a PCMCIA card (wireless boardband) internet anywhere with Spring. It's awfully expensive though... I only use it because I live in the middle of nowhere and that's the only way I can get internet.
The can-tenna is easy to make and direction are all over the internet. However your wireless card dose have to suppost an external antenna. Many have a little holeon the side or somthing that you can connect a wire to. That would be the wire that is used in your can-tenna (or as a wire by itself, it can help.)
believe me, if i had money for it, i'd "be nice" and pay for internet. and wouldnt it just not show any wireless accounts at all, if there was no one? and i'm in the "city". anyway, thanks everyone .
As you can see the access point but are getting no signal then you are most likely at the edge of its range (about 500 feet from the access point hardware). It is possible that with an external antenna and / or finding good sot in your pad you can connect, however it tends to be a bit iffie even then. However it is still worth trying in case you an get it to work. Also when a computer reports the signal it is usually based on your SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio. You have a slight signal and a lot of noise due to the distance, casuign you to have a poor SNR. You SNR is below the min. for a usable signal (accordign to the software(, so it will report no signal. It still shows the point simply because it can see it (even if not useble.)
Here's a site to find "hot spots" They even have my little town in Alaska listed. http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/ I keep a little list of spots where I can pull over in my truck and connect.
