Wifi in Router not working

July 26, 2009 11:28 PM

I have a Linksys wrt160n router with the latest firmware. It works fine when wired with a desktop but not with my wireless notebooks. The Wireless light on the router is ON but wireless devices are not able to detect the network even though everything is in the same room. If I use wires, things work perfectly but not wirelessly. I have reset to factory defaults, tried the power cycle, etc. but still the same issue.
posted by labnol to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Is there any chance that you've done one of the following:

1) Told your router not to broadcast the SSID?

2) Updated the firmware, restoring the defaults, thereby changing the SSID to something you don't recognize?
posted by Netzapper at 12:47 AM on July 27, 2009

I had the same problem with my first wrt160n. I sent it back and got a new one - that one works without any problems. Couldn't figure out why. At the very least, you should see the 'linksys' SSID when the router is reset.

Did your router ever work with wireless devices?
posted by chookibing at 5:08 AM on July 27, 2009

Try conecting to another router. If it is a laptop just head out to a coffee shop and see what is up. I recently screwed up one of my laptops by setting the wireless connection to the maximum battery saving setting which stopped the wireless from connecting at all.

If you can connect to another router you have eliminated a problem with wireless on your laptop.

That leaves a router failure or a security problem.

Try setting your router to being wide open and completely insecure and with SSID. If you can see your router and connect then the problem is your security setup. Don't leave it like this though!

If you can't connect even without any encryption your router is probably not working.
posted by srboisvert at 7:53 AM on July 27, 2009