Wireless setup what do I need?

[bnrr]

OK, everytning was just going great with the wireless and the PC, but just for 3 days when I tried using the laptops with the wireless. the laptops I was using with the wireless are, Acer Aspire 3680 and toshiba satellite pro, Acer with vista home and toshiba with vista preimum. both laptops are connected to the trendnet wireless router, but not to the internet. commputer ------ trendent (connected) -------- internet (not connected) diagnose result:
trendnet: signal- very good, all bars are lit green.
Internet: no connecton, plug ethernet cable. reset router, reset IP address, firewall preventing IP, DNS not responding call ISP administrator.
I had follow all the troubleshooting tips from both vista and trendnet, but still the same results.(these are on the laptops only.)
since I could not work out the issures with the laptops, I went on to use the PC since I know that the wireless is working great with it. while log in to technibble and making this post(yesterday)and click on the post quick reply button, I got the IE message 'web page cannot be displayed' What!!!.. and with network diagnose it gave the same results as mention with the laptops. Since I am not getting any internet connection with the wireless I had convert back to wire connection, so I could do the post all over again.
also wireless router is hot to the touch, the router is setup away from anything that could cause interference and is set on top of a wooden cabet that is at least 8 feet high and is centered in the middle of the living room. I made sure that the leds are working (flashing in a normal blinking) and the cable modem as well. as for the ISP, I called and explained the problems and they said that they would reset the DNS.
could you guys analyze this issue and provide a working solutions. Thainks

 

[Blues]

The heat to me suggestion a device failure in the router you might have a lemon.

 

[brewcrewxl]

First things first, I would take the ethernet cable plugged into the back of the router (from the modem) and plug it into your computer. Restart the network connection on that computer so that it picks up the cable modems address (if it hasn't automatically). If you are still getting a limited connection (no internet), then the problem is at the cable modem and not your network. Power cycle the modem (unplug the power and plug it back in)and check the internet connection again. Ensure that the lights on the modem are doing what they are supposed to. If you're not sure tell us what make/model modem you have. If you can access the modem ip address (typically 192.168.100.1) you should be able to pull the log and signal properties to see if they are in spec. Sometimes if the modem is out of spec it will start resetting repeatedly causing your internet connection to be sporadic. If that the case call your cable company. Hide the router when they come because they will blame it on that without checking the modems signal.

My guess is that this is where your problem is starting. However...

If you are receiving an internet connection when connected to the modem directly, you'll want to look at the router settings (insdie the router using the router's ip address). First connect everything back up like you had it before connecting directly to the modem. Pull up the routers ip address to access its menu. If you have a cable modem sometimes your ip address changes (you have to pay extra for it not to). Ensure the router is set to dynamic so that it will find the ip address if it changes. Normally it is automatically set to that by default, however, some people mistakely set it to the ip address from their modem not realizing it changes. Save any changes and power cycle the router (unplug the power and plug it back in). Once everything is up and going try your internet connection again.

I say this because you said your computers are wirelessly connecting to the router, just not the internet, so the wireless part of the router is connecting. So we should not need to troubleshoot that. By trouble shooting it in the order described you should be able to determine where your problem is occurring. Heat is bad, of course, but it doesn't sound like the problem if your wireless laptops are able to connect to the router.

 

[brewcrewxl]

Your broadband connection is not 100Mbps. The network card is capable of processing 100Mbps. If the wireless from the router to the pc is running at only 54Mbps then the router is either set individual wireless connections to 54Mbps or the card/adapter in the pc you are referring to is only 54 Mbps. This is only how fast it lets you talk to the other computers on your network. The broadband connection will still only be whatever the Mbps your service provider offers.

 

[bnrr]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for their replys for all the help for my wireless setup. all the advice had given me a great insight as how to proceed with wireless technical issues. The problem has been resolved. in the replys I just kept reading over and over, and it occure to me that everything is focus on just the routehr itself. So I began to look at the wireless adapter card and thought maybe I should test it. I look at the lights and it was blinking alright, it just blinks from top to bottom, not at the same time sort of like one at a time. I then remove it from the first PCI slot that it was installed and install it on the second PCI slot. the lights turn on after windows boot up and it was not the same as in the first slot, both lights turn on at the same time and just kept on flashing at the same time. check network map on the connection and it show that I was connected to the internet in which I am doing this post. before I log on to technibble I got the BSD reading that there is a hardware problem and it needs to shut down, I know what the problem hardware is, the first PCI slot, it is not working properly in which I tested by installing a video card and it did not work. the laptops is also connected to the internet, I went around my home checking for the signal and range for connectivity, I even went outside of my home, pass with no problems. The only thing that I do not understand, adapter card is not working properly why is it that the laptops could not work also, since it already has a built in wireless. Is that how the system works, one device not working all other device on the netowrk does not work also, is that right. Well anyway fellows many thanks

 

[Blues]

If the PCI wi-fi card was malfunctioning it could cause interferance or have been atempting an ad-hoc mode and the laptops picked that up.