topic Re: Plusnet2 router in My Router

Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:01:16 GMT

Simple question!

Can my Dell Inspiron 1150 laptop running Windows XP be WiFi connected to my router? At the moment I can't do it although the laptop does recognise it and I've followed all the Plusnet instructions.

Re: Plusnet2 router

jab1 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:04:42 GMT

There is no reason why not - but Windows XP???

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:13:13 GMT

Thank you John for the reply. The laptop only comes out once in a while, my main computer is a desktop with Windows 10.

Re: Plusnet2 router

HPsauce — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:22:31 GMT

It's possible the laptop won't support the appropriate security, e.g. WPA2. You may be able to change that on your router though.

I had this very specific issue recently with an older HP printer that connected by WiFi. It wouldn't connect to my router which is configured as WPA2 only but would to a (wired) access point (different SSID) that was set up as WEP/WPA.

It should have no issues connecting via a LAN cable, but you may struggle to find (if that's the problem) a WiFi device that has XP drivers and supports WPA2. You will also need to be running XP service pack 3 according to a quick online rummage.

Re: Plusnet2 router

MisterW — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:20:15 GMT

It's likely that the laptop only supports the 2.4ghz WiFi band. Try disabling the 5ghz on the Hub 2 temporarily and then connecting. Once connected you should be able to reenable 5 ghz

Re: Plusnet2 router

Baldrick1 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:22:56 GMT

@RT2

If the computer has an Ethernet connector try connecting it to youe hub using an Ethernet cable.

Re: Plusnet2 router

HPsauce — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:24:48 GMT

@MisterW I hope you'll find that's a bit of a red herring; I have both wavebands and some devices that only have 2.4GHz and there's no confusion. Worth a try though to be sure.

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:35:05 GMT

Thank you Baldrick1 for your reply. I've connected directly to the hub with the ethernet cable but still no joy.

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:43:13 GMT

Thank you HPsauce for the reply. Connecting directly with an ethernet cable has made no difference. I shall make sure that Service pack 3 is installed, it should be.

Re: Plusnet2 router

HPsauce — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:49:36 GMT

Not working via cable is weird, long time since I used XP though, do you have to turn the WiFi off? Have you checked in Device Manager that the ethernet adapter is working and what does the networking status show?

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:51:50 GMT

Thank you MisterW for your reply. Service Pack 3 is mentioned under Systems Properties 'General' as is 2.80GHz against CPU and RAM. Is 2.80GHz also the Wi-Fi frequency?

Re: Plusnet2 router

MisterW — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:53:36 GMT

No, just ignore my suggestion, your problem is more basic than that.

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 17:17:58 GMT

Thank you for the reply. Disabling the Network adapters made no difference with regards to not being able to connect via the ethernet cable.

I should point out that there are 2 Network adapters shown, namely Broadcom 440x10/100 Integrated Controller and secondly Dell Wireless WLAN 1350Mini-PCI Card.

When I went into Device Manager Network adapters Broardcom was already disabled so only needed to additionally disable the Dell.

As regards the network status, if I'm looking at the correct window then it shows the Plusnet router with all the vertical bars illuminated (max signal strength) together with Automatic and yellow star. Putting in the router password starts the connecting searching and nothing subsequently happens except that it returns eventually to the original choose a wireless network connection window.

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 17:19:48 GMT

Thank you MisterW for your reply.

Re: Plusnet2 router

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 17:37:36 GMT

@RT2

What are you hoping to achieve if you can get a network connection ?.

I'm wondering whether you will be able to browse the internet at all, because since Windows XP became obsolete, most websites have changed from HTTP to HTTPS and now enforce minimum security protocol of TLS v1.2 (since 2021) which I don't think Windows XP ever supported, therefore most websites will appear to be non-functioning.

Similarly my email provider now enforces a minimum of TLS v1.2 when attempting to access email from their servers.

Re: Plusnet2 router

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 17:54:23 GMT

@RT2 wrote:

... there are 2 Network adapters shown, namely Broadcom 440x10/100 Integrated Controller and secondly Dell Wireless WLAN 1350Mini-PCI Card.

When I went into Device Manager Network adapters Broardcom was already disabled ...

If the ethernet interface was already disabled (when you tried connecting with a cable),

what happens if you have the ethernet cable connected from laptop to router, and then ENABLE the Broadcom 10/100 ?

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 18:00:36 GMT

Thank you PlanetX for your reply.

What was I hoping to achieve? Essentially it was keeping the laptop as back up should my Win 10 desktop fail and I can't in the immediate term access the internet. From what you say it seems sensible to abandon the whole exercise as there is the likelyhood of not being able to access the website that I wanted in an emergency.

My mobile phone hasn't been upgraded to a 'smart' version hence the need to keep the laptop. This is what happens when you get past a certain age!!!

Re: Plusnet2 router

RT2 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 18:12:39 GMT

Well PlanetX, you're a star.

Broadcom 'ON', Dell Wireless 'OFF' ethernet cable connected. Reached the BBC news on the internet.

Many thanks.

Re: Plusnet2 router

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 18:23:33 GMT

Well at least you have a working laptop ! (although the WiFi is unlikely to be worth fixing)

It will be interesting to hear how you get on browsing the web.

What happens if you try an visit www.plus.net ? - as that is often more fussy than most ! 🙄

If you can browse there, will it let you "Sign-in" to your account ?

Re: Plusnet2 router

paul_blitz — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 18:54:36 GMT

I have a Lenovo laptop, runs (up to date) Windows 10, and while I have no problems connecting to my Plusnet router's wifi, I *do* have problems with some other router's wifi.

In the end I just bought a very cheap (under £5) wifi dongle that I just use when the built-in wifi won't connect.