We are trying to set up a wireless network (adhoc) using 2 USB wireless adapters.(Mentor 802.11b wireless LAN USB adapter) One PC is upstairs and the other is almost directly underneath in the living room. We have installed the software and the adapters but we have a problem! Both adapters find networks within range but do not find each other.

Any suggestions what the problem could be?

have u set the adaptors to search in "ad-hoc" mode, sounds like there still in in "infrastructure" mode.

Originally posted by Gazza
have u set the adaptors to search in "ad-hoc" mode, sounds like there still in in "infrastructure" mode.

Yes! Checked that already thanks.

Any other suggestions?

Please??

if your running SP2 try switching the firewall off, and get the pc's talking to each other 1st!

Windows firewall is off and ZoneAlarm is disabled too but still not finding each other.

Argggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

try the pc's closer together - to make sure its not a distance issue.

ps.

im really bored sat at my office desk untill 10pm, listening to praise or Grumble - at least the pigs lost :D

Do they both have the same SSID?

Also, have you assigned both of them IP addresses? (assuming you arent running DHCP on one of them)

they both have to have the same SSID and the same channel and be both set to ad-hoc... ad-hoc wireless networking is a royal pain in the rear!

also, check your WEP settings, to make sure they both don't have different encryption set-ups :)

Have you set the PCs to be in the same workgroup?

I assigned them both ip's, set them to adhoc and made sure they were in the same workgroup. Not sure what an SSID is though, as i've never set up a network before. As far as i can tell they're both set up the same except for having different ip's.

Which usb adapter do you have? Also, are you using the wireless connection software that came with the adapters or are you using Wireless Zero Configuration service to create the connection?

The SSID is the "Network Name". This needs to be the same on both computers.

As mentioned by somebody above the encryption method also needs to be the same (if your using any) and also have the same key (again - this is only applicable if you are using encryption).

Its also worth checking that the channel is the same on both pcs. If its finding other access points you need to pick a channel thats different to the ones its finding. As a general rule you should pick one of the "none-overlapping" channels. Which is going to be one of 1, 6 or 11. So if you are finding access points on channels 1 and 11 then use channel 6 (remembering to change both computers to the same channel).

Are both IP addresses on a private IP range with a suitable subnet mask?

If none of the above works open a command prompt (Start, run, type "command") and type "ipconfig /all" and then "route PRINT" at the prompt and message me a copy from both computers. (to copy from a command prompt window - right click and select "mark").

edit: most of the above post assumes you're using Windows XP, if this isn't the case please say so and say which O/S(s) you're using.

Well we can now connect via someone elses network but the PC's are still not finding each other! Also, we have another little problem now. The PC upstairs keeps crashing. It comes up with a blue screen saying it has shut down because of an error and to make sure that any new hardware/software is properly installed or remove it!

Argghhhhh!!!!!!

Help!!