Sagem Router and Acer Netbook

[theoldbill]

I've been tearing my hair out for a week or so over a problem with my wireless connection, BUT having just worked out the answer I thought I would post it here for anyone experiencing similar problems.

I did have a Netgear Router that worked well for about four years but the wireless adapter went kaput and Sky very kindly sent me a new one, but it was a black Sagem one.

I had mixed success connecting wirelessly for the first few days with both my Acer Aspire One netbook and my wife's Dell laptop (work laptop). In the end both gave up the ghost and neither would connect wirelessly.

I searched through the router config screens and rang Sky tech support who just told me that they did not support Linux on the netbook. It was really doing my head in and I was ready to cancel and take broadband with someone else BUT I found a solution.............. I simply changed the channel number from Auto to Channel 11.

Instant connection, no problem at all!

Result!

I'm just so pleased I wanted to share this in case it helps someone else out.

[IWasNotTheEnemy]

this is a known issue with wireless on the Sagem, not just with your Netbook...

[dgilbert2]

I also found that my Internet Radio needed the wireless mode changing to "54g LRS". Connected fine then!

[PaulSky]

If the OP had been on anything but linux he would have been told to switch from Auto, personally I would have mentioned it during the call and left it to him to sort with instructions.

[Isitme]

Changing the channel should be standard advice, I don't see what the OS has to do with it. The router configuration is the same, no matter what OS you are using.

Maybe they have learned a lesson and when the next Firmware is issued they will stop making Auto the default

[theoldbill]

I thought it was a bit "off" of the Sky rep just to dismiss me cos I said I was using Linux, I did contemplate ringing back and saying I had a Windows laptop in front of me and see where that got me, but obviously I sorted it in the end.

On a side note I seem to find that the Sagem range isn't as good as the Netgear, theSagem won't connect from our bedroom (three storey house) where the Netgear would. I'm going to try moving the Sagem to the middle floor. I was suprised that it had no external antennae.

[IWasNotTheEnemy]

Linux isn't a supported OS, nor is Windows 7...yet...

[Smithy99]

Originally Posted by theoldbill

On a side note I seem to find that the Sagem range isn't as good as the Netgear,

Do yourself a favour, grab a couple of homeplugs, if you want, get one with a wireless access point built in and you can then just move it around the house as needed.

[theoldbill]

I've got three Homeplugs already but no wireless one. I'm going to try moving the router to the lounge on the first floor and see if I can still get a good reception in the garden, if that doesn;t work I might look into a Wireless Homeplug.