Windows 7: Wireless Network Connections

Chev65--

Another follow up for you. This probably doesn't belong here, since it is, I presume, primarily a Windows XP issue. But since it is part and parcel of the same discussion, I thought I would see if anyone has an opinion as to what is happening.

I have tried connecting to the 2.4 GH wireless connection, but I get what seems to me, strange results.

When I click the CONNECT button, it gives me several options, one of which is to enter the passphrase for the router. So that's what I did (I had it handy, and the other options involved either pressing a button on the router, or logging into the router to enter a PIN.) In any case, I got a box that said it is connecting, and that this may take a few minutes. Then, I got a box that said, the connection was successful (and right away, I had 4 bars on my signal strength), BUT that the attempt to test the internet connection was NOT successful.
So I tried starting IE and going to a site. No luck. Got the IE page that said the site was not accessible. So I clicked the DIAGNOSE button, and let Windows run a test of the connection. It came back with something along the lines of "Your connection is properly configured, but a connection could not be made." I then tried accessing the Win 7 computer through the network, and that wouldn't work either.

So I rebooted, and when I did, I was back at the 5 GH connection again, and everything worked, but back with my one bar of signal strength. So I tried again. This time, once the connection was complete (I had saved the connection details earlier, so didn't have to enter the passphrase again), it said that the connection was successful, AND that the test of the internet connection was ALSO successful. So I tried IE and a web page again. Still no go. However, this time, Windows told me that the internet was accessible, but that probably the site was down. Tried a few other sites, and tried updating my antivirus. Nothing succeeded. So tried accessing the other computer again. No go. But I did have 4 bars of signal strength.

I tried a couple of more times. Sometimes, the test of the internet connection is successful, sometimes not. But I have not yet been able to actually reach a web page. The other thing that confounds me is that if I connect to the 2.4 connection, then reboot, when Windows boots back up, it connects to the 5 GH connection.

Do you (or does anyone) have an idea where the problem lies, and do you know if there is a way to tell Windows which connection to use as the default when you have successfully connected with more than one?

About all you can do is try updating the firmware on the router. After that I would designate a few settings in the router like using 2.4GHz band only not mixed, use WPA2 security and AES encryption not mixed, also as I mentioned before run a scan using Xirrus wifi scanner and set your router to use an unused channel in your area. I've seen lots of similar complaints about the 5Ghz frequency so can't say what the problem is.

When you set up the wireless on the Win 7 machine use the same options but don't use the mixed settings.

Latest firmware for your router.
Answer

Thanks. I'm always hesitant to "fix" what isn't totally broken (the 5 GH does work, it's just the weak signal that's annoying. And there is the additional doubt about whether the problem is with the router, or with the wireless adapter. Part of my problem is my ignorance. I'm always hesitant to tweak what I don't understand <g>. I do appreciate the link to the firmware download. I'll do some more reading up on it all before I decide what to do next. Thanks again for your help and your patience.