Solved WiFiSky Wireless USB Adaptor - Antenna

[jeep1943]

I have installed a WiFiSKY Realtek Wireless USB adaptor Model WF-1600MW 10DBI High Gain Antenna to hopefully improve my signal pick-up from public WiFi Hotspots in Australia such as McDonalds, Public Libraries and others designated public, when using a notebook. It appears to be working OK as the LED blinks and I can pull in quite a few networks from home even though taskbar displays “RTL8187 disconnected” (with 5 red bars) but now displays “RTL8187 is disable” with only logo displayed. At this stage I have not attempted the Configuration mentioned as I do not want the system to only recognize pre-determined “Profiles”. Probably for this reason Signal Strength and Link Quality do not display under “General” tab and Status-Not associated.. I need guidance please as a newbie in this matter. Am I on the right track. Running Windows 7 Pro 32 bit.
Thanks for any help, jeep1943

 

[SmurofNeves]

Have you tried downloading new drivers compatible with the OS & Device?

 

[biggles1000]

Are the red bars Realtek's own wireless configuration thing? I too use a USB Realtek wifi stick (well, I did until some friends messed up all it's ip adress settings). If it is their wireless config thing, just use the Microsoft one instead. It doesn't mind if you do (personally I find the realtek config unbearable). If your notebook has wifi built in, it'll show connections available from both the internal and external cards. Whichever one shows the most wireless networks is the realtek one.

 

[jeep1943]

Generally the Realtek displays more networks. You mention your IP's were messed up. Now I think this may be the basis of my enquiry. Do I need to associate my home network or any public that I can logon to. It seems to me that if I can "capture" the network and send or receive I probably do not need to set up a profile or "associate" the network.

 

[jeep1943]

Have you tried downloading new drivers compatible with the OS & Device?

No not yet. Will check to see if one available

 

[biggles1000]

All you need to do is connect, right? :/
The dot with an orange circle on top of it in the icons on the taskbar (where LAN would normally show) should show one or two lists of wireless networks to connect to. Connect to one clicking on one from the list of the most. After putting in any wep/wpa etc. key in, you should be connected.
Just ignore the realtek connection software, third party stuff generally work worse in networking case.