MY LAPTOP IN NY LIVING LOST ITS CONNECTION TO THE ROUTER..BUT I SAW A DIFERENT ROUTER NAME...WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

This question is not clear. Does it mean lost of the SSID Broadcast or Network name in your laptop /portable device or lost of the frequency transmission by the router??

If it is lost of SSID or Network display:
1. Check with your laptop or ipad or phone etc, if the wireless is ON.
2. If it is ON check if the closest or highest frequency wireless is yours SSID name or not.
3. If you have a name or SSID display which is yours, connect to it. It will ask for secured password which you would probably know.

If the frequency transmission is lost from the router:

1. Turn ON and OFF the router and try to reconnect: sometime it works.
2. Check the cable which connect the router and the telephone port: sometime humidity in the room make the cable connecting end rusted, if you notice it change the cable.
3. Worst case you have to reset the router: For this you need another question???

Hope it helps

In case of lost password, all you can do is to Reset the router to factory default setting and re-configure the modem/router. Press and hold the reset button for few seconds (It is at the back of the router near the DC Power Jack). The LEDs will then blink and the routers factory settings would be restored. Please note that, after resetting the router you should be able to see the router and connect to it via LAN Cable or Wirelessly as the router automatic assigns the IP Address and gateway etc. Before proceeding to the next step please make sure that you are getting the signals as well as internet. However, the internet connection would not be secure, which can be done later.
After hard reset all the settings are lost and you would have to enter the ISP/DSL settings which are usually provided by the ISP/Internet provider.
Now, all you have to do is connect to the router and secure the connection follow the following steps: -
First you have to access the router through web browser (Internet Explorer) by typing the IP address of your router in the address bar, which is 192.168.0.1 (Default router settings are written under the router) (unless you've configured otherwise, the default username is admin and the password "leave it blank") and lookup for the options to do the following: -
1. Change the SSID (Name) of the router
2. Change the default administrative user name and password
(The above step would prevent unauthorized access to your router)

Next step is to secure it:
1.On the left-hand side, under Setup, click "Wireless Setup" 2.Under "Wireless Security Mode", select your desired encryption method (preferably WEP or WPA2-PSK)
3.Choose a Network Key - it can be anything, as long as it's 8-63 characters in length
4. Click Save Settings.
In the screen shot below from D-Link DIR-300 Router, I have highlighted the above mentioned options.

Now your router and your connection would become secure and the user has to provide the network key to access the internet.

Let me know if any further clarification/ assistance is required.

Hope it helps! Good Luck! Thanks for using Fixya!
CreativeTECH

1. this issue may be due to the age of the router and also firmware updates need as it reads
2. check the manufacturers site for update instruction set
3.Here are some step to try to see if the router is indeed grandfathered:
1.Log into router. Using either 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.1 in a browser window that is ( internet Explorer or Firefox)
2. Verify wireless router name( on the computer) >>> ( on/off) ( router status window)
3.Note router name you are connecting to.
4.. Check the laptop/desktop do ipconfig /all to see current IP addresses.
5. Set the laptop up in the router by WEP KEY or MAC address. This set up in the "security tab" in the router. using 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 to access through a browser.
6.Note router name you are connecting to.
7. Move the laptop about 20ft away and try to log on to the internet.
This is for all routers to set up wirelessly.
8. check for firmware update at the manufacturers site for your model router
9. cell phones, cordless phones, digital TV's, can affect the data signal from a router. Also distance from the router can be a factor. If your router is in a basement place the router to a upper floor and center it in the room.

Your issue is possible due to an antenna or proximity of the devices to the router
There is a way to build an enhanced antenna extender online. This may assist you in not \
having a dropped signal
check out this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTT8wdN_VA&p=E1DF03BB3DEEA423&playnext=1&index=4
1.Log into router. Using either 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.1 in a browser window that is ( internet Explorer or Firefox)
2. Verify wireless router name( on the computer) >>> ( on/off) ( router status window)
3.Note router name you are connecting to.
4.. Check the laptop do ipconfig /all to see current IP addresses.
5. Set the laptop up in the router by WEP KEY or MAC address. This set up in the "security tab" in the router. using 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 to access through a browser.
6.Note router name you are connecting to.
7. Move the laptop about 20ft away and try to log on to the internet.
This is for all routers to set up wirelessly.
8. check for firmware update at the manufacturers site for your model router
9. cell phones, cordless phones, digital TV's, can affect the data signal from a router. Also distance from the router can be a factor. If your router is in a basement place the router to a upper floor and center it in the room.

1. You possibly have lost the IP address from the ISP to your router and you will need to release/ renew the IP or you have a damaged Ethernet cord ( rare) but none the less could be damaged.
2. unplug the Ethernet cord from the connection at the wall for a few seconds and then plug it back in the wall connector.
Then try your connection. Call your ISP ( internet service Provider) and check the line to see if you have proper signal to the router.

Further instructions:
1.Log into router
2. Verify wireless router name( on the computer) >>> ( on/off)
3.Note router name you are connecting to.
4.. Check the laptop do ipconfig /all to see current IP addresses.
5. Set the laptop/desktop up in the router by WEP KEY or MAC address.
6.Note router name you are connecting to.
7. Move the laptop about 20ft away and try to log on to the internet.
This is for all routers to set up wirelessly.

Use your desktop to connect to the router by typing 192.168.0.1 into the internet explorer address bar. Enter user name and password for your router....if you dont know type you router and modeel name into google it will be there somewhere. Now click on wireless and disable security and see if laptop connects now. Back under security create a new password and connect with this now on laptop

ok if you used the reset button on the back of your router you will need to configure the router once more.depending on what name router you might want to go to the manufactures website under tech support for help.you can go to the web by plugging your laptop directly to the cable/dsl modem for internet .
Good Luck

It might be because of other electronic devices that works nearby in similar frequency...devices lik microwave oven, inverters, modems provided by the ISP which comes along with a battery backup, especially RCA modem which doesnt allows other wireless devices to work nearby it... try to relocate the router to a well ventilated area, and make sure you have kept the router atleast 5 feet away from other electronic devices...it could help....

I contacted Bigpond after my whole internet collapsed due to my amature abilities in fixing the internet. >_<" yet they fixed my internet connection by disconnecting my current (DLINK DIR-300) router from the network. hmmmm... the technician also confirmed that my current broadband modem (2WIRE 2071-A) isnt capable of supplying a shared connection to more than one computer!! she also directed me towards a modem with an inbuilt wifi router that "supposedly" is the best option right now. (2701HGV-W) I'm a bit shaky and the stupid NETGEAR adaptor problem still exists - im willing to buy the new modem if its guaranteed to abolish this problem and give me a better internet wise outlook - please any suggestions will be appreiciated =)

I ran into the same problem when i was living in Reno.
I fixed my problem by First, Access Command Prompt, by way of Run Program: CMD
then i inputed the command ipconfig /all
Find the wireless portion in the information that it gives you, what you are looking for is the Mac Address. it should be 12 total Alpha Numeric string, which is seperated every 2 by a dash marker.

Next, access the router through the normal way of browser, In the Wireless section, there is a tab that you select to input the Mac Address into the router, to basically give the router a permission to always give that computer access to the internet. This worked for me. I do hope it works for you. Its what i have always done in the past when i set up wireless Offices