Huge wifi problem with 8820 (detailed thread)

daiver · 03-27-2009, 10:56 PM

Hi guys. I'm new to BlackBerry, but I'm not new to technology and something very strange is happening with my 8820.

This is me:

BlackBerry 8820
Firmware 4.5.0.110 (just updated)

This is my router:

Linksys WRT54G
WPA2-Personal Encryption
DHCP Off

Basically, I can get the Berry to hook up to the wifi newtork (I've already managed to set its static IP, DNS, Default Gateway, and Subnet Mask) but it doesn't seem to work. When I go to Menu -> Manage Connections I see that wifi is on, but has a yellow circle with a line in it, which I assume means it is not active. The wifi network's name is printed at the top of the screen and I do have the wifi logo, although I think it is faded out (I've never seen it "on"). If I go to Options -> WiFi Connections and then open the menu on the network's name, and hit WiFi Diagnostics, everything is correct. I'm next to the router, so this is not a signal issue (signal is -35 dBm).

If I open the browser, it uses the EDGE network. Before I upgraded the firmware, I had the option to change between network browser, wifi browser and hotspot browser. With the new firmware, the wifi browser option is gone.

I've tried turning off DHCP in my router and I've also tried leaving access without a password (not even WEP), only to get the same results.

When I check active wifi connections, it says that my home network is active, yet the yellow circle with the dash is also there.

If I click Status, it even shows the IP that is assigned to my Berry.

Now, I've tried using Opera and setting the option "Wi-Fi" in its settings without any success.

I've checked my router logs when the phone is actually trying to reach a page only to find that there are no requests coming from my Berry's IP. This means that the phone is trying to use EDGE to establish the connection.

I really don't know what else to do as I'm just stuck here without WiFi.

Can any expert please help?

stevetaz · 03-27-2009, 11:33 PM

Hi and welcome to EB:

I am not a WiFi expert by any stretch so I will stumble into this. I set up WiFi on my daughter's Curve and it works great.

I have to ask why it sounds like you did all of the setup manually? Did you use the built in wizard to connect? Manage Connections > Set Up Wi-Fi Network > Scan for Networks

From there you should see your network listed and if it is secured you will be prompted to enter the key and you should be connected.

Was this method tried and failed?

Also, have you updated the firmware on your router recently? The WRT54G has been around for awhile...

Let us know how this goes...

daiver · 03-27-2009, 11:36 PM

Hi and thanks for the quick reply.

Indeed, my router has the latest firmware.

Also, if I use the wizard to connect to the router, it won't let me select the static IP, subnetmask, DNS, or default gateway, which is why I have to do it manually.

Either way, I did try to use the wizard when I had the security in my rounter turned off and nothing happened =(

stevetaz · 03-27-2009, 11:41 PM

Again, I am quite ignorant about WiFi as my daughter's Curve has it, but my 8830 does not. All of the configuration settings were automatic and all I had to do was enter the key when prompted.

When I set hers up I did not turn off the security on the router. Why did you do that?

daiver · 03-27-2009, 11:45 PM

I turned off the security in the router when all else failed, and only for testing purposes with the BB.

If you have a "normal" household, then you probably have DHCP turned on. Your router assigns the IP's for the computers in your house. In my house, each computer has a specific IP, set by me, so that I know which one is which at all times.

For example, I know that 192.168.1.1 is the router. 192.168.1.2 is the computer I'm using to type this. 192.168.1.3 is the computer next to me. 192.168.1.5 is my Berry. 192.168.1.7 is the living room computer, etc. Each one serves a different purpose and static IPs are a must so that things work right.

You, on the other hand, probably have much simpler requirements and just let the router randomly assign an IP to each computer so that things just work out of the box. Of course this is not wrong, it is just a different way of doing the same thing.

stevetaz · 03-27-2009, 11:50 PM

Normal? Not sure... Simpler requirements?...That is certain.

Take a look at this link to see if it can provide you with some higher level help.

Remember to return and let us know what happens...

Visit and post often...

daiver · 03-27-2009, 11:53 PM

Haha, I knew my word choice was going to get me in trouble. Sorry about that.

I'll take a look at that link and keep you posted. Thanks!

stevetaz · 03-27-2009, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by daiver

Haha, I knew my word choice was going to get me in trouble. Sorry about that.

I'll take a look at that link and keep you posted. Thanks!

In trouble??? Absolutely not...And nothing to apologize for.

My house is not what I would consider normal by other's standards. It is normal for us.

Simpler requirements? Absolutely and I agree. I am wired to the router on my super desktop machine Four years old and still kicks butt.

We have three laptops (four when the daughter is home from college) and all connect wirelessly. I set each one up when we installed the network and now we turn them on, they work and I don't want to know any more about them or the network.

That has really been pretty simple in my mind....And I like it that way...

daiver · 03-28-2009, 12:06 AM

Certain stuff, like running a webserver in your house, require static IPs so that the router knows where to direct the traffic.

For example, if I'm running an FTP server on a computer with the IP 192.168.1.55, then the router knows that all FTP requests has to be sent to that machine. It really helps when you're doing stuff remotely.

stevetaz · 03-28-2009, 12:12 AM

Thanks for that info. I was toying with the idea of setting up one of my older machines to host my website, but I think you just educated me enough to leave it with BlueHost for awhile longer...

Time for bed...

I hope you get your BB WiFi setup problems corrected. I am going to guess you will.

Just be sure you come back to see us more...