US purchased NC10 can't connect to wifi channels 12 or 13
Posted: 21 Oct 2010, 18:01
Apologies for the super formal post, but I fired this off to Samsung and got no response, and would rather just paste it in than re-type it. Ubuntu is my daily driver, but I can't solve the problem on XP, either. If someone can even just tell me "sorry dude, you're screwed" that would be better than nothing.
Nearly two years ago, I purchased a Samsung NC10 Netbook. I'm currently traveling in France, and am having difficulties connecting to wireless networks. Here's the pertinent information:
Model Number: NP-NC10-KA02US
Purchased: In the United States
OS: Windows XP/Ubuntu Linux 10.10 (Problem is present on both operating systems)
Problem:
Because my laptop was purchased in the states, it's configured to scan wireless channels 1-11 (FCC Mandated). I'm currently in France, and in Europe, routers are allowed to broadcast on channels 12 and 13 as well. A number of routers broadcast by default on channel 12 or 13, and currently my laptop can't even see those wireless networks, because it doesn't know to scan for them. I need to change the configuration (if possible) so that I can scan all 13 possible channels.
How I've diagnosed the problem: My smartphone is an HTC Magic for UK's Vodaphone. Because it's a European build, it can scan for wireless on all 13 channels. When it was limited to just scanning for channels 1-11, it was unable to find certain wireless networks. When I changed the software setting to allow the phone to scan for all 13, it was able to connect without difficulty.
Because I am travelling, I'm not at liberty to change the various routers I use to broadcast on a channel between 1 and 11, so I need to be able to change the configuration of my laptop, if possible. I realize this may be a hardware (wireless card) issue, and not a software/firmware/driver issue, but I've been unable to find confirmation to either point.
Nearly two years ago, I purchased a Samsung NC10 Netbook. I'm currently traveling in France, and am having difficulties connecting to wireless networks. Here's the pertinent information:
Model Number: NP-NC10-KA02US
Purchased: In the United States
OS: Windows XP/Ubuntu Linux 10.10 (Problem is present on both operating systems)
Problem:
Because my laptop was purchased in the states, it's configured to scan wireless channels 1-11 (FCC Mandated). I'm currently in France, and in Europe, routers are allowed to broadcast on channels 12 and 13 as well. A number of routers broadcast by default on channel 12 or 13, and currently my laptop can't even see those wireless networks, because it doesn't know to scan for them. I need to change the configuration (if possible) so that I can scan all 13 possible channels.
How I've diagnosed the problem: My smartphone is an HTC Magic for UK's Vodaphone. Because it's a European build, it can scan for wireless on all 13 channels. When it was limited to just scanning for channels 1-11, it was unable to find certain wireless networks. When I changed the software setting to allow the phone to scan for all 13, it was able to connect without difficulty.
Because I am travelling, I'm not at liberty to change the various routers I use to broadcast on a channel between 1 and 11, so I need to be able to change the configuration of my laptop, if possible. I realize this may be a hardware (wireless card) issue, and not a software/firmware/driver issue, but I've been unable to find confirmation to either point.