Windows laptop can't find T-Mobile Home Internet network... but all other devices can

PROBLEM SOLVED.  I was having the same issue with an older Asus laptop. When I had the 4G LTE router/modem from T-Mobile the network would show up on my laptop but once I got the 5G one the network wouldn't show up on my laptop but it would show up on all other devices. The work around I found was purchasing the TP-Link RE300 range extender. You connect the range extender to the 5G router/modem then connect the problem device to the range extender. In my case it was my laptop which is now connected to the range extender and working fine. This range extender is 2.4ghz and 5g compatible. Not sure if other range extenders would work as this is the only one I own and have tried. Also, I just ran a speed test and there's no noticeable difference in speed due to being connected to the range extender instead of the T-Mobile router/modem directly.

The range extender I bought was only like $30 or $40 dollars and was very easy to set up. 

I hope this helps someone experiencing my scenario where Laptop WIFI Adapter Driver is old...

After installing the T-Mobile Gateway Gray Kit I was unable to see the SSID name in the list of available networks on my 2017 HP Laptop running Windows 10, but everything else in the house connected, since I renamed Gateway to the previous router SSID name. I searched the type of wireless adapter I have in laptop, Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265, and visited Intel site to update Wireless adapter Driver to the latest for my device, 19.51.33.1. After the update I am able to see the Gateway SSID and laptop connects.

To find WIFI adapter name: Right click internet icon in Task Bar > Open Network & Internet Settings > select 'WIFI' > 'Harware Properties'. Look for Manufacturer Name an Model. Go to manufacturer site and search for driver download; mine was an executable file, which installed and updated after a few prompts.

One may access the T-Mobile Gateway Settings by connecting Laptop directly to Gateway via LAN cable into back of Gateway and enter 192.168.12.1 into browser. One may view and modify the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WIFI Networks Settings. Username: admin > Password: (Is what you determined during installation, or the default listed on bottom of Gateway.) I'm using my laptop on the 2.4GHz network, so I changed the Gateway Channel from default 1 to 11, this didn't affect the other devices already connected. None of these changes had any affect on laptop SSID discovery until after I updated the Driver.

All this is a common issue because of the age of your client device(laptop, phone etc). This is because the wireless card in the device does not support the newest 2.4ghz bands that the T-Mobile devices comes defaulted to. 

You do not need to buy an extender or any other piece of equipment, only change one setting on the router. 

You will want to log into the router settings, theses are found on the bottom of the T-Mobile device. 

Navegar hasta:

1. Red
2. Red Wi-Fi
3. 2.4ghz
   1. Change Transmission Mode from “Auto(AX/G) 
   2. Start with N/G - if your device still cannot see the Wireless Network - go to next step
   3. Change to B/G

Due to the age of the device it is not a big deal to have a lower transmission speed on the 2.4ghz channel - all modern devices will connect to the 5ghz channel or WiFi 6 if your device supports it. 

Hope this helps! 

If you need any other IT Services feel free to reach out to us! www.cloudITaustin.com 

Do you have both 2.4 and 5ghz broadcasting? I think some older laptops can't see both 

alarmguy wrote:

1. Which TMobile device are your talking about? Is this the New Nokia Gray Tower?
2. If so, how did you set up the Wifi network in your home, did you set your own SSID’s or are you using the TMobile WiFI name?
3. Did you select your own channels? Or do you have it on "Auto"?

The reason for my questions is because of this;

The Nokia Tower offers a wide selection of Wifi Channels which is fantastic. These channels are used world wide meaning not all channels are used in all countries. Its a global device. The Channels offered to us in the USA includes some channels with restrictions and not commonly used in typical routers. In this respect the Nokia router is superior, as you can truly set a channel in a crowded wifi area that no one else uses. 

The down side is, since these channels are not commonly used in the USA some devices are not programmed/capable of seeing them. So if you set your own channel you may have selected channels your device can not see, change it to a commonly used channel or simply set it to "Auto" and let the device choose your channel for you. 

More or less, it is something with your computer and not the Nokia Tower. Try refreshing your network on the computer because no matter what, its should be seeing the 2.5 network at the least, no matter what settings on the router. 

How do I change set it to "auto"? I have the nokia gray tower. I changed the name it with and it works on all other devices but on my laptop's list of network does not show. I don't know what you mean by select your own channel. 

I have been trying many things but a 3 year old Lenovo laptop also does not show the Tmobile gateway as an option.  All other computers and devices have connected fine.  Unfortunately this is my husband's laptop and he would like to connect using it. I will keep trying things but I hope someone can help resolve this.

PROBLEM SOLVED -
5yr old Asus Laptop, I was not able to see the SSID on my new 5G T-mobile home router.   I had been able to see my old Verizon Fios router from this laptop.   All my other home computers, phones, devices were able to see and use the T-mobile 5G router without problem - no drops.  

I downloaded the "Intel Driver & Support Assistant" from the Intel web site.   It told me that I need 3 different updates one of which was for my WiFi adapter.  After updating the Wifi adapter and rebooting the Laptop, I'm now able to see, and connect to, the T-mobile 5G.   

Visita Device Manger, desplázate hasta 

Net work adapters click on it 

You see wireless device, mine was (Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160)

right click then click on  update driver

done!!!

Carrie39 wrote:

Hello all. I am new to the TMobile Gateway. I just got the grey Gateway tower and I am having the same issues with my older laptop not connecting or even seeing my SSID. Everyone else in my house can connect and be on it just fine but when I got to connect my laptop it won't come up. It's a Toshiba Satellite Pro L850 series running Windows 8. I have done everything I can think of to find my connection. I went in and made sure my Wifi adapter was up to date, rolled back the drivers and even went in to command prompt and did the config. Still nothing. What am I doing wrong or what do I need to do to get it to connect??

I had the identical problem with an older laptop with a Realtek adapter, where the newest driver update did not solve the problem of connecting.

The T-Mobile 5G gateway is WiFi6, which has advanced encryption and shared SSIDs, which some older equipment cannot handle.

Going through the many threads here on this issue, it appears there are at least 3 ways to solve this, if the driver update does not work.

Basically, activating and renaming the SSID of one of the 2.4GHz channels so that it is not shared, lowering the transmission mode to an older standard, or lowering the encryption (WPA) to an older standard.

Known issue on older devices. The Intel WiFi drivers need to be updated.