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

JaimieCF wrote:

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. 

From other recommendations in this thread, I split the T-Mobile Gateway 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals via 192.168.12.1/home and it DIDN'T work. I also upgraded my network adapter's driver, it's BIOS, and Windows 10 before trying the RE330 and none of that worked either. 

However using JaimieCF’s suggestion, I purchased a TP-Link RE330 Wi-Fi Extender from Amazon for about $35 AND MY LAPTOP CAN SEE MY SSID AGAIN!

Details (May 20, 2022):

Laptop: Dell Latitude E7240

OS: Windows 10 (Pro, version 21H2)

Network adapter: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260, driver 21.10.1.1 (even though Device Manager says it’s v.18.33.11.2… reinstalling the new driver confirms it’s 21.10.1.1 *shrugs*)

Wi-Fi: T-Mobile Gateway, Firmware 1.00.16

Range Extender: TP-Link Mesh Wi-Fi Extender RE330

tl;dr -- buy the RE330.

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 

Dell Inspiron something something, about 4 year old laptop.

I had to use windows updater (optional updates) to update drivers. I had intel wifi and a realtek driver that I updated so idk which actually fixed the issue.

I tried installing intel wifi drivers from website and it was 'up-to-date'. Even with the instel system diagnostic software.

Never figured out how to change channels and stuff. My only options are to use combined or 2.4 and 5 separated. Couldn't find any advanced settings to do more than that.

Just confirming that my problem is fixed by doing what has been said here in this post:

My Lenovo YOGA/Flex 15 laptop (pretty old, from about 2014-5 or so) running Windows 10 needed a driver update for its Intel wireless chip.  I have an Intel N-2760 wireless chip.  Previously I had a driver from 2015.  The latest I could find was a 2019 driver.  Installing the new one fixed the issue of:

1. not seeing the SSID of the T-Mobile Gateway

2. not being able to connect to the T-Mobile Gateway and get internet service
   
   thank you

TedH wrote:

I have updated the drivers, changed the Channel, enabled and disabled the wifi device. Nothing works. This is a Dell Inspiron 7548.I am very frustrated by this.

Have you tried one of the other methods mentioned earlier?

1. Activating and renaming the SSID of one of the 2.4GHz channels so that it is not shared (basically allowing non-WiFi6 access)
2. Lowering the transmission mode to an older standard (example, ax/g to n/g)
3. Lowering the encryption (WPA) to an older standard (example, WPA3 to WPA2)

I have updated the drivers, changed the Channel, enabled and disabled the wifi device. Nothing works. This is a Dell Inspiron 7548.I am very frustrated by this.

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

Vypur wrote:

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.

Same issue here and this is what I also did. Great advice here!

I was having this issue with:

Realtek rtl8723au 

y 

Edimax EW-7811Un (Popular for raspberry Pi units)

My fix on the 5G gateway was to change the following in 2.4 GHz settings

Transmission Mode from “Auto (ax/g)” to “n/g”

worked for both devices. For really old network cards (Hands up if you still use windows xp!), you could change this to "b/g" or even "b", but if it does not support WPA, you would (NOT RECOMMENDED) be required to disable encryption all together...I would recommend an ethernet cable at that point.

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.