Wireless G vs B - are they compatible???

[Mini-Me]

Hi.

Trying to setup a laptop with a Wireless B adapter, to talk to a Wireless G access-point. The laptop flatly refuses to talk to the access point.
There is no gateway IP, although there is an IP for the machine itself.

Tried rebooting, repairing the connection etc, but cannot get a connection.

Interestingly, one of the other girls in the flat has a Vista laptop, and it CAN talk to the access point just fine - it has a Wireless G built in.

QUESTION: Are Wireless B and Wireless G compatible?
Perhaps they need to get an "Older" wireless B access point.

The one which won't co-operate has it's wireless LED lit, and this goes out when I turn off the access point, so the laptop knows there is wireless service of some kind available. If I right-click the wireless connection under network connections in control panel, then select REPAIR, the laptop thinks about it for about 30 seconds, then reports that it cannot establish a connection.

Are there any other tests I can run to see if we have any connection at all?

I actually suspect that the wireless card in this older un-cooperative laptop might be crook. Unfortunately, I don't run wireless myself, or I could have brought the laptop home and tried to get it talking on my own network...

I've had a quick look on Wikipedia, and info there seems to suggest that Wireless G is backwards-compatible with Wireless B, but I thought some of you wireless gurus might be able to confirm this or not for me.

At the moment, the access point is totally open - no passwords or login's just till we can get the problem laptop talking, so in theory, any laptop within range should be able to access it.

I KNOW THIS IS BAD FOR SECURITY, but I just need to eliminate any password or login problems for the moment. The access point was physically switched off before I left, so there is no chance anyone can gain access while i'm gone(unless they turn it back on, but I told them not to)

Once we've worked out WHY the older laptop won't talk to the access point, I can then put the passwords back in place.

Anyone got any hints or other suggestions?

[jlreich]

Most G routers are B compatible, but not all, and it will say so in the spec if it is. If it simply says G, then you are probably out of luck.

[mjc]

Most routers can be set to be B, G or both...I have both B and G wireless laptops on my network with no problems (except when I forget one of them is B and switch the router over to G only...).

[Mini-Me]

So are you saying that a G only acess point(even if just set to G-only in the settings) will not talk to a laptop with a B card, correct?

I need to confirm this - I think this is exactly what is going on...

[mjc]

Yeah...the G standard does things slightly differently than B and when in single mode it can 'optimize'everything to supposedly provide a slightly better connection.

[jlreich]

I usually don't allow B machines to connect to my router because B only supports WEP and I will not lower my security to WEP juts to allow an old machine access.

If this machine really needs to have wireless access I would pickup a G card for it.

[mjc]

Oh yeah, that's the other thing...if the router is set to both, and WPA is enabled, like jlreich implied, no B.

I'm not too worried about 'hitchhickers'...1/4 mile from the road, two hills blocking the driveway, woods blocking two of the other directions and a large hill+woods blocking the third...and the signal attenuates rapidly, so basically, only the area immediately surrounding the house is covered...

[Mini-Me]

Okey dokey - thanks - will get a G card for the laptop me thinks...
Will post back with results when I get around to doing this.