Travel Technology - Wireless connection help required

I'm currently staying in various hotels in CA attempting to connect to the free wireless internet. I can't seem to get my laptop to find any wireless networks. I have an Asus laptop with a built-in Intel Pro Wireless thingie, 2915ABG. I just downloaded a new driver but this hasn't helped. Right now, I'm using a cable to connect but my hotel last night didn't have this option.
It's like I need to turn something on but I have no idea what to do. Can anyone give me any advice on this? I thought the wireless adapter was "on" all the time. :(

Is this a Windows operating system? If so, first go the Network Connections to see if the wireless adapter is enabled or disabled. Right click on the wireless adapter to check this.

Yep, it's windows XP Home edition. The wireless is enabled. I tried doing the 'repair' thing...that changed nothing. Bleh.

Go to network connections, right click on wireless network -> properties. Under general tab, double click on Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). Make sure you are on automatic settings for both IP and DNS.

I suspect it's very likely you have no wireless signal in your room.

Many hotels have - seriously - the same wireless adapter you'd have at home. They're really not meant to serve many people at once or to cover large areas or multiple rooms.

How far are you from the lobby?

I suspect it's very likely you have no wireless signal in your room...?

Good advice. Take the laptop to an area of the hotel where others are successfully connecting via WIFI. Or go to Starbucks. You need to test it in a an environment where you know that there is a a decent WIFI signal.

Many hotels have - seriously - the same wireless adapter you'd have at home. They're really not meant to serve many people at once or to cover large areas or multiple rooms.I recently found this out at a small hotel in Thailand. After using the wifi for a few days, one day there was no network available at all and after waiting a day I notified the front desk. The clerk went over to the home-use router sitting a few feet away, unplugged the power for a few seconds, then reconnected. Network back! I must have been the only guest using a laptop at the time or it might have gone unnoticed for weeks. (It was low season.) My room wasn't all that far from the front desk and even then the best connection kept switching between low and no signal, so the suggestion to do a test run in the lobby is a good one.

NetStumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/) is your friend for finding available networks.

Go to network connections, right click on wireless network -> properties. Under general tab, double click on Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). Make sure you are on automatic settings for both IP and DNS.

This is step two. What was the result of this?

Go to network connections, right click on wireless network -> properties. Under general tab, double click on Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). Make sure you are on automatic settings for both IP and DNS.

Although you shouldn't have to do this just to find wireless networks in the first place. This would come into play if one found networks and had trouble getting "on" once connected.

Cheers.

Asus has wireless switches on many of their laptops. Depending on the model it may be a function key combination, or it's a physical switch above the escape key. Start there to make sure if you have a toggle, it didn't get flipped off

Thank you thank you Mike...yes that was the problem! The switch is on the F2 button. Now it's working beautifully & everyone is happy. :D