I just received a pile of WGR614 v6 (US version) wireless routers. They work tolerably well for me. What version hardware? They're all quite different.
No expeience with the WG311 PCI cards.
OK. So the router part works connecting to the internet via ethernet.
10 hours? Now, that's dedication. I used to do it like that but now value my spare time at a higher rate. If takes me more than 2hrs, I yell for help or return the piece of junk.The difficult part here is that we cannot tell if the problem is in the WGR614 router or the two PCI cards. Is there a known working client (laptop) or nearby hot spot that can be used to make the distinction?
OK. So "show available networks" in the WG311 Netgear program doesn't find the WGR614. Does it see any other networks? If your neighbors have wireless, it should see them. Hang the computer out the window. If nothing, then whatever is broken is on the client side.
Go back to the stock setup. Firewalls and antivirus software will not interfere with the initial connection, so that's not a problem at this point.
I assume that you tried to reset the WGR614 to defaults at one point? With all the tinkering you've done, doing it again might not be a bad idea.
On the WGR614 "wireless" page, see if the radio is enabled. (Yeah, I know.... I've done dumber things when I'm tired).
Yep. All the techy stuff was removed to make room for the "feel good" junk that nobody reads. You'll be thrilled to know that Linksys has done much of the same.
Well, that fairly well eliminates the operating system and points at the two PCI cards. Try different slots? The only way to be sure is to drag in a different access point and a known working laptop. If there are no nearby networks, AND the WGR614 is dead, then you'll get the symptoms you describe. You need a tie breaker.
Not yet.