Can't connect to router, but I can see it..?

Hi,

Basically I am unable to connect to my WPA secured wireless router even though I know for sure I am entering the password correctly. I'm actually having a similar problem on my desktop, but thankfully on windows 7 you are able to use the push button method so I can at least connect to the internet there.

There are about 6 computers in my house, 4 of which seem to have no issues connecting to the wireless router. The remaining 2 computers (mine of course), are unable to connect to the wireless router. The only way I can get internet is on my desktop under windows 7 using the push button method.

When my laptop was running debian, I had no problems connecting to the router. Only now that I am running ubuntu 10.04 it is all of a sudden having the same problem as my desktop and unable to connect. Both of my computers are able to see the wireless network, but for some reason they just can't get a connection.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why these two computers seem to be unable to connect to my router, even though I know the passkey is being typed correctly?

 

I would not even hazard a guess without you sharing VITAL information for solving the problem.

Things like ROUTER MAKE AND MODEL. WIRELESS CHIPSET types in the two machines that do not work and at least one of the machines that does work.

 

Something basic; Have you tried powering off the Router, wait like 1 min. and power it back on?

 

Gotta ask - what's the push button method? Do you mean hitting the reset on the back?

I had some random issues connecting to my wireless WPA2/AES via both Mint and Lucid on my netbook, but those were (oddly enough) resolved by toggling gufw on. No amount of scripting would enable wireless networking, but that did it.

Just curious - can you actually see the network, or is it only listed because you added it manually? If it's added manually, the network will list even if it's not truly detected.

 

Wireless router: D-LINK DIR-628
Wireless card (desktop): Linksys WMP-600N Wireless N
Wireless chipset (laptop): Broadcom BCM4322

The push button method is just when you go push a button on the router and it allows the next machine that tries to connect to be able to connect without restriction.

The network is visible, I have not added it myself. It was found automatically by both computers.

Also, if I turn off WPA I have no issues trying to connect at all.

 

Delete the Wireless Profile of the Router on the laptop/computer; try searching for the Router again and try to reconnect.

 

Gotcha. I tend to forget about that b/c I load up aftermarket firmwares. Have you tried WPA2 to see if that encryption will work? Could be an oddity in the way Ubuntu is working out the WPA keys.

 

what is your cipher setting? tkip? change it to aes

 

OK.. So apparently my laptop works no problem with WEP encryption. Now, I could stick with WEP, but then I can no longer use wireless N.. Which is a problem for router range (as far as I'm aware). I have not yet done any serious testing, but I can only assume I'm going to be getting weaker signals when using wireless G instead of wireless N, and that is not a good thing because I play online games on a computer which is of moderate distance from my router.

So, there is clearly a problem with the encryption somewhere, but I don't understand where the problem would be.

 

Did you try that?

 

Just so there is an answer to this post, I ended up replacing the router. I now run on WPA2 personal with AES encryption and there are no problems. It's the same router, there just must have been something wrong with the old one (it was doing other weird things too).

 

That's entirely possible. Most routers are not particularly robust in terms of build - if they're even mildly enclosed, they can damage themselves from just their own heat - and will degrade sooner than one might expect. I had one Dlink that I could never get to behave correctly, and several Belkins that started going wonky within months.