The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Problem with WEP key

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by BryanL, Jun 1, 2008.

  1. BryanL

    BryanL Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    214
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hey all, I am currently using a BEFW11S4 router for my wireless at home. I have my main computer connected to the modem, then the modem to the router then the router to the computer. I also have a laptop and another computer that run off wireless.

    Now, the wireless works fine when there is no WEP key so the network is unsecured. When I try to secure it, I get limited connectivity for the wireless laptop/computer and cannot connect to the internet. Does anyone know why this is happening?
     
    BryanL, Jun 1, 2008
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Try switching to WPA.
     
    Greg, Jun 1, 2008
    #2
  3. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

    Reputations:
    2,869
    Messages:
    1,831
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Gregory, Jun 1, 2008
    #3
  4. The_Observer

    The_Observer 9262 is the best:)

    Reputations:
    385
    Messages:
    2,662
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    WPA is much better than WEP
     
    The_Observer, Jun 1, 2008
    #4
  5. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

    Reputations:
    4,429
    Messages:
    4,401
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Two steps must be done to use WEP, 1. set it up in the router and 2. in the computer's wireless adpaters. I'm assuming you did the router, did you do the computer's?
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 1, 2008
    #5
  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Check to see if you typed it in correctly. and check the firmware.
     
    surfasb, Jun 2, 2008
    #6
  7. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

    Reputations:
    419
    Messages:
    1,364
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    You didn’t say what OS you were running but let’s assume some version of Windoze XP. If not, please ignore what follows. WXP has a component called WirelessZeroConfig. When WXP “loses its mind” about wireless network restarting this service sometimes help. I have also had success in uninstalling the networking interface, and other “stuff” and letting WXP “rediscover” it all again. One tip. Always reboot COLD (i.e., power completely off for five minutes. not 4:59) TWICE (i.e., no joke two completely down cycles). Some times WXP needs a good enema to clean itself out. When I troubleshoot with connectivity issues, I like to have a “dork” (i.e., a plain old working system so I know it’s not the network, but it’s the platform I’m working on that has the problem) with me. At home, I have an ancient thinkpad that barely runs WXP to be my “dork” when I have real problems on my/our real notebooks. Hope this helps.
     
    nobscot6, Jun 2, 2008
    #7
  8. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

    Reputations:
    1,235
    Messages:
    2,108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think wirelessman got it right here...i don't think u set up WEP on the computer itself. Did u?

    Just an FYI: Just double clicking on the wireless network and entering the key is not actually setting it up.
     
    makaveli72, Jun 2, 2008
    #8