Averatec Problem

I don't know if you can help me or not but I bought an averatec 3150hd and I have a problem with my wireless network card. WM168b 802.11b PRISM3 USB card.


At home I have a wireless router that I connect to, to get to the internet and it works just fine and I have no problems with it there.
It uses wep encryption. when I'm outside and try to connect to other wireless access points ex. Bryant park or my network at work, it sees the SSID and identifies the networks available and signal strength but it’s not able to connect. I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers, I’ve turned the network card on and off, enabled it and disabled it. I’ve turned the firewall on my laptop off and it still wouldn’t connect. The technicians at work looked at it and suggested two things. That I either get the firmware updated on the card which I didn’t see on the averatec site or to get another external network card. I called averatec about the problem and they said "since it works at home there's nothing wrong with the card" and refused to help me. I just got this laptop last month and it's still under warranty and averatec refused to honor it. just because it works in one place they don't condider it defective.

A friend that had an averatec laptop and sold his, (for something better he says) said that the problem is with the network card. That the card is not letting go of the wep encryption settings and applys the same settings to all of the connections. he also said that the software doesn't have anything to change the settings to say when to let go of the wireless settings. I called averatec again and they said that the card is not their responsibility. my response was"it's built into your laptop of course it's your responsibility". again they didn't help. the reason my friend sold his laptop in the first place was because of their tech support people and policies. (I should have talked to him first before I bought this).
So, I'm here looking for the drivers or firmware to update the network card on my laptop.
does anyone know how to get the card to work before I report this to the BBB?

 

try going to the cardmakers site and downloading their drivers and configuration utilities, they will generally work better then the zero config service that windows uses. Their software ussually has more control options for the card as the software is specified to that card.

 

If I knew the maker of the card I would gone to their site. I've typed in prism, prism3 downloads, averatec wireless card, etc and all I've gotten is basicly the same responce. bad drivers and no help from averatec. the second time I called them they said that they were unable to disclose that information. (That company makes it really hard for anyone to like them).
If you could suggest something I would really appreciate it.

 

i think if you go to network connections, and right click on the adapter and go properties, at the top of the page, it would say the name of the card which i think should at least give you a clue as to who made it, and at least be able to do a web search for that card and find the main site.

 

It gives me the same name

WM168b USB Module.

It's the BBB for me.
Here's the link if anyone wants it. Maybe with enough complaints they will do something about their service

http://www.bbb.org/