Securing a Linksys Wireless Router

[pmanson]

Hi All,

i'm currently surfing the web via wireless for the first time since treating myself to a new wireless router. The problem is it is currently unsecured as everytime I secure it, I can't get the laptop to connect properly to the router!!!

I've been getting the router to generate a WEP key then i've entered it into the laptop but with no luck

Any ideas???

The laptop is an IBM T42 with a built in wireless card and the router is a Linksys WRT54G.


Thanks!

Phill

[off_again]

pmanson said:

The laptop is an IBM T42 with a built in wireless card and the router is a Linksys WRT54G.

Same Linksys as me!!!

Works well with WEP and WPA so should be fine. Mind you my old Toshiba Tecra 8200 laptop (with built in WiFi) didnt work at all.... currentlt have a Centrino which works a treat.

Try updating the drivers on the IBM to see if it makes any difference. Is it WinXP? If so maybe have a look if the card supports WPA - if so then this is much better for security and easier to configure. Give it a spin, but WiFi is notorious for some incompatibilies...

[pmanson]

The laptop is Centrino which according to the Linksys box means they are compatiable. (hmmmm)

[pmanson]

Right I think I know what it is. (We'll have to see if it works when I get home)

For some reason when I take the T42 out of the docking station it turns on the number pad on the keyboard (eg. The P key turns to *).

So it could be as simple as me not realising the password is going in wrong!

[Plotloss]

Try it with 13 uppercase X's

The software surrounding the generation of WEP keys has probably got the least intuitive user interface of anything I have ever seen.

[bga]

I had a load of trouble with my T41 and encryption. I ended up getting a wireless card for it instead and now have WPA working well.

[pmanson]

bga said:

I had a load of trouble with my T41 and encryption. I ended up getting a wireless card for it instead and now have WPA working well.

We're getting a load of Cisco cards in for the office as we use LEAP to connect to our wireless LAN. So i'll probably just end up getting one of those.