2nd Request Please Help if you can - Wireless Connection and WEP encryption

[Jack Gillis]

I have been wrestling with this problem for several days and have
'Googled' it to death with no answer. Perhaps someone here can shed
some light on what is wrong and point me to a solution.

First, I have a DSL connection to a Zoom X5 modem/router. To that are
connected one PC (XP Home) via an Ethernet cable and one Lynksys WAP 11
access point. A Compaq Presario (XP Pro) connects to the WAP 11 through
its built in wireless device. XP's firewall on both machines is
disabled.

*** Change to original post ***

I have replaced the Zoom X5 with the modem provided by my ISP and a D
Link DI 604 router. The same problem exist. Further info on the
problem is at end of post.

*** Back to original post ***

All work just as I expected. I can connect to the internet from both
machines through the DSL connection and share files between the machines
with no problem as long as I have set up the wireless connection with
the WAP 11 set up utility with WEP DISABLED. However, if I enable WEP
for either 64 or 124 bit encryption, I can neither access the internet
nor share files between the two machines. The wireless connection icon
on the task bar pops up with message indicating there is excellent
signal strength to the SSID I have used. As I said, things work very
well without WEP encryption.

Linksys and Zoom have offered no solution in spite of both trying hard
to do so.

I must be missing something and that doesn't surprise me for I am
treading brand new ground in this area.

I will appreciate any help anyone can give.

Thank you very much.

*** Further Info ***

On the laptop and WEP disabled on the WAP 11, Wireless connection
Status/Support shows the Address Type as 'Assigned by DHCP, the IP
Address as 192.168.0.102, the Subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 and the
Default Gateway as 192.168.0.1.

With WEP enabled I, the above shows 'Invalid IP address.'

I have changed the WAP 11 IP those settings above and get 'Automatic
Private Address" from the connection Status/Support. The same problem
exist; no internet no file sharing.

Please what do I need to do?

Thank you again.

 

[Mac]

Assuming you have set up both the Linksys access point and the laptop
to use WEP (and both must be set the same) then the problem most
likely is with using a Linksys access point with a D-Link router.
Using two different brands often causes problems.



I would suggest that you replace either the router or the access point
so that both are the same brand. My preference would be to replace the
router with a Linksys broadband (DSL or cable) WRT54G. It has not only
the wireless capabilities, but four Ethernet ports as well.

 

[Jack Gillis]

Assuming you have set up both the Linksys access point and the laptop
to use WEP (and both must be set the same) then the problem most
likely is with using a Linksys access point with a D-Link router.
Using two different brands often causes problems.



I would suggest that you replace either the router or the access point
so that both are the same brand. My preference would be to replace the
router with a Linksys broadband (DSL or cable) WRT54G. It has not only
the wireless capabilities, but four Ethernet ports as well.

Well, that expense is well beyond me at this point because I blew all
the spare cash on the laptop last Spring but I thank you for the
suggestion anyway.

Googling produced a whole lot of discussions about DHCP WEP problems,
little of which I really undersood. I guess I will just have to abandon
my plans to tote the laptop around the house and communicate with the PC
and internet.

 

[Jack]

Hi
In a situation like this you have to start step at the time to make sure
that all the component are working.

Compatibly of the Wireless Hardware should not be a problem since it is all
plain vanilla 802.11b.

Step One: Use the original Modem and one computer connect to it and make
sure that you have an Internet Connection.

Step two: Connect the D-Link Router to the DSL Modem and the working
computer via cable to a regular port on the Router and configure the Router
to get the Internet.

How? Here: http://www.ezlan.net/PPPOE.html

Step Three: Disconnect the computer from the Router and by using a cross
over CAT5e cable connect the WAP to the computer and change the WAP IP to be
of the same band as the D-Link and switch off the DHCP in the WAP.

This page was written for another purpose but the idea is the same:
http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Step Four: Plug the WAP into to Router, plug back the computer to the Router
and configure the Wireless connection.

Basic Configuration: http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html

Basic Wireless Security: http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

Please do not move from one Step to the other unless it is working.

Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Jack Gillis]

Thank you, Jack

I will go through these steps later today after I do some work around
the house.

 

[Jack Gillis]

Well, Jack, I said I would try the steps later today. It is now later
and things are just as the were before I went through them. With WEP
disabled, things work fine. I can share files and connect to the
Internet using the wireless connection from the laptop. But if I enable
WEP I can't.

There must be something else going on.

Thanks again for your help.