Wireless connection only detects when connected by cable

[snarks]

I got my dad's laptop to connect to his new wireless router, not too
hard. Using WEP, just with the default keys that it comes with for
now. The first wep key is 0101010101, the second is 0202020202 etc.

My own laptop will connect to the internet via the router when it is
connected with a cable, but it can't even see the wireless connection.
I have tried using a different WEP key - should different computers
use different wep keys or doesn't this matter?

Oddly, it does detect the wireless network if it is booted up with the
cable connected to the router, but doesn't get an IP address on the
wireless connnection and I get the "limited or no access" message.

Any ideas?

Phil Hibbs.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
The Security pass phrase (keys) has to be the exact same in the Router's
Wireless security and every computer that is expected to connect to this
Router.
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC (Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64 (Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128 (Hard, but possible to Brake).
WPA-PSK (Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES (Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2 (Not functionally Breakable).
The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computers Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.
All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.
Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
WEP, WPA, and the Future - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[snarks]

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

Ah, thanks, that's useful to know, and it helped me fix my dad's
connection which I broke last night by badly setting up WPA. I found
another config page that had been set from "WEP only" to "WPA only"
when I added a WPA keyphrase whilst trying to get my laptop working.

The essential mystery still remains, though, as to why my laptop
(which I use regularly on another, unsecured network at the hotel I
stay at frequently) won't detect the wireless network at all unless
the cable is plugged in.

Phil Hibbs.

 

[snarks]

The essential mystery still remains, though, as to why my laptop
(which I use regularly on another, unsecured network at the hotel I
stay at frequently) won't detect the wireless network at all unless
the cable is plugged in.

Hm. Seems to be working now. Baffled.

Phil Hibbs.