Wireless Connection Problems

[BGZ]

I have a four wireless routers in my building with 128 bit
WEP encryption.

All my 2000 laptops running 3rd party wireless utilities
can connect to the wireless networks with ease.

All my XP laptops cannot connect most of the time and
sometimes randomly connect. I can always see the wireless
broadcast, I just can't connect. Obviously this is an
encryption issue right?

The odd thing with the XP laptops is that the wep key is
26 characters but when the 'available wireless networks'
comes up, the key is shown as only 9 characters.

What am I doing wrong??
bgz
network admin

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I have a four wireless routers in my building with 128 bit
WEP encryption.

All my 2000 laptops running 3rd party wireless utilities
can connect to the wireless networks with ease.

All my XP laptops cannot connect most of the time and
sometimes randomly connect. I can always see the wireless
broadcast, I just can't connect. Obviously this is an
encryption issue right?

The odd thing with the XP laptops is that the wep key is
26 characters but when the 'available wireless networks'
comes up, the key is shown as only 9 characters.

This latter issue is not a problem but a feature. I have the same
problem here with the WLAN not being available sometimes when the
machine comes out of Standby/Hibernation. It is either an issue with
these energy saving modes or a problem with that the WLAN card does
not correctly communicate with the router.
I use a third-party setup tool that came with the WLAN card and
provides a "Rescan" feature so that I can manually invoke a new
handshake between the card and the router. If you have to use Windows
to steer the WLAN you can workaround this by disabling the Wireless
Network Connection from its Properties and re-enabling it again
afterwards. This should invoke a new connection attempt and the card
should now find the router again.