Network Key not accepted

[Seattle]

This is my first wireless router. Installation seemed to go OK via the hardline connection to my PC. Then I tried to get on the 2.4GHz network with an old laptop, Toshiba Satellite running WinXP. It sees the network (although at only 3 bars only 3 ft away while my neighbor's wireless network shows up at 4 bars ... ???), but when I try to connect and type in the Network Key listed on the router I keep getting the message "The network password needs to be 40 bits or 104 bits depending on your network configuration. This can be entered as 5 or 13 ascii characters or 10 or 26 hexadecimal characters." Of course, the Network Key on my new 3800 is more like a pass phrase with many more characters than 13. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to change the router Network Key to a maximum of 13 characters in order to get this laptop to connect? The instructions advised against changing the Network Key, so I haven't tried that yet.

[searay]

Go ahead and lower it will not hurt anything older wifi cards do not support WPA WP2 depending on wifi card installed try updating wifi card drivers

Yes the older security is easy to crack but your choices are limited to your hardware.

[jmizoguchi]

I would say driver update for your wireless adapter is first need to looked at it.

"The network password needs to be 40 bits or 104 bits depending on your network configuration.

seen as WEP hex key

the Network Key on my new 3800 is more like a pass phrase with many more characters than 13.

sounds like WPA or WPA2 is already used in the router.

[Seattle]

OK, thanks. I think that points me in the right direction. Now I need to find out if the wi-fi card is capable of WPA ...

[somsubhro]

If your WiFi card does not support WEP (99% of WiFi adapters do so with an upgrade), plese connect wired to the router, login wih admin and password and go to wireless settings.

Change the Wireles speed to Up to 54 Mbps - G mode and you will be able to set it up with WEP security. Unfortinately WiFi alliance has removed WEP 802.11n certified devices since last year and hence all routers have o fall down to G mode if supporting WEP.

Alternatively please consider buying a new USB adapter for your PC WNDA3100.

Thanks

_Som

[Seattle]

OK. Thanks for the tip on the WNDA3100 product. I think I will try that out first rather than try to work with the adapter card currently in the laptop ... I wasn't looking forward to getting a fix to that. I certainly don't want to dumb down the network security to WEP.

[jmizoguchi]

Wnda3100 is surest but there is other adapter as well

http://www.netgear.com/home/products...s/default.aspx


Adapter is available in both dual band or singe band (2.4Ghz) so you may look a round

[Seattle]

Ordered the dual band WNDA3100 ... we'll see how it goes ...