Setting up Netgear MR814v2 to use WEP128

First let me apologise for the length of this post, but as you "advanced" users out there know, talking 
in layman’s terms often involves lots and lots of words!

I've started this as a seperate thread to avoid annoying someone else in their post.

To use the mr814v2 with the truemobile 1300 your MUST have first upgraded the router to the latest firmware, if you don't know what a firmware is or are unsure on how to do this,  Read the manual or give

netgear a call.  they will hold your hand whilst you upgrade your router.

You MUST also be using the latest release of the TrueMobile 1300 network card drivers the ones i have are v.3.20.23.0, Dell version Number:A07 dated 07/07/2003

The following are settings taken from my mr814v2 router using version 5.01 firmware,  these settings may not be perfect in some peoples eyes,  but they work just fine for me.

logon to your router. (usually http://192.168.0.1 )

click "wireless settings" in the dark blue table.

In Wireless Network:

1. The SSID Name should be something like NETGEAR,  you can change this if you like but not needed
2. Set your region to where you are, (i have mine set to Europe as I’m in the UK)
3. Set your channel number, (this depends on your location, 11 works fine for me)

In Wireless Access Point:

1. Make sure there is a check next to "enable wireless access point"
2. Make sure there is a check next to "Allow broadcast of name (SSID)"

(once setup you can stop broadcasting SSID to add some extra security, i leave it on as i like to know if my network is still visible

In Wireless card access list:

Leave this button ALONE!!  dont mess with this until your network is setup

In Security Encryption (WEP):

1, Set the authentication type to Automatic
2, Set the encryption Strength to 128Bit. 

(64 bit if you want but might as well have 128 its just as easy to do!)

In Security Encryption (WEP) Key:

Easyest way to do this is:

1. Enter a word in the passphrase box.  This will auto generate a 26 letter string in the Key 1 box
2. click on the circle next to the key 2 field and then click in the passphrase box. Enter another word, preferably something different than what you entered the first time!
3. Repeat this for key 3 and key 4

then click apply.

This should complete your 128WEP router security.

Reboot your laptop so windows detects your network (it detects the name of it because SSID broadcast is enabled)

click on the little pop-up saying a new network is available. You should now see your network name in the top window of the dialog box,

click configure, make sure there is a check next to "Data encryption (WEP Enabled)"

Then uncheck "the key is provided for me automatically,  this should make the network key area of the dialog allow you to enter your passwords which you generated earlier.

The easiest way i found of entering the passwords is to have your laptop connected to the onboard switch via a lan cable and be logged on to your router. 

Then you can simply copy and paste by highlighting the passphrase text (the 26 character string) and pressing ctrl +c (keyboard shortcut for copy)

move back to your wireless setting dialog box

make sure the "key index" is set to 1

Click in the "network Key" box and then hit ctrl +v (keyboard shortcut for paste) 

click in the "confirm network key" box and hit ctrl +v again.

Now repeat this by going back to the netgear window, highlight passphrase 2, then press ctrl +C, move back to wireless network properties, change "key index" to 2, click network key, press ctrl +v to paste, 
click "confirm network key", press ctrl +V

Repeat the above step for keys 3 and 4, click apply and with a little luck your DELL utility next to your clock on your taskbar should light up green. You can now disconnect your lan cable and use your 
internal Truemobile 1300 (or whatever network card,  windows XP has a generic interface for the wireless networks regardless of whether your configuring your TM1300 or another brand of wireless network card.

Again sorry for the length of the post.

I hope this puts an end to all you people out there trash talking about the mr814v2.  If you cant get it working after flashing the router and upgrading the Driver something is wrong with your windows xp

settings,  i suggest disabling the TM1300 in the bios and reinstalling xp with the new A07 driver, then re-enable the device in the bios.  This worked for me,  and i have had no problems with it since.

Systems connected and working fine with Netgear MR814v2:

Inspiron 8500,  512Mb Ram, Windows XP Pro, TrueMobile 1300
Athlon XP1800+ Pc 512Mb Ram, Windows 2000, Wired connection
Duron 1200, 128Mb, Windows 2000, Netgear USB MA101 connection
X-Box Console, Wired connection