inspiron wireless problems with netgear:kinda complicated

Question

OK, to begin with:

my home's wireless connection is supplied by blueyonder from telewest, therefore the access point and USB adaptor for the home PC are from Netgear. The access point model is an ME102 which is connected to a cable modem (scientific atlanta, Webstar EPC2100) which, in turn, is connected to the set-top box which supplied cable TV. To summerise: set-top box connected to cable modem connected to wireless access point. The home PC recieves this connection via the MA101 USB adaptor. The connection is encrypted 128bit. The passphrase on the access point is 8 characters long. The passphrase is entered into the software on the PC (netgear MA101 USB configuration utility).

Now, I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop which uses Intel ProSet/Wireless software to connected to wireless internet connections. I've attempted to connect to the network in my home but I am having problems. First of all, when Intel ProSet/Wireless searches for nearby networks, it can identify my home network but it shows up as "". This isn't really a problem as the SSID is written on the access point along with the passphrase. So I click on the identified network and I am told I must set up a profile for this network. So I enter the SSID and give the profile a name. Then I click next and Intel ProSet/Wireless determines whether the network has any security settings. It does. I choose the options of WEP and 128 bit, as that is what the network settings are. Now, on the same screen, I am asked for a "wireless security password (encryption key)". I only have my passphrase, which like I said is only 8 characters long.The following hint by Intel ProSet/Wireless is shown: "HINT: Pass phrase - 13 characters or Hex - 26 hexadecimal values".

So my main problem is the encryption key. How does this 8 character long passphrase I have get converted in to either of the above? OR am I going about the wrong way to set up this network on my laptop?

I really could do with some help here as I only have a very basic understanding of computers and wireless. Any feedback would be appreciated:smileyhappy:

p.s. blueyonder say to contact netgear, netgear say to contact dell, dell tell me to phone a number which then asks for my debit card details. i have no intention for paying money for this kind of problem which my ISP should be dealing with. and blueyonder's technical helpline costs £1 PER MINUTE!

Sam

bacillus · Answer

any reason why you're not using WPA. I use a netgear dg834g wireless router with my 6000 and have no problems with using wpa-psk encryption with a 63 string key.

samfog86 · Answer

i just want to get my broadband via the access point. without buying any extra hardware if possible. I cannot change the settings of the access point. I tried downloading the drivers for it and connecting to it via usb but i kept getting an error message of : 'DFU driver has not been installed yet' or something similar to that. the access point uses 128bit WEP encryption. thats what i have to work with, and like i said, i'd rather not buy a router just for the sake of it.

NemesisDB · Answer

can you connect via an ethernet connection and log into the router directly? most WEP options allow either a passphrase or hex characters.

you might just get lucky and see an option to turn WPA on.

WEP is worthless in terms of security. save yourself pain and just turn it off but enable mac filtering. both are worthless but both will probably keep the neighbors out. mac filtering might cause you less issues though

samfog86 · Answer

There is no router. The set up is as I explained. Set-top box connected to cable modem, connected to wireless access point. I tried using an ethernet cable directly from the set-top box to the laptop which didn't get a connection. I also tried an ethernet cable directly from the cable modem to the laptop but this also didn't work.   Intel ProSet/Wireless WILL NOT accept the 8 character passphase which is printed on the access point. It keep giving me an error message descibing how the passphrase must be 13 or 26 characters long.   On an additional note, blueyonder do not provide their customers with the ME102 access point's installation CD. Maybe they do this so their customer's can't configure the access point's settings. So I can't connect to the network, technical support costs £1 per mintute, and the access point is..well...unaccessible due to lack of installation CD!   I hate blueyonder...

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

inspiron wireless problems with netgear:kinda complicated

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