Wireless with WPA

Question

Hi,   I have a brand new Inspiron 8600 with a Intel PROSet/Wireless 2200BG.   I am connected to the internet via a linksys cable modem and linksys wireless router (WRT54G) - also brand new. If I leave network in the non-secure mode everything works great.   But I am trying to lock it down, as recommended by Dell and others so I turned on the WPA securty mode. The Inspiron still sees the wireless network and says that its connected but no data comes through.    I have tried WEP and that seems to work however from the reasearch that I have done it sounds like WPA is the way to go so I would still like to get it working.   Does anyone have any clues or thoughts on how to get this working. Dell phone support was very unfriendly and unable to help....   Thanks,   Paul

NemesisDB · Answer

on the router, enable WPA-PSK and enter a key.  for security reasons, try to make the key over 20 characters (if it's random upper, lower, and numbers, so much the better).  your winXP client should see the network.  try to connect to it at which point you will be prompted for a key.  enter the same key into the client.

halfrockhead · Answer

I have been doing this all along, however with shorter keys for testing. I changed the key length to 20 chars and it still does not work. Since my last post I have downloaded the latest drivers from intel for the wireless card and I now get an error message 'Unknown authentication status' when using WPA-PSK.   Thanks for the response.... any other ideas???

pmseeley · Answer

I believe the key length is 48 characters. This is the required key length as far as I know. Test your connection by using a key of 48 zeroes. If your key works, then create a stronger key and use that. Some routers will allow you to generate a key by entering a passphrase. If your router will do this, then all you need to do is create the key using the router tool and copy/paste it into your wireless connection authentication field.

I have not been able to locate a WPA key generator that will do this for you.

good luck!

emerald9200 · Answer

When I got confused about my Linksys WCG200 wireless router I went on there website. They havean automatic configuration called "Net Assist" that will configure your router. Because my router has just came out on production they did not have my router ready to use the "Net Assistant" so I called the support number (800 number). I have never experienced any support like Linksys. They are amazing! The tech support guy walked me through the whole process. He even help me configure my notebook as well. I had to go get it from another room and log on to the notebook and he still stayed with me. He helped me lock my router so only I get the use of the signal. I only used 10 characters to use as a "key". They are the best support team I have ever experienced! Hats off to Linksys!:womanvery-happy:

emerald9200

NemesisDB · Answer

d-link and linksys tech support have always been good in my experiance (d-link less so now that they are outsourcing).

halfrockhead · Answer

I should have mentioned that I had already contacted Linksys support, they did all they could and you were right they were very professional and easy to work with. However they got to the point were they believed that it was an issue with the Dell computer and/or the Intel wireless card. I have surfed the Intel site and updated drivers, etc. with no success and I am waiting for a response from Intel’s tech support. At this point I can see it coming - I will have Linksys pointing at dell saying it’s their problem, dell pointing to Intel saying it’s their problem and Intel saying it’s a wireless router problem (BTW usually I am not pessimistic ;-)

Surprisingly, Dell has washed their hands on this issue; this is the first time that Dell has given up on a tech support issue and I have been buying dell for close to a decade.

In any case, thanks for response and I guess I will just keep hoping that someone else has had a similar experience with WPA that I can learn from.

NemesisDB · Answer

since it's new, then I doubt this is the issue but do you have SP2 installed?

emerald9200 · Answer

So sorry to here you still have no answers. Hopefully someone will pull through for you. :womanindifferent: emerald9200

halfrockhead · Answer

Yes, SP2 is installed.

NemesisDB · Answer

are you using windows to setup the clients connection or are you using the card's own third party utility?

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless with WPA

Was this post helpful?