One pc connects with passphrase, another doesn't

Hi all.
This is a problem that has been plaguing me for some time.

I've got one pc connected to our WEP protected wireless network.
It has a Linksys NIC and connects just fine.
When I try to connect with the built in 802.11g network adapter in
either of the 2 laptops we have I get the prompt to enter the
passphrase. When I enter the exact same code as the Linksys PC I get
a message that the passphrase is not correct.
So I turned off the WEP protection and the laptops connect just fine.
Turn it back on and the passphrase doesn't work again on the laptops
but still works fine on the Linksys.
I must have a setting wrong somewhere.
Any ideas where?

Thanks, in advance.
JB

JohnB <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Hi all.
>This is a problem that has been plaguing me for some time.
>
>I've got one pc connected to our WEP protected wireless network.
>It has a Linksys NIC and connects just fine.
>When I try to connect with the built in 802.11g network adapter in
>either of the 2 laptops we have I get the prompt to enter the
>passphrase. When I enter the exact same code as the Linksys PC I get
>a message that the passphrase is not correct.
>So I turned off the WEP protection and the laptops connect just fine.
>Turn it back on and the passphrase doesn't work again on the laptops
>but still works fine on the Linksys.
>I must have a setting wrong somewhere.
>Any ideas where?

Yes. Use the Hex version of the WEP key instead of the ASCII version.
There are 3 different ways different manufacturers convert from ASCII
to Hex, so compatibility is problematic. Hex always works.

Incidentally, if you unspecified wireless hardware supports WPA-PSK, I
suggest you switch to WPA because WEP can now be cracked in 3-10
seconds.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Apr 17, 10:48 pm, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
wrote:

> Yes. Use the Hex version of the WEP key instead of the ASCII version.
> There are 3 different ways different manufacturers convert from ASCII
> to Hex, so compatibility is problematic. Hex always works.

Cool. I'll give it a try.

> Incidentally, if you unspecified wireless hardware supports WPA-PSK, I
> suggest you switch to WPA because WEP can now be cracked in 3-10
> seconds.

Yeah, I knew that. Unfortunately, the one pc that has the Linksys NIC
is running win2k and won't support WPA. I'm going to return the NIC
to Walmart and hardwire that pc to the router to solve that problem.
Thanks again.

JB

On Apr 17, 10:48 pm, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
wrote:

> Yes. Use the Hex version of the WEP key instead of the ASCII version.
> There are 3 different ways different manufacturers convert from ASCII
> to Hex, so compatibility is problematic. Hex always works.

Tried it. Worked just like you said it would.
Thanks, you've cured a big headache of mine!

JB

JohnB <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>On Apr 17, 10:48 pm, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
>wrote:
>
>> Yes. Use the Hex version of the WEP key instead of the ASCII version.
>> There are 3 different ways different manufacturers convert from ASCII
>> to Hex, so compatibility is problematic. Hex always works.
>
>Cool. I'll give it a try.
>
>> Incidentally, if you unspecified wireless hardware supports WPA-PSK, I
>> suggest you switch to WPA because WEP can now be cracked in 3-10
>> seconds.
>
>Yeah, I knew that. Unfortunately, the one pc that has the Linksys NIC
>is running win2k and won't support WPA. I'm going to return the NIC
>to Walmart and hardwire that pc to the router to solve that problem.
>Thanks again.

There are a few WPA supplicants for Windoze 2000 available. See the
FAQ at:
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo#Use_WPA_Personal_with_Windows_98.2FMe.2F2 000>
I suggest the one from McAfee.
<http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558