Please help me I'm in desperate need wireless network issue

[btcomm1]

I have a linksys WRT54G v4 and a WRT54G V6. Both have the same issue. The WRT54G v4 was working with 2 computers with wep 64 bit. A third computer was trying to connect, would connect to the network but wouldn't get an IP. I changed the encryption to 128 bit and the third computer got on. Then the other 2 could not get on. They either connect and get no IP or fail to connect. I changed the settings back to 64 bit encryption and the 2 computers that were originally working aren't anymore, these computers were always able to connect before but now will not connect unless the network is unencrypted. Please help me, why would this happen?

 

[jackschmittusa]

Did you install the WEP code properly on the router and rigs when you reaet it?

 

[btcomm1]

What do you mean by install the WEP code properly? You select 64 bit wep, I used the passphrase that was perviously working and like I said, sometimes they will actually connect using the phrase, but for some reason they don't get an IP.

 

[Madwand1]

Well, I wouldn't bother with WEP personally, and go right to WPA, and drop any devices which could not be updated to support WPA.

If you have no specific reason for 2 routers, you might consider flashing the v4 with a 3rd-party firmware and using it as a wireless client bridge, replacing one or more of the client wireless adapters.

Sorry if this comes across as not very helpful; just saying what I'd actually do.

 

[btcomm1]

Well, I tried WPA. It seemed to work fine for a while with one of the computers but the other couldn't connect so I changed it to WEP and then when that didn't work I tried WPA again and it didn't work anymore. Are you saying that some adapters can't connect using WPA even if they are using the windows software to connect? Is it a driver issues that causes WPA not to work? Also I know you basically said that wep is not worth using however that doesn't change the fact that it was working and now it won't, why would this happen?

Also, I have a Dell laptop that I've been using with WPA for a while no problem. I tried my dell on a linksys wireless router and it's having the same issue using wep. I would think that if your computer could handle WPA that it could handle WEP no problem. My Dell laptop connects after a long time to the wep network and then will not receive an IP from the router.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: btcomm1
Are you saying that some adapters can't connect using WPA even if they are using the windows software to connect? Is it a driver issues that causes WPA not to work?

WPA is a requirement for current Wi-Fi certification, and should be supported on all current gear. However this wasn't always the case, and older gear (esp. 802.11b) might not support it. However, from what you've said, lack of support for WPA is not a problem for you -- WPA is available in the options.

If WPA works at least once with each computer, then it works. When it stops working, something's changed. Possibly the signalling environment, possibly the state of the router. Linksys and other consumer routers are known for locking up, etc., under heavy load and over time -- you could be seeing a variation of that.

So perhaps your issues have nothing to do with the encryption, and have to do with something environmental or the state of the router over time. Changing the encryption and the connection state of various computers back and forth creates a variation of setup parameters, signalling environment, and router state that might be confusing the issues.

Why do you have two routers? Are they both on? Is there perhaps some confusion with connecting to one of those or even some other router with a default "linksys" SSID?

Are you broadcasting the SSID? Try doing so, and disabling any unnecessary options, power-saving modes, etc., progressing from success to success, not undoing previous successes to go forwards.

Power cycle the computers and routers if/when you suspect they may be in a bad state. But for initial setup with not much traffic, I can't see why the router would be getting in a bad state, so I'd suggest power cycling that after the initial setup as a last resort over time.

 

[vanvock]

As Madwand1 said are you rebooting them right? Try turning all comps off then unplug power to the modem & router, wait a couple of minutes then power up the modem & wait until it gets clear then power up the router & let it get re-set before turning on the comps.

 

[RebateMonger]

Make sure that all the WiFi hardware, ESPECIALLY in the PCs, has the latest firmware and software. But I've run into a couple of cases where getting different generations of WiFi equipment to communicate in the desired encrypted mode proved to be impossible. The ideal situation is to buy new (and identical) WiFi cards for the PCs and use those.

 

[btcomm1]

Hmm, what you say makes sense rebatemonger but do you know why it would work with 64 bit encryption then later on the same computers would no longer work with it?


Madwand1, I don't have both routers on at the same time. It's just weird because they can consistently join the network whenever it's not encrypted, however I suppose that it's possible that there are other signals interfering with their network. Can non encrypted networks deal with other signals that would interrupt them better? Is that a possibility?