Connot connect work laptop to home network

[pattyaor]

My home network was unsecured and my husbands laptop was able to connect fine. Now that I have secured it again, I get "limited or no connectivity". when trying to connect my husbands laptop to our network. I've tried what I know, but I am afraid to mess up his settings for his work network. It seems to me that it is unable to acquire th IP address for my network. I'll be happy to supply specific info, but his laptop won't be home until tonight. I don't want you to think I am asking a ? then ignoring any inquiries. Thanks in advance for your help. I was able to find the answer to another home networking problem on another thread - you guys are awesome!

[johnwill]

Well, when you get the laptop back, you'll have to attempt to connect to the network and supply the encryption key that you configured in the router. Do you connect any wireless devices to the network now?

[pattyaor]

I entered the key - no luck. I have a desktop that is also on the network - wireless. It works like a champ.

[johnwill]

What kind of encryption are you running, WEP or WPA? What are the exact indications when you attempt to connect to your wireless network with the laptop?

I'd like to know the make/model of the router, the make/model of the wireless adapter in the desktop, and the make/model of the laptop.

If you're using WEP encryption, you MUST configure all devices with the HEX key, NOT the ASCII key. Different brands of equipment generate different HEX keys from the same ASCII input.

[pattyaor]

Router is a linksys WRT54G. That computer its wired to the internet. The upstairs desktop has a linksys USB wirelss adaptor - WUSB54G. My husband's laptop has an Intel Pro/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connector.

When I start his laptop, it says it is aquiring network address, but then comes up with the name of my network, but the staus says limited or no connectivity. In the Network Connection Status window it says " You might not be able to access the internet or some netowrk resources. This problem occurred because the network did not assign a network address to this computer."

When I try to repair the wireless network, it gets stuck on renewing the IP address. I know this is going to be something very dumb on my part, but I am afraid to screw up my hubby's laptop!

[johnwill]

What kind of encryption are you using, WEP or WPA?

[pattyaor]

WEP - 64 bit encription

[johnwill]

Try removing any remembered wireless networks, then do a new network scan and connect. It should prompt you for an encryption key.

[pattyaor]

I removed all of the wireless connections listed and then tried to connect to mine. It did ask me for the network key, which I entered - I know that is correct because I just secured the network and had to enter it on the desktop (which is working). It still comes up with "limited or no connectivity".

[pattyaor]

DUH - I finally figured it out. Since my other laptop is connected to the router using a linksys transmitter, it must convert the passphrase to the actual network key. I was going thru all the settings on the router and realized that I have been entering the "passphrase" as the network key - thats what I did on the other. So when I entered the key that was generated by the passphrase - it worked. I should have known better. Thank you for all your help, your questions helped my to go over everything again. Hubby will be so happy to be able to get on the internet again!

[johnwill]

From a previous post in this thread:

Originally Posted by johnwill

If you're using WEP encryption, you MUST configure all devices with the HEX key, NOT the ASCII key. Different brands of equipment generate different HEX keys from the same ASCII input.

Perhaps you shouldn't ignore those suggestions.

[pattyaor]

My intention was not to ignore any suggestion. I don't claim to be a networking expert, and when I saw that suggestion, I did not associate it with the "passphrase" terminology used in my router configuration. Nowhere on that configuration tab were the terms ASCII or HEX used to describe either entry. I do appreciate the help and followed all your suggestions, so I don't feel sarcasm is really necessary. I do thank you for your help.

[johnwill]

I'm sorry you took my little joke the wrong way.

In the future, I suggest if you don't understand a suggestion, you ask what it means. I realize that everyone is not a networking expert, or I'd be out of work. However, I'm not perfect, and I don't always use the exact phraseology that is used in every router on the planet. I count on the person with the problem to ask for clarification if something is not understood.