Hi

I have a problem setting up an encrypted wireless connection between a
Dell
Inspiron 1501 laptop and an EchoLife (Huawei) HG520s wireless router,
connected to TalkTalk. A wired (Ethernet) connection between the
laptop and
router works fine (I can surf), and a wireless connection also works
fine
if the 'Authentication Type' is set to 'Open Connection'.

However, if I set the 'Authentication Type' to WEP-128 or WPA2 I
cannot
connect (note: I took great care to enter the encryption phrase
exactly the
same on the laptop and the router). In this circumstance, the state of
the
connection is 'Acquiring network address' and ipconfig shows that the
laptop has not obtained an IP address from the router's DHCP service.
The
Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility lists my router, so it can 'see' it.

Can anyone please suggest how I can fix this?

David

dandbnews@talktalk.net wrote:
Tried using fixed IP???

No, but DHCP works with the open connection. So I wonder whether the
DHCP problem just shows there's a problem with the connection and is
not the problem itself. However, I agree it's worth a try.

"Kraftee" <kraftee@b&e-cottee.me.uk> wrote in message
news:f6rggf$491$1@news.datemas.de...
I've found that in the case of DHCP failure on a wireless connection, giving
the PC a static IP rarely if ever helps. I think that the failure of DHCP is
a symptom of a wider problem - usually no connection exists despite the
connected-but-waiting-for-IP status of the PC.

Could it be that the PC card doesn't properly support these types of
encryption. Try simple WPA-PSK as opposed to WPA2 and see if that makes any
difference.

When setting the router and PC keys, try using the wireless PC to access the
router via an Ethernet link, then copy the precise key that you've just set
and paste it into the wireless password field. This avoids transcription
problems - though you've taken great care to copy accurately.

It's not a MAC address filtering problem because you can connect when
unencrypted.

Try using the builtin Windows utility for making the connection, instead of
the Dell on, and see if that helps. You'll need to disable the Dell app
somehow and the right-click on the wireless icon (which currently has the
"Aquiring IP" yellow ball on it) and say that you want to use Windows to
make the connection. Sometimes these proprietary utilities are more trouble
than they are worth!


If all that fails, uninstall the Dell drivers/utility and reinstall, and
restore the router to its factory state and remake the config settings from
scratch (having first noted them down!).

Good luck!

<dandbnews@talktalk.net> wrote in message
news:1183925834.761557.267830@k79g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...
I think that's the case. With the wrong key, WPA-PSK usually fails to make a
connection (a nice simple "hard" fault), but WEP makes a connection and then
fails to get an IP address, IIRC.

On 8 Jul, 21:11, dandbn...@talktalk.net wrote:
Try 64 bit encription as your Notebook computer may not work with 128
Bit encription.

dandbnews@talktalk.net wrote:
The setting of the security on the wireless routers can be confusing, as two
differnt menus, that look similar, but arent.... One of them gives you the
options to use *if* you where using wep or wpa, and the other menu enable
wep or wpa.

also, check you havent got mac address filtering on by mistake.

Gaz

Mr Adams wrote:
Other than to stop the unplanned drive by users.

The chances of someone being determined to hack onto your Wifi link is
suprisingly small. unless you've upset someone that is. There are
still enough unsecured wifi links out there to keep the simpletons
happy so they won't bother you even if you have the easiest security
to hack. It's only if you upset the local Geek bully you should start
to worry.

I've got kit bought recently which will only accept WEP so I've been
running WEP for a couple of years so far & not one nibble.

Hi

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I installed Microsoft KB917021
and disabled the Dell utility. Now I can connect in WPA2 AES mode and
surf wirelessly.

My remaining problem is that Windows Update (and download of any
Microsoft patch) fails with this router. I get an error code 8007xxxx.
I'm attributing this problem to the router because Windows Update
works fine when using the laptop with another (wired) router. I have
disabled the firewall on the wireless router but that makes no
difference and, I think, is irrelevant because Windows Update does not
push. Only thing I can think of is that there are many lost packets
causing the downloads to fail but I have no evidence for this.

Any suggestions please?

David