Tech Support > Computer Hardware > Laptops/Notebooks > Wireless card won't connect to home network
Wireless card won't connect to home network
Posted by fuzzy1 on March 20th, 2008


Help! I have spent hours trying to connect my Dell 600m wireless card to my
home network.
The home network is a D-Link DI-624 set at WPA2-AES with a nine digit/number
network passphrase. I know this is all set correctly as my Toshiba laptop
with a NetGear wireless card connects no problem.
The Dell defaults to WEP with an open system, when I change them to the
above configuration and try to connect it doesn't and defaults back to
WEP/open.
I have tried to manually enter everything but with no results.
The Dell wireless card is a Broadcom network adapter.
I have also hardwired the laptop to the router and it connects with no
problem.
I can't figure this one out is it a setting or is the card messed up? I
should mention everything was working perfectly before I set-up the security
so I highly doubt it's the card as I can connect to any open system with the
laptop.
Please post messages here as my e-mail addy will not work.

Thanks

Terry



Posted by G.G. Willikers on March 20th, 2008


fuzzy1 wrote:
Driver update for your card.

google: Broadcom Wireless Utility, The HP link, it will solve your probs.


--
The RIGHT REVEREND G.G. WILLIKERS
(formerly) Monsignor Boddom

Posted by Barry Watzman on March 21st, 2008


From your description, it's definitely a settings issue, the card is
working fine. This can be quite difficult, as sometimes the software on
the wireless router and the network card transform the entered strings
into actual encryption keys differently .... sometimes you have to
resort to pure hexadecimal for entering the encryption keys. Also,
there are a number of flavors of WPA, and not all devices are compatible
with the same different flavors.


fuzzy1 wrote:

Posted by G.G. Willikers on March 21st, 2008


Barry Watzman wrote:
drivers sometimes lack.

--
The RIGHT REVEREND G.G. WILLIKERS
(formerly) Monsignor Boddom

Posted by Roger Mills on March 21st, 2008


In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
fuzzy1 <fuzzynospam@hotmail.com> wrote:

I assume you haven't enabled MAC address filtering on the router, and failed
to include the MAC address of this new card in its pass list?
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Posted by Barry Watzman on March 22nd, 2008


There are multiple sub-variants of WPA encryption


G.G. Willikers wrote:

Posted by G.G. Willikers on March 22nd, 2008


Barry Watzman wrote:

Uh Yeah, that's why the updated Broadcom Wireless Utilities Application
is recommended as it adds support for the previously unsupported variants.
At the same time, if his card does not support some exotic variant of
WPA, then he might want to back off a security level or two, or find a
wireless card that can handle the exotic variant, preferably one that is
compatible with his router, eh?

There really is no mystery to it, square peg, round hole, won't fit.
Easy, Peasy.

--
The RIGHT REVEREND G.G. WILLIKERS
(formerly) Monsignor Boddom

Posted by fuzzy1 on March 22nd, 2008


Thanks all for your advice. It turns out the card itself will not support
WPA2-AES so my next step is to disable the card and add a wireless USB from
one of the local computer shops and use their utility works like a charm. I
could have saved myself about 4 hours by doing this but live and learn.

Terry
"fuzzy1" <fuzzynospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:w5AEj.39792$dA2.15877@read2.cgocable.net...


Posted by G.G. Willikers on March 22nd, 2008


fuzzy1 wrote:
You would be better served to buy a new (or used)internal card (very
easy to install). The antennae built into your laptop will always
provide better reception, plus you always run the risk of breaking an
external device sticking out of your machine.


Check ebay or craigslist for an internal wireless card. You should be
able to find an intel 2200 or a Broadcom A/B/G for $20.00.



--
The RIGHT REVEREND G.G. WILLIKERS
(formerly) Monsignor Boddom