New FIOS and now no wireless

[JetaJam]

Good evening all,
Yesterday I had Verizon FIOS installed and they replaced my old Westell modem with a built in wireless router, to a new Actiontec (model MI424WR) router with built in wireless, to my main computer. The problem I'm having now is that my other computer which is using a Linksys PCI adapter (WMP54G) can see the network, but can't connect. My main computer, which is hard wired to the router is running Vista RC1, and the other computer is running XP Home. I have gone through all the settings on the routers config page, and I have made sure the computer I want to connect wirelessly has the same SSID and WEP code, but I still cannot connect. I know just enough about networking to get myself in trouble (which seems to be the case), but I think I'm just overlooking something. Does any one out there have any Ideas.

Thanks to everyone in advance.

[glc]

It almost has to be an encryption mismatch. Try disabling WEP completely and see if you can connect. If so, then reconfigure it - WPA is preferred if both the router and the client card supports it.

[moodyblues100]

I believe you are correct glc. I recently made the same modem switch. I have 2 computers wired to it, but when I brought my laptop in I was prompted for passwords. Unlike the default on most routers, protection is automatically turned on. I wasn't concerned at the time about getting on line so I did not pursue it, but I think you are right on the money.

[JetaJam]

Glc, and Moodyblues, I did try and connect by disableing the WEP with no luck. I also disabled the Zonealarm and windows firewall too. Also, the Linksys adapter does not support WPA. Do you think I should try a new adapter, or should I just hard wire it, which would involve 75 feet of cat5 and 2 hours under the house :(

[glc]

The WMP54G should support WPA if you have XP SP2 and use the Windows zero config utility instead of the Linksys utility.

However, I'd run the cable. To me, wireless desktops are last resort.

[JetaJam]

Thanks glc, I'm sure on the same page as you when it comes to having the other compter hard wired. But, until I actually put on the coveralls and venture under the house, do you think that there is something else I can try with the router settings to get the wireless to work? Actually the wireless is working, I just can't connect.....

[glc]

Please be more specific - is it associating and just not getting out to the Internet, or is it not even associating?

[JetaJam]

It sees the network, but when I click the connect button it promps me to input my network key (WEP), I do so and then after about 1 minute of "trying to connect to network" it just reverts back to showing me what wireless networks are available. So I don't think it is associating.

[glc]

Use 64 bit WEP - with a 10 digit hex key. Passphrases don't work in Windows zero config.

[JetaJam]

OK, I'll give it a try and post back later today with the results.
Thanks.

[JetaJam]

I apologize for the long delay but I've been quite busy. I ended up pulling out the existing wireless adapter and replacing it with another, and low and behold, I have a connection. I guess it was the adapter. Anyway, all is good with the wireless connection. I want to thank all those who offered up the great advice.

[unique_name]

i have the same problem with a belkin Wireless G+ MIMO USB Adapter. what devise did you finally have success with?

jim

[JetaJam]

unique name,
I used the Linksys USB adapter WUSB54GS RTL. Works great....

[unique_name]

thanks.
i have a hardwired workstation and a laptop with an internal card that work fine. the problematic workstation is running xp home with the belkin. bought the belkin (11g) when i got fios to take advantage of the new speed, oh well.
my symptoms:
if i uninstall/reinstall the belkin (with a hex key) and use the windows network wizard in can connect right then. if i reboot, it's all over. i can still see my network in the list and it says i'm connected, but neither explorer/netscape can find anything. what has stopped me from swapping out the belkin is i can ping yahoo at this point. this lead me on a search for some setting i was missing. but alas, i have grown weary with this quest.
my kids have found a simple solution though, they just connect to some neighbors unsecure netgear network.

[JetaJam]

You could try going into your routers config page and disabling the wep encryption. Then try connecting as usual. If you can connect, try enabling the wep again (making sure that the hex key is exactly the same on the wireless computer as it is on the router). That is the information that was recommended to me by glc (see the beginning of this thread). Good luck...

[unique_name]

update:

success at last, installed sp2 on the machine and now the belkin works.

[glc]

That's quite common - before SP2 the Windows zero config wireless was garbage.

[DMinney]

@JetaJam, i am schedueld to have FIOS installed in a few weeks, I am running Vista RTM--did you have any trouble with the installation due to VISTA? i was concerned that there may be software that would not load with vista. thanks

[JetaJam]

Hello DMinney,
No, there were no issues at all. In fact, it seems that the Vista machine runs quicker than the XP machine. Let me clairify: When I had the FIOS installed I had the computer running Vista in my office which is where the router was installed, and I had another computer in another room with XP on it. I have since taken the Vista rig and moved it to the living room and now have it connected to my tv (and the router). The XP rig was then brought in and is now located in my office. In my opinion, the computer with Vista on it runs much faster. There is only one thing that I can think of when it comes to Verizon FIOS and Vista, and that is, the MSN premium software is not compatible with Vista yet. I would think that they (MS) are working on it. But as of right now, it doesn't work.

[DMinney]

thanks,

how do you access the router configurations...via web page? are you pleased with the router (model MI424WR)?

[JetaJam]

Yes, you would access the router's setting through a web login (192.168.1.1). I know that Verizon is using a few different routers with their FIOS installs. I was given the Actiontec router. I think it's OK, although I am having some difficulty figuring out the firewall settings, but I think that's mostly due to my ignorance than it is the routers inability to cooperate.

[gene123]

unique name,
I used the Linksys USB adapter WUSB54GS RTL. Works great....

So I searched long and hard on the web for this issue, but my son came up with your posting. At our initial FiOS internet installation, Verizon set us up with a D-Link wireless router (model # DI- something or other) - no issues. It was wired via a linksys NIC to our main PC in the downstairs den and wireless to the 2 desktops upstairs. Even my work laptop connected without a problem. All machines run XP pro. The wireless desktops had the WMP54G Linksys card - just like yous. My Dell work laptop has built in wireless and my wife's old Toshiba runs fine with a wireless Linksys card. Everybody was happy and connected.

Now, we just opted for FiOS TV (still a 6 hour installation, btw). Verizon supplied the (monstrously- sized) ActionTec MI424WR wireless router for the TV install. Now, we have no connection upstairs - just like your problem. The computer sees the network but fails to associate and connect. Funny thing is, the two laptop and my son's Apple connect just fine! That's what threw me off.

I tried all the suggestions, disabled security, changed settings, tried TCP/IP fixes, etc ,etc. No luck - until my son found your posting. Sure enough, a new Netgear wireless card (and 50 bucks!) later, one of the upstairs desktops was up and running, happy as a clam.

So what's up with Linksys WMP54G and Actiontec? Apparently these two are incompatible in the wireless mode. I'm stuck with $100 bucks of useless hardware!.

[glc]

Does Linksys and/or Actiontec have anything to say about this? I think I would have at least called or emailed them before buying new cards. 802.11b/g is all *supposed* to be interoperable across brands, that's why it's a standard.

However, I assume that all they are going to do is point fingers at each other and be pretty useless. This is why I try to match brands whenever possible - which is a pain. I have had generally decent luck mixing brands, but I have had exceptions.

One exception is what still has me chuckling. Last spring I was in the RDU airport waiting for a very delayed flight. I went to one of the bars that had free wifi to kill some time and have some - ahem - "lunch". I fired up my old Thinkpad with an ancient Linksys WPC11 card. It found their AP (SSID was "linksys" - how original) and connected right up - no security. Guy at the next table had a brand new Dell laptop with a whiz bang do everything a/b/g internal adapter. He couldn't get the thing connected no matter what he (or I) did. Cost him a beer to check his e-mail with my computer. He left grumbling about his company taking away his old Thinkpad and giving him that new Dell.