Problem with wireless connection

[roomwithamoose]

Recently I did a clean reformat on my brothers computer due to the incredible amount of crap on it. Everything has gone fine except one thing: when I go to connect to my wireless network, I go to view all availalble networks, select mine and enter the encryption key. The window changes to say "Aquiring Network Address", an on the bottom by the clock it says "Connected". But after about 4-5 seconds, it will change to Disconnected, and then back to Connected. It will do that constantly, switching back and forth every 5 or so seconds.

Ive unistalled and reinstalled the drivers for the Wireless card, the hardware is functioning properly.

Suggestions?

[doctorgonzo]

I'd first disable the encryption on the wireless router to see if you can connect to an unsecured network. If not, then it is probably an issue with the router itself. If you can connect, then the issue may be with your software or drivers.

[roomwithamoose]

Alright, I disabled the encryption and was able to connect fine. I tried all the different types of encryption that I could, and only one gave me a different result, saying that I had limited or no connectivity.

As far as I know, I loaded everything on exactly the same as was before, what could have happened to cause this problem?

[mbossman2]

it sounds like the encryption keys are out of synch.

go back and very carefully make sure that the key on the router is absolutely identical to the key for the card.

the best way to do this is to completely change the key, write the output down, enter it in the other device and then have someone read it back to you....backwards. this will force you to read every character one at a time.

[roomwithamoose]

im not sure if thats the problem. this time instead of doing it by hand, i used a thumbdrive to put the key onto the second computer. all it was was highlight and copy then paste, so no messing with typing it in till you get it right.

[mbossman2]

humor me and do it my way.

the "limited connectivity" warning comes from not being able to pull an IP address from the DHCP server. No IP = no connectivity. The fact that it works without the encryption and then falls apart with the encryption says to me that the encryption portion is at fault. so back to basics: manually type in the encryption key.

When we do licensing keys here, we specifically advise customers NOT to cut and paste, it is far to easy to pick up a space where it doesn't belong and that throws the whole thing off.

[roomwithamoose]

sure, I'll let you know what happens.


::EDIT::

Ok, I did as you said. I printed out the key, typed it in having my brother read it out loud to me, and got the same result.

By the way, thanks for the patience and help!

[mbossman2]

Ok, that eliminates most obvious problem, encryption. lets move on:

1) whose router and model is it ?
2) whose card and model is it ?
3) firmware up to date on the router?
4) what level of encryption are you using? (yes, I still think the problem lies here)
5) when connecting (and getting the error) are you showing associated with the wireless part of the router? (hover over the wireless icon in the system tray, it'll tell you if you and which one)

[roomwithamoose]

alrighty :

1) Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router Model Number WRT54G
2) Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter Model Number WMP54G
3) I've never updated the firmware on the router, perhaps I should do this next?
4) Encryption is WPA Pre-Shared Key with the algorithm on AES, and The Group Renewal Key is set to 3250
5) When I hover the mouse over the icon in the try, it switches between being connected and having very good connection to not being connected, in-snyc with the View Wireless Networks window.

[mbossman2]

4.20.7 is the current for this box
3.0.3.0 is current for the NIC

I would update those (one at a time) and then test.

Still not working?

degrade the encryption to 64K and test.

still not working?

I'd reach out to linksys and see if there is a known issue.

[roomwithamoose]

excellent! The new firmware and drivers did the trick. Thanks for the help!