Hi, I have setup a Linksys WRT54GS router as an Access point and i am attempting to configure WEP with a passphrase for simple security. When i attempt to connect to the router with a laptop ( using the passphrase) it refuses to connect. It just loops attempting to acquire an IP. When i use the actually hex key (key 1), it works. Network auth is set to open encryption is set to WEP network key is filled in key index is set to 1 I have tried using shared for network auth, and checking key is provided but does not work
Linksys does not have a standard "passphrase" as it is just a "hash" of what you typed. Go to http://www.andrewscompanies.com/tools/wep.asp and create a custom 13 ascii character key (this will make it 128bit) and it will give you a true hex key in return. Copy and paste that hex key into the 4 different places on the WRT54GS key setup screen under wireless security and save it. Now, all of your clients should work with either the hex or ascii keys.
I believe you should be able to see the actual key in that model of router. It will be below the field where you entered the phrase to use. It should be in the field for Key 1. That is what you need to put in XP, not the phrase you typed above. It is actually the key that XP needs. The wording of the two may seem the same but they aren't asking for the same thing.
The option to use "key is provided" in XP is for a different network set up. You will need to manually enter it, as you did, and leave that box unchecked.
Let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
That depends on whether or not he has a Linksys branded card in the notebook. Then you can use the phrase. If it is a Cisco, for instance, that will not work. Easy solution is to generate a REAL hex key based on the ascii input on that site I posted above and it will work for all brands.
It is a good suggestion to generate the key and nice to have the site to do it. However make sure you don't plug the generated key in the phrase input and plug it directly in Key 1 on the router. Otherwise there will be an error or the router will change the key from the site to another key.
This may be obvious or might've been mentioned by Coastalinteractive2 but I wanted to make sure and did not see this point made. Let me know if you have a question.
