Dead wireless - help!

[Tak]

Ok so tonight while getting stuff from the network, I noticed a computer listed that was not any of the ones in the house.

I told Mic and we attempted to change the password on the wireless settings of our router - a linksy wrt54g.

Both of the pcs are wire connected so it is only the likes of phones and lappys that use the wireless.

When changing the password, the management page tells us it is all saved etc but none of the wifi items can connect using new or old password (we checked old one just in case).

We did a factory setting reset but the end result is the same - the password changes for the administration program but not for the wifi (even though we are putting it into the "wifi password" option).

We have turned mac address filters off so it isn't that.

I have sat here and stared at the settings and options and I can't see what has gone wrong - literally the only thing we did to start with was (successfully within the admin program) change the password. It is just the wifi access that seems to be dead/blocked/annoying me on purpose. :confused::confused::confused:

(oh and remember to talk idiot language - it may be me trying to sort it out so it will save stupid questions later :p )

[Mark]

Did you try telling the phones to 'forget' the old connection and then set up a new one from scratch?

Did you try turning off security and seeing if the devices will connect with no security at all?

Did you try making sure the router firmware is the latest version? (check the Linksys site, or whatever other firmware site you're using if you're using some custom firmware)

Basically, get it into a working state any way you can and then change one thing at a time so you can figure out what works and what doesn't. :)

When setting up security, look at what options you have. If you have both WPA and WPA2, try WPA first. If that works, try WPA2. If you see options for both TPIK and AES, try TPIK first, and if that works try AES. The idea is to find the most secure one that works for you - WPA2 is better than WPA and AES is better than TPIK.

Hopefully, you'll find a combination that works right. Once you do, set the most complex password you can bear. It's OK to write it down or store it on a USB key because a hacker would have to break in to get it, at which point the security would be irrelevant. :)

[Tak]

There is no forget option any more.
Yes with no password we can connect.
Yes the firmware is up to date.

As for the rest of the post Mark at the moment I couldn't give two hoots about other setting and security - I would just like to be able to get wifi devices to connect.

Anyone else able to suggest anything?

[SidewinderINC]

Yes with no password we can connect.


As for the rest of the post Mark at the moment I couldn't give two hoots about other setting and security - I would just like to be able to get wifi devices to connect.

Anyone else able to suggest anything?


If you don't care about "other settings and security" then you've already solved your problem with your statement at the top.

Mark is trying to suggest the simplest way of figuring out why it's not working when you put the security back on and giving logical steps on how to get to a secure state again.
It's a case of the security settings on both devices not pairing up, for what reason who knows.

Does either computer have wireless (even though you're currently using wired)? perhaps try connecting one of those if so.

[Tak]

I have tried using my lappy to connect through the wifi - she tells me it's a "network security code mismatch".

[SidewinderINC]

I've never used that router before, what options do you get on the wireless setup page?

Can you get a print screen up of the router wifi settings and the wifi settings of your laptop in the current state?

[Mark]

http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?pid=80&app=vw&vw=1&login=1&json=1&docid=cfb50c0dc992443ab2405a782cca60f7_19073.xml

Bizarre URL, so hope it works. It's the security set-up FAQ for WRT54G. Unfortunately, as there are 17 different versions of the WRT54G, it's impossible to tell whether yours supports all the security options, but if it does and you want security back then the only security options you should consider are 'WPA Personal' and 'WPA2 Personal', which reduces the number of choices a bit.

Then it's just down to trial and error until it works I'm afraid. :(

[Tak]

Mic is home today so I'll let him know - thanks