Hi,

I have a Netgear WG111T wireless USB adapter which I'm trying to connect to a new Plexus Wireless 54Mbps ADSL2+ Router.

The (WAN) wireless network settings on my Plexus router look as follows:


The problem I am having is that I cannot get my Netgear WG111T to connect to the Plexus router using W.E.P.

I currently have a 'wireless guest network' enabled on my router simply to enable the machine with the WG111T adapter to connect. The machine has connected with WPA-PSK authentication (NOT WPA2-PSK which it refused to connect with also).

I have two other wireless machines connected to the main wireless network (WPA2-PSK) on the Plexus without problems and with WEP enabled and running.

However, the WG111T simply doesn't seem to want to connect when either WEP is enabled on the wireless network to which it is trying to connect or when WPA2-PSK is used.

Note;
The adapter was previously connected to a Netgear DG834GT modem/router so I know it is working - but that router was running very slow on other wireless laptops on the network.
Also, I HAVE downloaded and installed the latest drives for the WG111T adapter.

Can anyone suggest anything else I can try please?
Is WEP essential ? The system in question isn't holding any particularly sensitive information and is only really used for a child's homework and net browsing.

Thank you in advance.

The WG111T should be able to connect using WPA2-PSK. Try disabling WEP completely on the router and leaving only WPA2-PSK on. WEP can be hacked in under 15 minutes. The reason for having security on the router is to prevent other people from accessing your internet connection or gaining access to the pc's on your internal network. You can't disable it for one pc only.

When you try to connect are you using Windows Wireless Zero Configuration or the Netgear WG111T Smart Wizard.

If your using WZC and the pc is XP you may need to download the WPA2 patch from microsoft to be able to connect. .

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=893357#appliesto

Post back if have already installed this update and it still can't connect.

Comments on this post

cyberdyne comments: Great help

Hi DIIRE,
Thank you for your reply and apologies for my late response.

I downloaded the fix you suggested and installed it. I'm not sure if the fix specifically solved my problem, but it is nevertheless solved.

After applying the fix, I rebooted and tried the WZC Util. again. I found that WPA2-PSK was still not an option in the adapter properties drop down menu, so I selected WPA-PSK and tried it. At this point it still wouldn't connect, so I tried the Netgear Smart Wizard. After a few tries, it eventually connected, but only after setting my router to use 'Mixed WPA2/WPA-PSK' authentication. Therefor, I'm currently unsure whether it is, in fact, using WPA2 or WPA.

However, all three wireless systems are now connected and the speeds are reasonable. I am thinking of buying a new adapter for the PC which is furthest from the router though as my concrete walls seem to be hindering its' speeds somewhat.

One other thing, I have WEP totally disabled now. I'm not sure if this made a difference in the end, but the Netgear did seem to have some problems with it enabled on the router, whereas both my Intel and Broadcom didn't.

Thank you for your help.
cd

EDIT:
One other thing to mention; I currently have WPA Encryption set at 'AES+TKIP' which presumably means that either method can be used. When TKIP only was selected, I had some issues with the Netgear USB Adapter, which leads me to believe that it is using AES. However, once again in contradiction with the Netgear, the Intel and Broadcom both clearly preferred TKIP judging by the ease of connection.

Just as an after-thought, do my settings look secure? I'm concerned that the 'none' next to 802.1X Type and Protocol Authentication is significant.


(profile and network names removed manually)

Thank you.

Your settings are fine - I'll try to explain this this simply - the auth type and auth protocol are only for if you have a server that checks users before allowing access. E.G. You have a PC, Wireless Router, Server - you don't wan't to allow pc's access to the wireless network unless they are authenticated by the server.

You are using PSK (Pre Shared Key) to enable access to the internet and internal network and you don't have a server authenticating users so your settings are correct.

I would try setting the router to WPA2/PSK with AES instead of TKIP. From the screendump you posted the WG111T is connecting using WPA2 so there's no need to enable mixed mode unless one of the other pc's doesn't support WPA2 and is connecting with WPA.

Sorry I tried to make this as easy to understand as I could if there's anything you're not sure about or i haven't explained properly let me know.

Comments on this post

Hengis agrees: Highly detailed, yet user-friendly response!

Thanks very much DIIRE, that's just the reassurance I was looking for.
I'll try setting the router and all my wireless devices to WPA2-PSK / AES this evening.
Thanks again.

Great work DIIRE!!

[Fixed]

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I'm not sure if it's ok to continue a thread that has been marked [Fixed], so I apologies if I'm breaking any rules, I just didn't think it appropriate to start a new thread considering my question is related.

DIIRE;
I have managed to get all three wireless devices connected using AES instead of TKIP or 'AES+TKIP'.
However, I haven't managed to get all three to connect using WPA2-PSK. My router is currently set to offer devices a choice of either WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK.
When only WPA2-PSK was offered, both my Broadcom and my Intel connected first time, but the troublesome Netgear WG111T refused to connect. The system using the WG111T is the one on which I applied the Microsoft WPA2 patch a few days ago.

The problem is, as stated above, the WG111T will still not use WPA2. Also, in WinXP / Network Connections / Wireless Networks / Preferred Networks / 'MY--SSID' / Properties / Wireless Network Key / Network Authentication (Hope you followed that ok?), no Authentication methods are offered above the level of WPA-PSK. ie, No WPA2 or WPA2-PSK.

I have tried twice to install the patch, but neither attempt has worked. I presume that the patch was simply to enable the missing WPA/2-PSK entries? If so, can you suggest any other way of installing these options?

Thank you very much.
cd

Hey Cyberdyne,

That patch should work - the WG111T supports WPA2/PSK so to me everything looks good. If thats the only pc connecting on WPA then just leave the router in mixed mode. Have you tested the WG111T on another PC to see if it connects with WPA2? If it does then its the pc thats the problem. As you said in an earlier post that security on that particular doesn't really matter I wouldn't worry about it too much as WPA/PSK AES is still secure.

Glad it's all working - post back if you have any more questions.

No problem

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