WPA problem

stevemcol

I've been helping a mate to setup a Belkin 54G DSL router.
Ideally he should have an ADSL modem router but has been given this one so is going to use for a while.

I got him connected wirelessly no problem but when I enabled WPA, the PC got locked in an acquiring IP loop. Disabled WPA and tried again but with same problem.
Reset router to defaults and connected first time. Tried to enable WPA with same unsuccessful result (requiring further factory reset).
Evertything seems OK with WEP though so I've left it like that for now.

There was another Belkin network nearby with defaults set and no security so I changed SSID and channel to ensure we were deconflicted. This didn't improve things.

BTW whenever the PC wouldn't connect wirelessly, neither would my laptop so I don't think it's a problem with his PC.

Any help would be appreciated.

espresso

Have you tried using a long random HEX key for your pass-phrase from here? HEX will work sometimes when ASCII characters won't.

stevemcol

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

stevemcol

also

sorry to be such a divvy but I've never done this setup before (I prefer an ADSL modem router). When the network is running correctly (without WPA), I can't get his laptop to share the Host PC internet connection. I've set 'allow other netwrosk users to connect through this computer's internet connection' on the host. Both computers are definitely connected through the wireless network. Am I doing something wrong?

chuckles1066

stevemcol wrote:

also

sorry to be such a divvy but I've never done this setup before (I prefer an ADSL modem router). When the network is running correctly (without WPA), I can't get his laptop to share the Host PC internet connection. I've set 'allow other netwrosk users to connect through this computer's internet connection' on the host. Both computers are definitely connected through the wireless network. Am I doing something wrong?

a pound to a penny that's a firewall issue

stevemcol

so should I try disabling the firewall on the host PC and/or client laptop?

chuckles1066

stevemcol wrote:

so should I try disabling the firewall on the host PC and/or client laptop?

on the host pc...........be mindful that if you're using Windows built-in firewall, just because you think you've turned it off doesn't mean that it actually is!

Anyone in the know will tell you that Microsoft's firewall causes more problems than it solves.

stevemcol

Thanks chuckles

becuase this problem is a few miles from my house, are there any other suggestions I can try when I get there?

mjr600

Download the free trial version of this....

http://www.networkmagic.com/

It was so good at setting up my wired and wireless network and then keeping it all running securely with printer sharing etc I ended up buying it.

chuckles1066

stevemcol wrote:

Thanks chuckles

becuase this problem is a few miles from my house, are there any other suggestions I can try when I get there?

It's basically a step-by-step thing:

disable EVERYTHING that might interfere with the two pcs talking to each other

connect the host pc directly via cable to the net and check it works
connect the laptop directly via cable to the net and check it works

ok, so no problems with the net connection once you've done that

now forget about the net and just concentrate on getting your laptop and host to see each other.............dont forget they need to be in the same workgroup!

once they can see each other, you're away.......

stevemcol

chuckles

thanks. i'm certain the computers are talking to each other. they ping each other and the router no probs. just won't share the host internet connection. I've not much experience of wrkgrps; should it's name be the same as the SSID? When the compters connect to the router will they automatically join the same wrkgrp?