Unable to set up wireless network encryption

[Gilly]

Got Sky broadband and using the provided wireless router.

It appears that the old laptop I'm using to try and set it up doesn't support WPA so I'm wanting to use WEP. The auto-setup CD doesn't cover WEP so I'm trying to configure it manually.

Unless the security is turned off completely I can't get a connection. It connects straight away without, but with WEP set up and/or with an access list turned on and configured I get nothing. Even if I set the router to auto-configure.

It may be that the laptop I'm using is just old, but is there anything obvious I'm missing?

 

[Gilly]

I'm using the generated WEP key.

I don't want the scuzzers round here stealing my bandwidth

[edit]Now I've managed to get connected using WEP but it won't allow connection to the net. Ive not even changed anything

I get destination host unreachable when pinging the gateway over wireless. I think it's a problem getting IP info.

 

[Gilly]

Yeah I was thinking that. Just rebooted and not picked up an IP at all.

I can access the net and the router with encryption off :/

 

[Gilly]

Are you using Windows to configure the wireless connection on the laptop or the manufacturer of the wireless card/stick?

Might be worth switching to see if one works. Also check for a software upgrade.

Just windows. Wasn't given any proprietary software by Sky.

what laptop/wireless card?

It's a fairly old Dell Inspiron with the onboard card. Don't have it with me so can't be too specific as yet.

 

[Gilly]

I'm not sure I understand. Would the drivers for the wireless card cause an issue with encryption? The card functions fine when encryption is turned off...