Wireless Card can't get IP from DHCP Router..

[Eriamjh]

I have a working wireless and wired network sharing an internet cable modem. One computer is wired to a Lincsys BFSR41 router and the other is using Apple Airport to an Orinoco RG-1100 (Access Point) basestation that is connected to the same router via ethernet.

The problem is I have a third PC that I need to connect wirelessly using a WMP11 Linksys PCI card and the card is not getting an IP from the router. The card is installed and it claims to connect to the basestation. It detects 90%+ signal strength and "connects" using the 128bit WEP key. The router assigns connected computers IPs using the DHCP, but for some reason it will not give this PC an IP. I've tried forcing the IP under the network TCP/IP properties for the card but no luck.

What strikes me is even with no IP, I can't see the router when I type in it's IP address in explorer. It seems like the card is not really working.

My other machines can't see the PC either.

The Linksys card software claims to be connected to my wireless network, but I have my doubts. I've updated the router's firmware (it was over two years old, but working fine) and still no luck.

Anyone have any siggestions? should I be able to access the router using its IP in the browser?

Thanks
dan

[Eccles]

Along similar lines, I have an old IBM Thinkpad with a docking station. If I insert a wireless PC card into the docking station, the card and software give every indication of me being connected, but I cannot get any traffic to flow, much as you're seeing. Yet when I insert the very same card into the Thinkpad itself, everything works perfectly!

So yes, it is entirely possible that you may be seeing what appears to be a viable connection, which is in fact failing to transport any traffic. Can you try the WMP11 in a different laptop?

[DaveG]

You didn't mention which operating system you are using. I read that issues like this are addressed in Win XP Service Pack 1, so if you are using XP and you haven't got SP1, you could try that.

[Eriamjh]

Sorry, running Windows ME.

And the WMP11 is not a noptebook wireless PC card, but a PCI card for a desktop. It is not a PCI adapter for a wireless PC card either.

I'm gonna try another brand of card. If it doesn't work, I think I can blame windows ME for the problem.

And technically, my wireless network is an all Apple network (except for the BFSR41 routing the internet connection).

Update: OK, I solved the problem... kinda. It's the WEP. I was not actually connecting. Once I turned off the WEP, I could get access.

Here's a new problem. Apple merely requires a "password". If you put a 13 character password in quotes ("), you get 128 bit WEP. But the PC has several different WEp options. It has a "passphrase" and 4 "keys". Which one corresponds to Apple's password? I am running an open, unprotected network right now, but want to make it secure. Anyone have ideas?