ssid contains invalid characters?

[slimjim]

Hi, first post, been here to learn many times before - thanks.

I was working on a laptop the other day - an acer, lower end, with xp home. The built in wireless device appears to be working. I went to use the wireless network wizard, and when I put in the ssid, I recieved a message that the ssid contains invalid characters. But, the ssid did not contain any invalid characters: homebase123 - that is the ssid. I tried many others just to see if they would take, but nothing works. No matter what ssid I entered, I got the same message - invalid characters. Anybody seen this before? Thanks.

[Greenstead]

You get this error if you enter an ascii passphrase when it expects the network key (hexadecimal).

[slimjim]

thank you for your response. Does it matter that the other compuers on the same wireless network use - homebase123 - as the ssid? Typed in just like that? Can/should I convert that to a hexidecimal? I am kinda new at this.

[slimjim]

oh yeah, also, I have tries entering : abcd1234 - 123123123 - and other ssid that use only a-f;0-9 - and I still get the same message - invalid characters?

[slimjim]

anybody have any further input on this subject? thank you in advance if so.

[slimjim]

lil help? please:)

[Greenstead]

I must have been half asleep when I responded above. My answer applies to entering the wireless encryption codes. Apologies for that.

Now I'm awake. The SSID should not have any complaints with any ascii characters. I have never seen an SSID rejected. Normally all the SSIDs on a small network should be identical.

Not much help I'm afraid. You might check the laptop is fully up-to-date with XP updates.