I just got done chatting with a linksys tech support dude. I need to rip something up now. I haven't been this frustrated in a long time. Since Green's sports bar maybe. Did I mention that I went back there my last week in SF and got in another argument. This time with Miles, who wasn't giving Elway enough credit. Hey, it was 6 hours into Cinco-De-Mayo. The halfway point. I yelled up a storm.
Ronnie G. (19845): Hi, my name is Ronnie G. (19485). How may I help you?
Sean: Hello, my problem is with a WTR54GS Wireless-G travel Router. Version 1.0_15.I am trying to use it like a wireless card, in that I want it to receive the signal from a preexisting wireless network (WEP enabled), and then pipe it via an Ethernet cable into my work laptop (My work laptop won’t take a wireless card because I don’t have admin rights)
When I open up the wireless configuration page (192.168.16.1) on my work laptop and select the wireless network, I get a popup message saying “you can only connect to open access wireless networks”.
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Sean: I added the WEP key in the wireless security tab, but I suspect that that page is for broadcasting a NEW wireless network
Ronnie G. (19845): Yes it is broadcasting a new network.
Sean: drat
Ronnie G. (19845): May I know if you can now access the other router?
Sean: how do you mean?
Sean: I can't connect to the network (SSID=Bronco).
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Ronnie G. (19845): You need the WEP key if it has a WEP security.
Sean: I have it
Ronnie G. (19845): May I know what happens when you type the WEP key?
Sean: when I type it where?
Sean: where do I type it?
Sean: that's my problem, I don't know where to type it
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Ronnie G. (19845): Can you click on the computer monitor icon with waves in the system tray?
Sean: wireless routing is disabled on my work laptop.. I can do what you ask on my personal laptop
Sean: the one I am typing on now
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Ronnie G. (19845): You are connected to a wireless network right now?
Sean: yes
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Sean: I have TWO laptops.... the one we are talking on has a wireless card, and therefore has no problems.
Ronnie G. (19845): That means we will get disconnected if we will try your current laptop.
Ronnie G. (19845): Can you use the other laptop?
Sean: to do what?
Ronnie G. (19845): Try to connect to the SSID you mentioned.
Sean: I am connected to that SSID right now, with the laptop we are talking on
Sean: when I try to connect with the other laptop, I get the message "you can only connect to open access...." message
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Ronnie G. (19845): Can you use that laptop to access the computer monitor icon?
Sean: that laptop doesn't have that icon
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Sean: wireless networking is disabled
Ronnie G. (19845): I see.
Ronnie G. (19845): You need to enable it so that you can connect wirelessly.
Sean: no I don't. I want the travel router to connect wirelessly, that's why I bought it. Then I connect the laptop to that router using a cable. I have done it before. The only difference is that this network is WEP enabled. This wouldn't be a problem if I knew where to enter in a WEP key.
Sean: you're lost aren’t you
Ronnie G. (19845): When you hardwire the computer to the router, you don't need to enter a WEP key.
Sean: I know. but the travel router can't connect to the preexisting wireless router without a wep key.
Ronnie G. (19845): You need to disable the wireless settings so that you can connect using wired connection.
Sean: I give up. Thanks for your time