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