PDA

View Full Version : Wireless network with Mac, PC and handheld not working


winwintoo
November 18th, 2004, 12:37 PM
I have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router. My Mac PowerBook has no trouble using the router no matter how I secure it - WEP or WPA or open or whatever.

I got a cheap PC laptop with a removable wireless card and the only way it would connect was with WEP with 4 keys. The Mac didn't mind so that was fine with me.

Then I found a wifi card for my PalmOS Zire 72 and it worked too - everybody was happy.

BUT - that cheap laptop just wasn't going to cut it, so I returned it and got a *better* one.

Can you see where this is heading?

Well the only way this new laptop will connect to the router is with a WPA/PSK which is fine with the Mac so those two are happy, but the wifi card on the handheld can only handle WEP 40-bit or 104-bit HEX, ASCII or passphrases, none of which I can figure out how to make work on the other two.

Please guide me to some knowledge about this or fill in the blanks so I can get all these things talking to the internet at the same time.

And while on the subject. I would think the purpose of a wifi card in a handheld would be so you could walk into Starbucks and check your email while you drink your morning latte, but if it's that picky, what good is that??

Enlighten me please, Thanks, Margaret

Big Jim
November 21st, 2004, 02:49 PM
:wave: Hello Margaret,
I have no experience of Palm devices but I was wondering if updating palm os or upgrading firmware would bring it into compatibility with the WPA standard. The way I'm thinking is that it would be a step backwards to downgrade the Mac-PC laptops to the Zire's level, it should be a question of dragging the Zire up to the Laptop standard.

Nice to see you here.
Best Regards.
Jim (FastMac)

winwintoo
November 21st, 2004, 03:18 PM
Hi Jim, PalmOne put up a new forum - just the other day - so I posed my question there and the answer is: No the PalmOne WiFi card can't handle WPA!

Well I'm not about to downgrade my network to conform to that standard, so I guess I have a Palm Wifi card for sale.

There is a lot of good information on this forum - I'll be spending lots of time here!

Take care, Margaret