Linksys BEFW11S4 Router/WAP & Multiport W200

[Jason Holmes]

We have ordered a bunch of new N610's with the W200 Multiport 802.11b cards. They connect great to Cisco AP's (340's, 350's, 1200's) but they don't connect to Linksys AP's. WEP has been tested on/off with no success, SSIDs (blah blah) all re-checked. Other vendor cards (Cisco, Socket, Dlink) all connect to the Linksys no problem - full WEP included. Any ideas would be great - I just hope this isn't a vendor mismatch issue...

Jason

[Ron Kinner]

Which operating system are you using?

Compaq seems to have a new 802.11b driver for XP. Version: 2.00 B 10/18/2002

http://www29.compaq.com/falco/sp_result.asp?Model=4215&Os=0

You might try it and see if that does anything.

I'd also check the Linksys site and see if they have any upgraded firmware for your AP.

Finally assuming you are running WIndows I'd try http://windowsupgrade.microsoft.com and see if they have anything new for you.

If that doesn't work then I guess you will have to contact both Compaq and Linksys tech support and let them fight it out.

Ron

[Roger Faucher]

Jason:

There appears to be a new W200 driver for WIN2K/WINXP use (SP23007) available at: http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/evodesktop/us/download/16884.html

It's a long shot but can't hurt to try.

Roger

[Peter Havens]

Did this problem get solved? I am having the same problem with a Linksys WAP11 (simplest 80211.b Wireless Access Point) and the W200 wireless card. It cannot see my WAP at all. I have worked for several hours with Linksys and Compaq support. Please let me know if you get this working.

Thanks,

-Peter

[Jason Holmes]

No this issue is not resolved and is a case of the vendor's pointing fingers at one another. I have a tendency to bet the issue resides with Compaq/HP since all other vendor cards work with the Linksys AP's and it's just this W200 that won't work. Numerous cards and firmware revisions and drivers have been used to no avail. Both companies should post the incompatibility.

Compaq W200's will not work with Linksys AP's.

Jason

[peter havens_1]

That is the same thing that I have found. Linksys is telling me to call Compaq and Compaq is telling me to call Linksys. Both tried to help but were not useful. All other cards I have used seem to work fine. I also believe it is a problem with the W200 module. This should be a big concern for Compaq as Linksys is the leader in Wireless Access Points to my knowledge. How does one escalate this issue? Compaq support does not want to take it further because the do not own any Linksys WAPs to test with. I would be glad to lone one to them.

-Peter

[peter havens_1]

That is the same thing that I have found. Linksys is telling me to call Compaq and Compaq is telling me to call Linksys. Both tried to help but were not useful. All other cards I have used seem to work fine. I also believe it is a problem with the W200 module. This should be a big concern for Compaq as Linksys is the leader in Wireless Access Points to my knowledge. How does one escalate this issue? Compaq support does not want to take it further because the do not own any Linksys WAPs to test with. I would be glad to loan one to them.

-Peter

[peter havens_1]

Sorry for the double post above...

For further reference, it appears that the problem might be with the Windows XP driver for the W200 module. The link below shows that a customer was able to get the module working under windows 2000 but it no longer worked when they migrated to windows XP.

http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0xe51631ec5e34d711abdc0090277a778c,00.html

Is Compaq reading this? I think you need to address an issue with your Windows XP driver for the W200 module.

-Peter

[Gary Leavelle]

Similar issue with W200 card and Linksys 802.11g. Associates, but won't get DHCP or pass IP traffic. Latest firmware and drivers on both.

[Jason Holmes]

Hopefully Compaq will get on the ball and fix this since Cisco bought Linksys based upon their 802.11g series of gear. If the W200 won't work on G Cisco gear, customers will have to have yet another interface to carry around.

I have tried the Win2k option with N1000c, N600&610, and an N800 - all to no avail. We're migrating to XP over the next few weeks and stopping 2,000 laptop OS upgrades for a single driver issue is ludicrous.

Compaq please resolve this issue - at $130 per unit corporate customers are going to go for something else...

Jason

[Alan Tsui]

Hi, I'm also using Compaq notebook with wireless LAN Multiport W200 installed. At work, we have Cisco AP installed, it works fine with me. But at home, it always disconnect with my Netgear MR314 wireless router. Very disturbing !!

I recognize the software is the same as Orinoco gold card that I have. I'm not sure why this W200 giving me so much trouble... I tried to upgrade with the most latest Orinoco firmware, it refuesd to do it. Becasue, it couldn't found any Orinoco card, too bad...

[Gary Leavelle]

Follow up. We tried a Netgear AP with similar results. Calls and troubleshooting with Compaq resulted in them replacing it. It was a defective card, in our situation. It would associate, but never pass IP traffic. The Netgear and Compaq worked fine together after that.

[D._6]

I initially suffer the same problems, Evo 610C, W200 had great signal and found Linksys BEFW11S4 but wouldn't get IP. (WIN2K and XP) I resolved it with the following facts on WIN2k:
1) Install software driver before hardware
2) W200 only supports 64bit WEP
3) Unlike linksys cards, you need to generate all your keys (4) at the router, write them down and enter into the configuration profile of your wireless setup @ the laptop (right click on signal icon > configuration profile > add/edit profile)My linksys card utility would normally do this automatically.
4) Ensure transmission key is the same on both sides
5) Use the most current driver from compaq for your device and ensure it matches your OS

--Dave

[John Gaul]

BEFW11S4 V.2 & W200, XP Professional - After updating drivers & firmware I still experienced symptoms listed in this thread. I finally resolved my issue by changing the Linksys Wireless Channel from 6(factory default) to 1. Everything is happy now...

[Parco Upchurch_1]

Same problem as well with the W200, however I did get it to work after a day or so. I have the Evo n610c runnung Win2k. I use the linksys router befw11s4 v2. Like most it works with the linksys card but not the W200. Again like some posting I have read I get a strong signal but no IP. I finally concluded that the W200 does not register in the linksys DHCP table. It never appeard. Strangely, I would get a valid IP for a minute then lose it but it still never showed in the linksys DHCP. BTW when I had the IP I still could not hit the web or my LAN.

How I got a connection was by setting a static IP address. Unpon reboot, success. I did a lot but for the recored:

1. I did try the pervious W200 driver but no luck for me. Both the latest & old W200 driver work for the static IP.
2. Before this all started I was at 128 bit encryp. I dropped it down to 64 bit using 4 keys manually generated. I manaully entered in router as well as the W200 client manager. I will try 128 tonight.

It was painful but just wanted to add my two cents. The down side to this is that I will have to set the TCP\IP back to standard when visiting friends with a linksys since I am static.

Parco

[Parco Upchurch_1]

Follow-up. I am using the 128 bit which is a manual key enterd in the linksys & W200 client manager. However, I still have the static IP.

Parco

[Richard Anderson_2]

I'm been stuggling with this problem for a few days and ran across this thread. As I played further I was able to solve the problem.

I am using a Linksys WRT54G and Compaq W200 on an Evo N610c. I was unable to connect to the wireless network which uses 128bit WEP.

On the router, in Advanced Wireless Settings, I changed the Authentication Type from Auto to Shared Key. After that the W200 connected up just fine.