topic Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection in PCs & Accessories

Z1RMP Wireless Connection

Assegai — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:50:56 GMT

First post so hello to you all

I have successfully been using my Z1RMP on my BT Total Broadband wireless connection but have encountered problems when trying to get onto both my Dad's home network and my girlfriend's Mum's. The problem occurs because both those networks use WPA encryption and BT Wireless Connection Manager only offers WEP for setting up a connection. I would blame this on BT Wireless Connection Manager (which I know is an awful piece of software to begin with) were it not for the fact that when querying BT WCM on my HP PC at home both WEP and WPA are offered. So this has me wondering if it's a hardware issue with my Z1RMP in that it only supports the older WEP standard - can anyone tell me if this is the case?

Thank you,
-Ally

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

kee-lo_ — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:31:15 GMT

Hi Ally

If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2, it supports WPA.

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

Assegai — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:13:02 GMT

I'm running SP2, that's why I think it might be some firmware issue with the wireless hardware. I'd like to flash the wireless module with some new firmware, if not I'd like to replace the wireless card.
Can anyone tell me if upgrading the firmware on a wireless card to support newer standards is realistic? If not has anyone replaced a wireless card in any notebook and if so, how does one do it?

Thanks,
-Ally

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

kee-lo_ — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:23:10 GMT

Go into your wireless router's settings (http://192.168.0.1) and go to wireless settings. Do you have the choice of using WPA?

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

Assegai — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:08:50 GMT

I managed to upgrade the software and the drivers for my wireless card late last night, which was pretty much what I'd been hoping to do. WPA-PSK now appears as an option in my wireless connection manager so fingers crossed my third try will be a success.
In response to your post though the router is a BT Home Hub and to my knowledge doesn't support WPA (BT's own words). However my HP PC in my study is loaded with the same wireless connection manager and was displaying WPA as an option for setting up a new connection so I was sure the issue was the wireless card in my VAIO, which I became certain of last night.
Thank you very much for your help. The next time I'm travelling I'll resurrect this thread with a report on whether I've had any luck.

-Ally

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

kee-lo_ — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:19:23 GMT

Ally,

Check this out:
http://www.btfusionorder.bt.com/support/connections.aspx#wireless6

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

Assegai — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:49:16 GMT

Ally,

Check this out:
http://www.btfusionorder.bt.com/support/connections.aspx#wireless6

Ah thanks - BT tech support told me different. I can see a pattern emerging.

Re: Z1RMP Wireless Connection

kee-lo_ — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:05:22 GMT

LOL they need to either read their FAQs or update the website.

Anyway any improvements?