Newb Linux problems here. Anyone willing to help? Ubuntu 7.10 wireless issue with correct 128bit WEP pass phrase being used but not accepted.
I am able to connect to other non protected wireless networks.

Any chance the router also has MAC address filtering turned on?

iwconfig will show you what WEP passcode is being used by your wireless NIC. Check it closely to make sure it matches the router's. Also check the router ESSID.

Best approach is to turn off protection on this router and see if you can connect, then troubleshoot from there.

I'm unsure what wifi manager you are using but I use WICD and had the same problem. I found that if you put the wep key in quotes it worked. I'm not sure if that will work if you are using anything else though. Hope you get this figured out.

Thanks Neej Saub
That did not work for me. I think 128bit has something to do with 10 characters. I just use old telephone numbers. Maybe its has something to do with the fact that its all numbers.

One thing to distinguish between is the text version of your key and the hex version of your key. Most routers allow you to enter a text word or phrase and then generate a hexidecimal representation of that, and it is the hex version that is the actual WEP key. If you're entering the text version (in your case the old phone number) into whatever GUI monstrosity ships with Ubuntu these days, you probably have to tell it that it is the text version so it can create the corresponding hex version. The alternative, as suggested by pentode, is to get the hex version directly off of your router and enter that. Even if you're using just numbers in your text version, the hex version almost certainly won't be just numbers.

And not really related to the question, but:

If you like your data, your privacy and your bandwidth - avoid
WEP like the plague. It takes a well-versed war-driver (or
exploit-minded neighbour) no longer than 5 minutes to get into
your network. So if you're not somewhere very remote - don't
do it; take the slightly more complex route, use WPA and a
complex (long [> 20 characters], random) password.



Cheers,
Tink