problems configuring new router

I just bought a DLink WBR-2310 for use at home. I have an old HP Pavilion with XP controlling it. My old DLink barely reached our front porch, so I never worried about security encryption. This new one has a strong signal 100 yards through the woods into the cul de sac, so I figure I better encrypt.

I was going to use WPA2, but realized my wife's and my daughter's laptops don't do WPA, only WEP. So I set up WEP keys 1 and 2.

My laptop is a Toshiba Satelite A135 with Vista. I searched for the new network, found it, was prompted for the key, put in Key1, and it worked immediately. WPA is an option, which I've yet to try.

My wife's laptop is a Toshiba Sattelite with built-in wireless and XP. I tried many times to configure the WEP key, to no avail. I'm prompted for the WEP keys, and I enter Key 1 or Key 2 or both, and the code is accepted. While the network was easily found, when I'd try to connect, the old "page could not be found" error consistently appeared. I've tried updating Java (recommended by DLink), with no success.

My daughter's laptop is an older Dell Inspiron 1100 with XP and a Dell TrueMobile 1300 wireless card. I had the same trouble with hers; found the network OK, but could not get WEP keys to allow a connection.

I'd prefer to use WPA2, although I understand I'll need to upgrade drivers on the laptops with XP. I can settle for WEP, doubting any mobile hackers will be driving around my neighborhood.

What do you suggest?

 

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html