WiFi question / preferred networks list

[rodney_nz]

Hello, hope someone can answer this question
I share my ADSL wifi connection with several people and use wep. My current adsl router seems to be flakey and thinking of replacing it. My question is that if I want to replace the router with another model/ manufacturer and if I name the new router with the same SSID as the old router and set the WEP keys to be the same, will the other users notice any change ie will the need to search for new networks and re-enter the WEP key? Or as the name and wep key are the same they wont notice any change as it will already be in their Windows preferred wireless networks list

thanks

[t72bogie]

no - the clients just need the SSID and WPA key ...they will be fine

before you buy a new router, id make sure the one you have is really faulty though, and not just picking up interference...otherwise you spend £100 and have the same (maybe different) issues

[beerhunter]

Originally Posted by t72bogie

before you buy a new router, id make sure the one you have is really faulty though, and not just picking up interference...otherwise you spend £100 and have the same (maybe different) issues

I concur with that. Try reading the many threads here on using tools like inSSIDer to fix WiFi (especially 'flaky) problems.

Second you may want to think about moving from WEP to WPA for better security.

[Blue Cheese]

A quick and easy thing to do is try changing the channel (to reduce interference from other wifi routers). Try 1 or 12 and see if you get better results.

[beerhunter]

Originally Posted by Blue Cheese

A quick and easy thing to do is try changing the channel (to reduce interference from other wifi routers). Try 1 or 12 and see if you get better results.

Randomly changing channel may or may not fix WiFi problems, which is why I advised the use of tool so that channel changing can an informed choice.

[rodney_nz]

thanks to everyones responses. I however do think that the actual router is getting a bit flakey as its just over its 3 year warranty

Ive reflashed the firmware and sometimes it still seems flakey (eg when connected via RJ45 I can ping the router but cant access its web interface, also when trying to connect portable devices it doesnt see the router eventhough other are connected and using the internet wirelessly)

It could be however that so many people are connecting to it and are pounding the internet traffic on it. Replacements are pretty cheap so I might try a replacement wireless router even though I dont get that many issues from it

Thanks again