Given I had countless problems with my previous router (clicky), I decided it was time for a new one. Plumped for Draytek's 2710n router as it had what I wanted and Draytek are highly recommended.

The problem: My desktop computer can't connect to the router.
Equipment:

• Router - Draytek Vigor 2710n ADSL router
• Desktop - Netgear WG311T wireless PCI card
• Laptop - Netgear WG511T PCMCIA card
• iPhone - built-in wireless

I connected my laptop to the router via the ethernet cable. Set it all up and got it working. Both my laptop and the desktop connected fine. I then decided to set-up encryption and used WPA-PSK which I had on my previous router. Tested it with my laptop first and it connected to the router fine. Tried to connect the desktop but now it won't connect. It detects the network and signal strength is 6/6. I've typed the password into the appropriate space and tried to get it to connect but it just keeps scanning, finding the router, tries to connect and fails, then goes back to scanning. The iPhone connected first time without issues.

Obviously I could disable security but then it's a bit ridiculous.

Any ideas?

Ignore it. Managed to fix it.

Disabled the n-bit so the wireless b and g modes are the only ones active. Also fixed the channel at channel 8 (everyone else around is using 6). Works perfectly now. Just gotta try the sis' laptop.

How old is the WG311T? I know that early g, like eary n cards don't work with all routers.

Have you got the latest update?

http://kbserver.netgear.com/release_notes/D102606.asp is dated 2005, so it sounds like the card is getting on a bit...

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/747 seems to be the latest version, which is 2007.

I'm afraid it might be time to look at a more modern and standard piece of kit.

Also, I wouldn't use WPA, only WPA2 for security. WPA can be easily cracked these days.

Edit: I expect the extra "n" compatibility in the broadcast was confusing the WG311T...

Yeah whilst looking in the multitudes of settings, I noted that n-mode was enabled and figured this wouldn't have suited the pci card. I bought the netgear kit together - DG834GT router, WG511T PCMCIA cards and WG311T PCI card altogether for a wireless setup. The network ran as close as possible to the 108Mbps so streaming songs worked well. Everything is at least five years old.

The pci and pcmcia cards both appear to support wpa2 so I will try them tomorrow. My sister's laptop has its own built in wireless and I don't know if it'll support n-mode.

Any recommendations on equipment to replace the above?