How-To: Correctly entering WEP passcodes so Wi-Fi works

Question

After speaking with specialist and getting password protected Wi-Fi to work:
1. Since my 10 digit WEP code only has numbers 0-9 and letters A-F, the iPhone sees it as a HEX code, not a standard WEP code. Thus, when entering it in the iPhone, you must go to the ASCII/HEX option, and put the $ symbol in, which tells it that your WEP key is really a HEX key.
You can access the HEX input option under seurity.
So, when joining networks in the future that are locked, 10 digit, and only numerals 0-9 and letter a-f, you can choose HEX and add the $ sign. (Some people report this working without adding the $ sign).
2. If you appear to be connected with a signal after entering your passcode, but still cannot access the internet, you go back to Wi-Fi options and tell the iPhone to "Forget this Network". Then you re-access it and start the input over.
3. Longer passwords or passwords with strange characters should be tried under both WEP and ASCII/HEX. Again, before each try, choose "Forget this Network" and start over.
4. A good test to make sure that your iPhone really does work on your home internet is to go into your router and turn your passcode off. Then, on the iPhone, choose "Forget this Network", and start over. iPhone will fly and you'll see it work (unless your phone is defective - and this is not likely.) If you don't know how to do this, (turn off router password) call your service provider. They will walk you through it, and it is really easy to do (maybe 4 steps... you just need the providers name and password and you access the option on menu... very simple. It is also simple to turn it back on when done with your test).
5. Once you know your iPhone works, you can play around with the different passcode options if you want to keep the network password protected. Again, remember the "Forget this Network" option between each try. Otherwise, you will appear connected with signal strength but really won't be able to access the internet.
Notes:
A. A Fios network specialist told me that the more encryption you have, the longer the internet takes - on everything: computers, devices, etc. 8 or 13 digits are ideal, and more than enough protection. And your internet will be faster.
B. All this password confusion should be standardized, but different providers choose different formats, hence the confusion. Although iPhone is very capable and is advanced technology, they could only support so many formats, hence our need to do some "tweaking" for unconventional formats. Eventually these providers should standardize in the future. (Same problems can exist for people connecting Wii's and PS3's wirelessly to protected home networks. Standardization would fix this).
C. Although my iPhone is working quickly and effortlessly now on my home Wi-Fi network, it did go a little faster when the WEP was turned off on the router (and so did my laptop), so I guess the network guy was right.
D. You don't need to "Restore Your iPhone" in iTunes to get this all to work. Although some people have mentioned that a "soft reset" of iPhone has helped. To do this, hold down the button on the top of iPhone while you hold down the "Home" button.
E. If your iPhone works in open networks, or at home with your passcode off in the router, then your iPhone works fine on Wi-Fi. If the above solution does not work for you at home with WEP security turned on in your router, then the problem is an encryption one. Your options are to keep your home network passcode off, or to call your service provider and try different types of passcode encryption until you find the right one.
F. If you bought your own router and are not leasing it from your network provider, you can visit their website and try updating the firmware on your router or seeing what other options are available for passcode encryption and try those.
G. If you have MAC Authorization or Identification enabled in your router settings, you will need to manually enter your iPhone's MAC address into your router settings. This address can be found on the iPhone's "About" Menu option, under "Settings". This type of layer of security is really unneccessary and pain. Most people do not have it enabled, but if you do, entering the iPhone's MAC address enable you to get on. (But I suggest you turn this off if it is on.)
**If this post helped you, please respond or add a star if helpful so others can find it and use it.
Using the iPhone on Wi-Fi really is a pleasure!!! Enjoy your iPhones!!

Answer 1

Just a word to the wise. Turning off password protection in your router leaves your network wide open to whomever is close enough to see your network. Unfortunately, a walkthrough is not as easy as it sounds. Every routers interface is different, and without talking to you while you have it open and having some idea what the interface looks like, it would be difficult to say the least. However if you know where you turned it off, then you know where to turn it on. Look for some of the options you have seen here and you will hopefully be able to figure it out. 64bit WEP with no encription, with a passcode that is either ascii or Hex is problably the easiest to set up. It is not the most secure, but will keep most folks out. However a relatively determined hacker will still be able to get in. Each requires that you select a key of a specific length, that is what makes it 64bit. 128bit makes it more secure because the key has to be twice as long.
Once you get your router set up with a password(key), you have to get it entered in your iphone. If you were all ready connected to your network, you will not be anymore, but the iphone will not really tell you that clearly. Now for the steps:
1. Go into Settings - Wi-Fi and touch the blue arrow next to your network.
2. The touch Forget this Network at the top of the screen. It will ask for a
confirmation.
3. Touch the back button which puts you back on the Wi-Fi Networks
window.
4. Cycle the Wi-Fi off and then back on. It will do a new search for networks.
Yours should show up again.
5. This time when you touch on it it should ask you to Enter Password. Touch
the WEP Password entry on the Security line.
6. This will bring up a new window where you should see 'WEP hex or ASCII'.
Make sure that is checked, touch it if it is not.
7. Then touch the back button and enter your password(key) you put in your
router. If you set it to hex in your router, you may have to try the $ thing
mentioned before, but I would try it without first.
8. The password window will disappear. The lock should disappear from your
network for a few moments and then reappear. Once it does, click on the
next to it again. Check to see if you have valid information in the first 4
lines.
A couple of notes:
You will get valid information if your router is set up for DHCP, which most are, but if yours is not, you will have to change the tab to BootP or Static and set those up with valid information. However since without a password(key) you did not have a problem, DHCP is probably running.
Second, note I said valid information in the first 4 entries. If you see an ip address starting with 169.254, that is not a valid address. At this point go back to step 2 and try again, perhaps with the $. However since you cannot see the letters/numbers you entered in the password, it could just be a typo on your part, so maybe try it again both with and without the $.
Hopefully this will get you going. Good luck. Was that fourth grade or second grade level, these days you never know. I guess it would have been second year college or later in my day. ; )