NOOK and Secure WIFI

[rjohnsmith510]

Dear Community, thank for your help. I write to inquire how to connect the NOOK to a secure wifi network.

1. When I go to WIFI ,
2. I then select WIFI Hot Spot,
3. however when I select the Secure WIFi network (in this case LIBRARY)
4. the NOOK displays Signal Strength - excellent, Security WEP, I select CONNECT
5. The NOOK displays Enter Network Password and an screen to select WEP password format
6. HOWEVER THE SECURE WIFI NETWORK HAS BOTH A PASSWORD AND A KEY WHICH MUST BE ENTERED.
7. THERE IS NO NOOK SCREEN TO INPUT THE SECURE WIFI KEY SO ACCESS IS DENIED.
8. Please review and advise asap.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

For WEP you will have a string of hexadecimal (digits and letters A-F) characters, either 10 or 26 of them. That is your "key".

There is no "password" with WEP. However, many devices provide the ability to automatically convert a password into a WEP key, thus saving you the grief of typing in 26 hex characters. There is no such shortcut here. You'll have to type in all of the hex characters, and ignore the password.

For hotspots in public places, there might also be a password after you get connected using your WEP key. You'll enter that in the browser.

[Big_Dave_H]

Three terms which provide much confusion for people (and even product developers):

Password -- A one time authentication string used to access a site.  Usually paired with a "User Name" or "Log In".  Kind of what you did to get access to this forum.  Provides no encryption. 

Passkey -- A Hexidecimal (numbers 0-9 and letters A-F) string used to seed an encryption alogorithm. 

Passphrase -- A full alpha-numeric (numbers, upper case letters, lower case letters, and some symbols) string used to generate a passkey.  For example, a WEP passphrase might be "BarnesandNoble1".  This will generate a passkey of 61A0BC02265932913B88A8450C

If your library uses WEP, you must type in either a passphrase or a passkey. 

[icebike]

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rjohnsmith510 wrote:

1. HOWEVER THE SECURE WIFI NETWORK HAS BOTH A PASSWORD AND A KEY WHICH MUST BE ENTERED.
2. THERE IS NO NOOK SCREEN TO INPUT THE SECURE WIFI KEY SO ACCESS IS DENIED.
3. Please review and advise asap.

---

Start in the web browser.  

It will prompt for wifi connection.

After entering in the wifi password, the web browser should allow you to enter a password.

However this type of web site (requiring a log in after a connection) is still not guarenteed to work in all cases.  In version 1.3 it didn't work at all.  Now it just doesn't work SOMETIMES.

See the manual.

[ianNJ]

I got Nook yesterday, got same problem and tried your instruction. Problem is still there. I am using router model MI424-WR provided by verizon. I went to B&N for help. The sales rep told me it's Verizon's problem. I called Verizon, of cause no human voice over there. Do you think i really need to replace the router? Thanks in advance

[Big_Dave_H]

It is probably NOT Verizon's problem. 

But, do you have the ability to access the router's web based interface?  Usually you can do thise by typing 192.168.0.1 in your web browser address bar. 

[Big_Dave_H]

Make that 192.168.1.1 in your case.

[icebike]

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ianNJ wrote:

I got Nook yesterday, got same problem and tried your instruction. Problem is still there. I am using router model MI424-WR provided by verizon. I went to B&N for help. The sales rep told me it's Verizon's problem. I called Verizon, of cause no human voice over there. Do you think i really need to replace the router? Thanks in advance

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Go to the Nook WiFi hotspot list in settings / wifi

Wait till the Scanning for hot spots stops (its gray while working)

Select your hotspot and see if it will connect.  (upper screen will say Connected to xxxxx)

If so, tap the hotspot again in lower screen (it will may a check box), and it will tell you the type of security in a pop-up window. We need to know that value to help you.

It will be something like

Security: OPEN or WEP, or WAP, or WPA2

[icebike]

Is this your router:

http://onlinehelp.verizon.net/consumer/bin/pdf/ActiontecMI1424WRUserManual.pdf

If so, on or about page 35, you can set WEP or WPA.

This thing is a dinosaur .

[ianNJ]

Thanks for your response. I am able to get in the router's web based interface. I just called Nook's customer service again a few minutes ago. he advised me of adding MAC address. I did and rebooted the router too. and I still have the same problem. My other wirless devices are just working fine. Thanks again

[ianNJ]

my route's setting is WEP 64 bit hex. is this a problem? Nook's option is WEP 40/128 bit HEX.

[icebike]

Set authentication to open or both on the router.

[ianNJ]

I did that part. Now MAC accepts any devices.

[ianNJ]

I mean MAC open to any devices. but just cann't connect to NOOK

[icebike]

See page 30 (the page number printed on the page, not what the pdf says) in the pdf I posted above.

Nook has a problem with shared key.  Make sure Network Authentication is set to Open System.

(This has nothing to do with passwords, its just a confusing name).

[ianNJ]

I double checked. network authentication is set to open systems.

[icebike]

When setting up your hotspot on the nook did you tell it to use wep?

[ianNJ]

oh, I didn't see that option there. Let me take a look. thanks so much. I am sorry to hold you here.

[icebike]

NO no...

If you SAW the option, you would have been doing it wrong. 

(Its possible to enter all these settings manually by going to OTHER hotspot, but this

invariably leads to tears.  Just select your hotspot from the list and ender your password.  The nook will negotiate the rest.)

Worst case:  Change the router to use WPA with the AES option. Nook loves that, and its more secure any way.

[ianNJ]

I guess I have to make that decision or keep calling Verizon to update my router. Thanks again and have a great evening!