Puzzled about wireless WEP

[FoulDragon at aol.com]

In a message dated 31.Aug.2006 23.39.29 US Mountain Standard Time, 
lthielster at gmail.com writes:

>Today I replaced my old Linksys 802.11b wireless AP/router/4 port switch 
with a Linksys >WRT54G (sorry, thought I had bought the GL but...).  I configured 
it to use 128 bit WEP >instead of the 64 bit I had been using.

:looks at his own WRT54G setup page:

The 128-bit mode is really just 104-bit... it only accepts a 26-digit key.

-Did you set the router's 'incoming MAC filter'?  Maybe it's refusing your 
card because you tightened the filter too tight.

-Maybe the software is set to seek out the 'easiest target' network... one of 
my desktops used to keep trying to hook into a network several houses away, 
with a 8% signal level, because it was unencrypted.

I know 802.11b can work... my WRT54G talks happily to my prehistoric (early 
2003) Belkin 802.11b PCMCIA card.

Does it work when the WEP is turned off?

And lastly, is it perhaps a reception thing?  I get *terrible* coverage out 
of my WRT54G:  the PC in the same room gets 80-100%, but one wall/one 
floor/about 10 metres away,. we're down to maybe 30 percent.