I wanted a Windows tablet so I could do work on it, as opposed to my iPad, which is a great eBook:)
BUT: During initial setup, it asked me for my wireless SSID and I gave it the WEP key, then it reported that it couldn't connect right now. I continued set up then came back and tried setting it up manually. Still no joy. I deleted the profile and started from scratch.
The tablet picked up the neighbourhood networks at weak signal and "hidden network" (mine) at full strength. Attempting to connect gave the same issues as during setup. As a test, I entered an invalid WEP key and it told me I had the wrong key. So it sees the network, can tell if the password is wrong, but won't connect.
I then went in to the router and broadcast the SSID (thinking that having it hidden may cause a problem). Now it shows my network SSID, but when I try to connect, it asks for a username and password - I don't have my network set up with a username and password, just the WEP key.
In frustration, I bought the USB Ethernet adapter - but it still won't connect. It's lit up but no access!! I'm using the cables that work for my Xbox one and 360 and ps3 and 4 so that's not it. My Surface just doesn't want to connect!
The sad thing is that I had no issues setting up my Apple toys wirelessly. To access my Office 365, I've tethered my iPhone via bluetooth to my Surface Pro and accessed my network that way. That is really sad. I can't tether using wireless though, just BT. Although I could get my Office this way, I couldn't get any apps or validate windows. The apps just stall as "Pending" after starting initially and there is a security error with windows validation. Why doesn't this stupid tablet just work out of the box??
I'm using a SpeedStream 6520 modem/router, which works perfectly for my other windows PC's (7 64bit ultimate), both wireless and wired, plus my iPad and iPhone4S (which I want to scrap for a Lumia, but am now having second thoughts).
How can Bluetooth allow access to my wireless network when the tablet can't access it directly? Why am I being asked for username/password combo istead of being given connection options that allow me to specify WEP?
I want to love this tablet, but so far it's a limited tool I can use for spreadsheets only right now...