Authentication Open vs Shared Key

Yesterday I purchased a D-Link wireless print server and set it up. I
followed the instructions in the Quick Install Guide: "Next to
authentication, select Shared Key." The server did not connect to the
Access Point. I phoned up D-Link tech support and to their credit,
they advised me to change this parameter to "Open", which solved the
problem. Unfortunately, the tech support guy was unable to explain
why. I hope someone here can enlighten me.

The Access Point is a Netopia router furnished by the phone company.
It is set up with WEP and a 10 digit hex key. It certainly seems
appropriate to configure the print server authentication to be
"Shared Key." Is the D-Link implementation (and documentation)
defective, or is "Open" actually the appropriate setting?
.

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