A lot of times a network will show brown bars on the N800 because of signal strength and not signal quality. Moving closer to the transmitter or getting in it's line of site will change the bars to green.

In other words, my first attemps were while trying to configure the connection in a fringe area. I brought my iPAQ with me the second time for my wife to use. (She could care less BTW but will do most anything if it means she can shop for shoes on Rittenhouse Square... A real trooper. Sort of a mercenary geek if you will. )

We found that:
1. Where the N800 picked up fringe signal it didn't register at all on the iPAQ.
... and
2. When ever the iPAQ did recognize signal it connected flawlessly... but so did the N800.