To answer the first question...I am entering the password exactly how it was put in, and I'm using wpa-psk. The exact match for the router. I have also ran different variations of the passphrase through aircrack just to make sure an error wasn't made in the passphrase, and this comes back with the correct passphrase.
Now for the second question..lol..CEH actually is a good cert but as in all certifications it is the starting point whitch means that it is the basics of hacking, and in all honesty wireless is a category but the test and the class focus more on enterprise hacking (DOS attacks, arp poisining, implementing trojans virus on a network, using viruses to create back doors to networks, etc.) There is only one real section of wireless when I took the class and that was for scanning and identifying wireless networks...not hacking them.
CEH is still a good cert though and I recommend it to anybody who wishes to become better at hacking, but really pen-testing or one of the higher certs is going be better suited for learning more about the wireless hacking aspect becasue it's made to teach you to gain access to networks, whereas CEH teaches you the tools to get into networks.
Digip, I will try your suggestions and see if that works. appreciated the advice. Will update on status once I have tried a few things.
Thanks,
Gunny