help with wireless security issue needed

I've just had the most amazing 32 hours in my life, all without sleep.
I've been trying to make an (ISP supplied) DSL modem/wireless router
work in wireless mode. And, I need some help::>

The modem/router in question is a Starbridge Networks Linx L-510. The
website is www.Starbridgenetworks.com.

The bulk of my problems making it work were related to the wireless
receiver in the laptop, the router itself functions fine as supplied
by the ISP.

BUT.........apparently Starbridge Networks never heard of wireless
security.

The 2 selectable security options are 'none' and WEP with a user
definable key. There are no settings for WPA anything!

So, after I spent all this time making the wireless in the laptop
work, I went to enable the WPA in order to secure my wireless. I
understand this has to be done on both ends of the wireless link. Note
that I AM NOT trying to connect 2 or more computers together, my sole
interest in wireless is to allow the laptop to roam around my
house...I believe the proper term is 'Internet Connection Sharing'.

So, here's what I found when I attempted to modify the wireless setup
for improved security.

1) No WPA setting available.*

2) The wireless protocol supported is never mentioned in the
documentation, I strongly suspect it's not 802.11g.

3) There is no company address, website or tech support number listed
in any of the documentation for the router. I only found the website
by googleing.

4) Even on the website, there is no company address given and no tech
support number or any other form of contact.

5) The quick Start hardcopy that comes with the modem is a joke-not
that unusual::> BUT.......

6) The full installation and documentation manual (supplied on disk)
also does not list a website, company address or contact information.
Not even warranty information is supplied.

7) The website doesn't have a search engine and my model number is not
listed. No information is available about my router-no drivers etc.

8) The box is a plain brown box with a few stickers on it, although I
confess one of those does have the website listed.

*Only WEP with user assignable key is available.

I realize this is most likely an OEM model, which is why there are 'no
frills'.....but, my ISP charged me a damn high price to install and
lease this modem, and I'm seriously wondering whether I should send it
back and tell them NO THANKS.

My initial intention was to have a router that provided 802.11g (WPA)
security and to pay their price for the hardware lease so that the
hardware would be supported by them. It appears that security is NOT
available in this model, and why the ISP is distributing wireless
routers that aren't even mildly secure is beyond my comprehension.

So, should I send it back and ask for my money back? That would mean I
would have to buy a modem/router and set it up myself without their
support.

Appreciate any suggestions.

A

Ari wrote:

> I've just had the most amazing 32 hours in my life, all without sleep.
> I've been trying to make an (ISP supplied) DSL modem/wireless router
> work in wireless mode. And, I need some help::>
>
> The modem/router in question is a Starbridge Networks Linx L-510. The
> website is www.Starbridgenetworks.com.
>
> The bulk of my problems making it work were related to the wireless
> receiver in the laptop, the router itself functions fine as supplied
> by the ISP.
>
> BUT.........apparently Starbridge Networks never heard of wireless
> security.
>
> The 2 selectable security options are 'none' and WEP with a user
> definable key. There are no settings for WPA anything!
>
> So, after I spent all this time making the wireless in the laptop
> work, I went to enable the WPA in order to secure my wireless. I
> understand this has to be done on both ends of the wireless link. Note
> that I AM NOT trying to connect 2 or more computers together, my sole
> interest in wireless is to allow the laptop to roam around my
> house...I believe the proper term is 'Internet Connection Sharing'.
>
> So, here's what I found when I attempted to modify the wireless setup
> for improved security.
>
> 1) No WPA setting available.*
>
> 2) The wireless protocol supported is never mentioned in the
> documentation, I strongly suspect it's not 802.11g.
>
> 3) There is no company address, website or tech support number listed
> in any of the documentation for the router. I only found the website
> by googleing.
>
> 4) Even on the website, there is no company address given and no tech
> support number or any other form of contact.
>
> 5) The quick Start hardcopy that comes with the modem is a joke-not
> that unusual::> BUT.......
>
> 6) The full installation and documentation manual (supplied on disk)
> also does not list a website, company address or contact information.
> Not even warranty information is supplied.
>
> 7) The website doesn't have a search engine and my model number is not
> listed. No information is available about my router-no drivers etc.
>
> 8) The box is a plain brown box with a few stickers on it, although I
> confess one of those does have the website listed.
>
> *Only WEP with user assignable key is available.
>
> I realize this is most likely an OEM model, which is why there are 'no
> frills'.....but, my ISP charged me a damn high price to install and
> lease this modem, and I'm seriously wondering whether I should send it
> back and tell them NO THANKS.
>
> My initial intention was to have a router that provided 802.11g (WPA)
> security and to pay their price for the hardware lease so that the
> hardware would be supported by them. It appears that security is NOT
> available in this model, and why the ISP is distributing wireless
> routers that aren't even mildly secure is beyond my comprehension.
>
> So, should I send it back and ask for my money back? That would mean I
> would have to buy a modem/router and set it up myself without their
> support.
>
> Appreciate any suggestions.
>
> A

Now that you got some sleep ... go back and take a look at the website.

Contact info: http://www.starbridgenetworks.com/new/contacts.htm

Address/phone:
"The Starbridge Interactive Group C.A. Web site is maintained by
Starbridge Interactive Group C.A. with headquarters at Av. Francisco de
Miranda, Centro Plaza, Torre A, P. 11, Los Palos Grandes, Caracas 1060,
Venezuela. Questions concerning our Web site or Privacy Policy may be
directed to us by e-mail to: (E-Mail Removed). The main telephone number
at Starbridge Interactive Group C.A. is (+58) 212 286 67 33. "

And, if you go to http://www.sbridge.net/new/index.html you'll find a
product search engine. And, finally, a slightly different home page has a
link to your product: http://www.sbridge.net/new/index.php?i=26&lng=en
The L-510 does appear to be a 802.l1g device, but the company seems not to
have released the data sheet ("forbidden"). Note that the "g"
designation has nothing to do with the level of security implemented (WEP,
WPA, or WPA2). I'd suggest an email to (E-Mail Removed) (or a phone call
if you speak Spanish), or perhaps more simply, an email or phone call to
your ISP.

Although many wireless routers add security features such as WPA by
firmware upgrades, judging from the state of this website, I wouldn't hold
my breath for your piece of hardware.

You can buy an aftermarket DSL modem and router, but you'll have to make
sure that (a) the modem you buy is compatibile with your ISP's system and
(b) find out from your ISP various parameters that may be needed to set up
the modem. An easier alternative might be to return the combo
modem/router to your ISP and ask for a plain modem (as if you were going
to have only a single computer wired to your DSL connection. You want one
that has an Ethernet connection, not a USB connection, to your computer.
Then go out and buy a standard wireless router from Linksys, D-Link,
Netgear, etc.

>Now that you got some sleep ... go back and take a look at the website.
>
>Contact info: http://www.starbridgenetworks.com/new/contacts.htm
>

It looks like I was a little hasty (and tired). I caught 5 hours of
sleep and looked at the web site again (with a different computer) and
managed to find the search engine and contact page with various email
addresses listed. I sent them an email, but heard nothing back (yet).
It's amazing how much difference a little sleep makes>>:

Thanks for the once over LEM. All noted and understood, except for:

>Note that the "g" designation has nothing to
>do with the level of security implemented (WEP,
>WPA, or WPA2).

Doesn't the 'g' indicate it is WPA capable???? And, doesn't the 'i'
mean is is WPA2 capable? If that's not true, please clarify if you
would.

More specifically, I thought a WPA meant 802.11g and was reverse
compatible with 802.11a and b. I also thought WPA2 meant it was
802.11i and again it was recverse compatible with a/b/g. Doesn't WEP
mean it's 802.11b?

Thanks,

A

Ari wrote:

> >Now that you got some sleep ... go back and take a look at the website.
> >
> >Contact info: http://www.starbridgenetworks.com/new/contacts.htm
> >
>
> It looks like I was a little hasty (and tired). I caught 5 hours of
> sleep and looked at the web site again (with a different computer) and
> managed to find the search engine and contact page with various email
> addresses listed. I sent them an email, but heard nothing back (yet).
> It's amazing how much difference a little sleep makes>>:
>
> Thanks for the once over LEM. All noted and understood, except for:
>
> >Note that the "g" designation has nothing to
> >do with the level of security implemented (WEP,
> >WPA, or WPA2).
>
> Doesn't the 'g' indicate it is WPA capable???? And, doesn't the 'i'
> mean is is WPA2 capable? If that's not true, please clarify if you
> would.
>
> More specifically, I thought a WPA meant 802.11g and was reverse
> compatible with 802.11a and b. I also thought WPA2 meant it was
> 802.11i and again it was recverse compatible with a/b/g. Doesn't WEP
> mean it's 802.11b?
>
> Thanks,
>
> A

No. WEP does not mean 802.11b.

IEEE 802.11 is a standard, developed by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards
Committee, that deals with wireless networking. The 3 currently most
popular flavors are a, b, and g. 802.11b and g use the 2.4GHz band for
radio transmissions, while 802.11a uses 5.0GHz. 802.11b has a maximum raw
data rate of 11 Mbit/s; 802.11a and 802.11g have a max raw data rate of 54
Mbit/s. 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, but not with
802.11a. Although (a) has a higher data rate, the higher frequency means it
has more attenuation when passing through walls, etc. Thus 802.11g was
developed, as an attempt to get the data rate of (a) with the range of (b).

802.11i is an amendment specifiying certain security mechanisims. This is
known as WPA2. WPA is a subset of the 802.11i spec.

As I understand it, one could implement any of the 3 encryption schemes
(WEP, WPA, WPA2) on any of the 3 protocols (802.11a, b, g). However,
because of consumer (particular home and SOHO user) demand for speed and
range, 802.11g has seen the most product development, and thus most of the
home/SOHO WiFi equipment sold today is 802.11g, with WPA or WPA2 capability.

There are plenty of "older" 802.11g units around, however, that only support
WEP -- unless they've been upgraded. It seems to me that I bought a Linksys
WRT54g ver. 1 (WiFi router) only about 3 or 4 years ago. Out of the box,
this supported only WEP on 802.11g. A year or so later, Linksys offered a
firmware upgrade that implemented WPA. I don't know if firmware only can
achieve WPA2.