Linksys home network problems

Setup:

Linksys WRT54G wireless router
Firmware v1.00.6

(Wired)
eMachines desktop running XP Home

(Wireless)
Sony Viao desktop running XP Pro
Linksys WUSB54G wireless adapter
Driver version: 2.0.2.0
Linksys Wireless Network Monitor v4.2

(Wireless)
Toshiba Satellite laptop running XP Home
Dell WLAN 1350 wireless PC Card
Driver version: 3.40.73.0
Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility


I have a wireless network set up with the above computers on a cable
connection through Cox Communications. DHCP from the router is
disabled and all three computers have static IPs. The SSID broadcast
is also disabled. WEP security is enabled.

The wired desktop and wireless laptop have no connection issues at all.
Despite the SSID being hidden, the laptop has had no problems
continually accessing the network over the past 3 weeks. This morning
I switched the Sony from wired to wireless and have had nothing but
problems with it. I verified all the settings with the laptop (IP,
DNS, etc.), but could not access the network with the Sony. After
alternating between the Linksys network monitor and Windows Wireless
Zero Configuration, I finally enabled the SSID broadcast. This allowed
me to connect to the network and the Internet (via Firefox/IE), but I
receive the message "You are connected to the acess point, but the
Internet cannot be found." in the Linksys monitor. The big issues is
that I cannot access the Internet/streams from Winamp, Windows Media
Player, iTunes, etc. Also, if I disable the SSID broadcast - even
after saving all the settings using the Linksys monitor - I immediately
lose the connection and cannot reconnect until I enable the SSID
broadcast. Firewalls are not the problem.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Have been fighting this all day
and don't know exactly how to proceed (other than wiring the Sony to
the router again).

On 5 Aug 2006 16:13:25 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>Setup:
>
>Linksys WRT54G wireless router
>Firmware v1.00.6
>
>(Wired)
>eMachines desktop running XP Home
>
>(Wireless)
>Sony Viao desktop running XP Pro
>Linksys WUSB54G wireless adapter
>Driver version: 2.0.2.0
>Linksys Wireless Network Monitor v4.2
>
>(Wireless)
>Toshiba Satellite laptop running XP Home
>Dell WLAN 1350 wireless PC Card
>Driver version: 3.40.73.0
>Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility

Good stuff.

>I have a wireless network set up with the above computers on a cable
>connection through Cox Communications. DHCP from the router is
>disabled and all three computers have static IPs.

Why? DHCP isn't a security issue, and manual IP is error-prone hassle.

>The SSID broadcast
>is also disabled.

Won't help security -- a waste of time that just makes life harder.

>WEP security is enabled.

Correction: WEP insecurity. WEP is so easily broken that it's
essentially useless, just like SSID hiding, MAC filtering, and turning
off DHCP..All you need is WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.

>The wired desktop and wireless laptop have no connection issues at all.
> Despite the SSID being hidden, the laptop has had no problems
>continually accessing the network over the past 3 weeks. This morning
>I switched the Sony from wired to wireless and have had nothing but
>problems with it. ...

>Any suggestions would be appreciated. ...

1. Unhide the SSID.
2. Remove any MAC filtering.
3. Use DHCP instead of manual IP.
4. Troubleshoot with all security turned off
5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John Navas wrote:
> On 5 Aug 2006 16:13:25 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
> <(E-Mail Removed). com>:
>
> >Setup:
> >
> >Linksys WRT54G wireless router
> >Firmware v1.00.6
> >
> >(Wired)
> >eMachines desktop running XP Home
> >
> >(Wireless)
> >Sony Viao desktop running XP Pro
> >Linksys WUSB54G wireless adapter
> >Driver version: 2.0.2.0
> >Linksys Wireless Network Monitor v4.2
> >
> >(Wireless)
> >Toshiba Satellite laptop running XP Home
> >Dell WLAN 1350 wireless PC Card
> >Driver version: 3.40.73.0
> >Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility
>
> Good stuff.
>
> >I have a wireless network set up with the above computers on a cable
> >connection through Cox Communications. DHCP from the router is
> >disabled and all three computers have static IPs.
>
> Why? DHCP isn't a security issue, and manual IP is error-prone hassle.
>
> >The SSID broadcast
> >is also disabled.
>
> Won't help security -- a waste of time that just makes life harder.
>
> >WEP security is enabled.
>
> Correction: WEP insecurity. WEP is so easily broken that it's
> essentially useless, just like SSID hiding, MAC filtering, and turning
> off DHCP..All you need is WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.
Does that mean "select WAP rather than WEP for security mode"?

What would be a strong passphrase? digits and alphabets (lower and
upper case ) mixed?


>
> >The wired desktop and wireless laptop have no connection issues at all.
> > Despite the SSID being hidden, the laptop has had no problems
> >continually accessing the network over the past 3 weeks. This morning
> >I switched the Sony from wired to wireless and have had nothing but
> >problems with it. ...
>
> >Any suggestions would be appreciated. ...
>
> 1. Unhide the SSID.
> 2. Remove any MAC filtering.
> 3. Use DHCP instead of manual IP.
> 4. Troubleshoot with all security turned off
> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.

Good learning for me.

>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

[].

> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.

What's the different between WPA Pre-Shared Key and WPA RADIUS? Which
one should I choose?


>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John,

> >I have a wireless network set up with the above computers on a cable
> >connection through Cox Communications. DHCP from the router is
> >disabled and all three computers have static IPs.
>
> Why? DHCP isn't a security issue, and manual IP is error-prone hassle.
>

I used static IP addresses because of the web server I'm running.


> >The SSID broadcast
> >is also disabled.
>
> Won't help security -- a waste of time that just makes life harder.
>

Good to know. I'll just leave it enabled.

> 1. Unhide the SSID.
> 2. Remove any MAC filtering.
> 3. Use DHCP instead of manual IP.
> 4. Troubleshoot with all security turned off
> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.

I made sure I didn't have any MAC filtering set up. I disabled all
security and instantly accessed the internet from all applications. I
enabled WPA security with a strong passphrase and still had access from
all applications. Odd...but sweet.

Thanks for your help!

On 5 Aug 2006 18:30:20 -0700, "Amanda" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>John Navas wrote:

>> Correction: WEP insecurity. WEP is so easily broken that it's
>> essentially useless, just like SSID hiding, MAC filtering, and turning
>> off DHCP..All you need is WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.

>Does that mean "select WAP rather than WEP for security mode"?

Absolutely.

>What would be a strong passphrase? digits and alphabets (lower and
>upper case ) mixed?

I recommend diceware words (link in wikis below):

* For security that will stop most current attackers now, 20+ characters
are enough.

* For security good for our lifetimes, 34+ characters.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On 5 Aug 2006 18:34:33 -0700, "Amanda" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.
>
>What's the different between WPA Pre-Shared Key and WPA RADIUS? Which
>one should I choose?

Definitely use RADIUS if you have a RADIUS server. You probably don't,
so use PSK (pre-shared key) instead.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On 5 Aug 2006 21:57:18 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>John,

>> Why? DHCP isn't a security issue, and manual IP is error-prone hassle.
>
>I used static IP addresses because of the web server I'm running.

Better DHCP servers can fix addresses for particular clients.

>> 1. Unhide the SSID.
>> 2. Remove any MAC filtering.
>> 3. Use DHCP instead of manual IP.
>> 4. Troubleshoot with all security turned off
>> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.
>
>I made sure I didn't have any MAC filtering set up. I disabled all
>security and instantly accessed the internet from all applications. I
>enabled WPA security with a strong passphrase and still had access from
>all applications. Odd...but sweet.
>
>Thanks for your help!

Glad it worked.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

"Amanda" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.
>
>What's the different between WPA Pre-Shared Key and WPA RADIUS? Which
>one should I choose?

WPA-PSK is "pre shared key". This is where you type in a >20
character encryption key into the router and all connecting devices.

A "strong passphrase" is one that you can't remember.

WPA-RADIUS is where you have a RADIUS server somewhere, that has a
database of user logins, passwords, MAC addresses, certificates, etc,
that are used to authorize user and authenticate the client using
802.1x authentication.

You probably want WPA-PSK or what Linksys calls "WPA Personal".

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> "Amanda" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
> >> 5. Then switch to WPA or WPA2 with a strong passphrase.
> >
> >What's the different between WPA Pre-Shared Key and WPA RADIUS? Which
> >one should I choose?
>
> WPA-PSK is "pre shared key". This is where you type in a >20
> character encryption key into the router and all connecting devices.
>
> A "strong passphrase" is one that you can't remember.
>
> WPA-RADIUS is where you have a RADIUS server somewhere, that has a
> database of user logins, passwords, MAC addresses, certificates, etc,
> that are used to authorize user and authenticate the client using
> 802.1x authentication.
>
> You probably want WPA-PSK or what Linksys calls "WPA Personal".

My linksys wireless router uses "WPA Pre-Shared Key". If I choose
that, I will have to create a key for "WPA Shared Key:" field, right?


>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558