MAC address filtering MN-500, allow unspecified MAC address?

Hi,
Just bought and setup a Microsoft MN-500 wireless
router. Got it all set for wireless including WEP. But
when I tried to set up MAC filtering, I ran into troubles
with the settings "Enable Connection Control and
allow/deny unspecified MAC addresses to connect". I read
this such that I should "deny" unspecified MAC addresses a
connection. However, this always hung up the router and
required a hard reset (I think the hardwired connection
with the PC was broken, so response).

Tech support (she was very good), suggested changing the
setting to "allow unspecified MAC addresses to connect".
This worked. But intuitively, it's opposite of what I want
to allow. But it works.

Anyone else run into this setting?

Thanks,
-Tony

I have the *Association* control to *deny* unspecified
MAC's checked, and the Connection control unchecked. This
prevents unauthorized wireless computers from getting
through the base station (i.e. unless they clone the MAC
address of one of my laptops).

The Association control applies to wireless only. The
Connection control applies to both, so unless you have
entered the MAC address of your wired desktop on the list,
you'll be locked out with Connection enabled and the deny
setting.

The Allow Unspecified MAC's allows everybody to connect,
except the MAC addresses in the list that are not
additionally checked to Allow Connection (i.e. it enables
creation of a blacklist).

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi,
> Just bought and setup a Microsoft MN-500 wireless
>router. Got it all set for wireless including WEP. But
>when I tried to set up MAC filtering, I ran into troubles
>with the settings "Enable Connection Control and
>allow/deny unspecified MAC addresses to connect". I read
>this such that I should "deny" unspecified MAC addresses a
>connection. However, this always hung up the router and
>required a hard reset (I think the hardwired connection
>with the PC was broken, so response).
>
> Tech support (she was very good), suggested changing the
>setting to "allow unspecified MAC addresses to connect".
>This worked. But intuitively, it's opposite of what I want
>to allow. But it works.
>
> Anyone else run into this setting?
>
>Thanks,
>-Tony
>.
>

Hi,
Thanks for the clear explanation of what those settings
do. I have made the changes and the router responded just
fine. And a wireless PDA connected just fine. Too bad MS
didn't provide more instructions on using those settings
in the manual or on the web site, they weren't intuitive
at all.

Regards,
-Tony


>-----Original Message-----
>I have the *Association* control to *deny* unspecified
>MAC's checked, and the Connection control unchecked. This
>prevents unauthorized wireless computers from getting
>through the base station (i.e. unless they clone the MAC
>address of one of my laptops).
>
>The Association control applies to wireless only. The
>Connection control applies to both, so unless you have
>entered the MAC address of your wired desktop on the list,
>you'll be locked out with Connection enabled and the deny
>setting.
>
>The Allow Unspecified MAC's allows everybody to connect,
>except the MAC addresses in the list that are not
>additionally checked to Allow Connection (i.e. it enables
>creation of a blacklist).