Wireless-ethernet bridge with WPA-PSK (AES) ?

Is there not a wireless-ethernet bridge ("gaming adapter") that supports
WPA-PSK (AES) ?

I've bought two from a local store only to return them because they don't do
AES. I told them I would keep purchasing and returning until the
manufacturers learn to put full specifications on the box. If they just
list WEP and WPA-PSK, HTF are you supposed to know if WPA-PSK is both TKIP
and AES?

Thought about ordering online, but I sent an email to a couple manufacturers
asking if specific bridges support AES but they babble talk and refuse to
give a clear answer. Probably because they don't have a clue.

What is WPA2? Is WPA2 the same thing as "WPA-PSK (AES)" ? Would I bridge
that says WPA2 on the box work with "WPA-PSK (AES)" ?

Thanks...

On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:00:10 -0500, "bc20" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Is there not a wireless-ethernet bridge ("gaming adapter") that supports
>WPA-PSK (AES) ?
>
>I've bought two from a local store only to return them because they don't do
>AES. I told them I would keep purchasing and returning until the
>manufacturers learn to put full specifications on the box. If they just
>list WEP and WPA-PSK, HTF are you supposed to know if WPA-PSK is both TKIP
>and AES?
>
>Thought about ordering online, but I sent an email to a couple manufacturers
>asking if specific bridges support AES but they babble talk and refuse to
>give a clear answer. Probably because they don't have a clue.
>
>What is WPA2? Is WPA2 the same thing as "WPA-PSK (AES)" ? Would I bridge
>that says WPA2 on the box work with "WPA-PSK (AES)" ?
>
>Thanks...

I believe dd-wrt supports WPA-PSK AES, in case you're willing to go
that route. That's what I would do.

Apparently, AES is part of the WPA2 spefication, but some manufactuers
started using AES earlier in WPA1 in a "non standard" sort of way.

I need a bridge that can talk to an AP using WPA1-PSK-AES. I tried using
WPA2 on a bridge, but it doesn't work. After digging further, I read that
even though the encryption matches, WPA1 and WPA2 have different broadcast
flags. So, WPA1-PSK-AES will only talk to WPA1-PSK-AES...

And there is zero way of knowing if XYZ bridge does WPA1-PSK-AES because the
full specs aren't written on the web sites, let alone the box. Asking a
sales drone is also a waste of time too. They stare like a deer caught in
headlights...

Found one that works. Linksys WET54G, H/W Version 3.1

The setup lists both TKIP and AES for WPA1. (It also has both for WPA2.)

Sure enough, when WPA1 is selected with AES, it connected fine, but when
WPA2 is selected with AES it doesn't connect.
Nor does it connect when TKIP is selected for either.

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:32:19 -0500, "bc20" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>Found one that works. Linksys WET54G, H/W Version 3.1
>>The setup lists both TKIP and AES for WPA1. (It also has both for WPA2.)
>
> Egads.... You're right. I checked the settings at:
> <http://ui.linksys.com/files/WET54G/v3/2.07/index.htm>
> Both AES and TKIP are offered in both WPA and WPA2. Amazing.
>
>>Sure enough, when WPA1 is selected with AES, it connected fine, but when
>>WPA2 is selected with AES it doesn't connect.
>>Nor does it connect when TKIP is selected for either.
>
> Chuckle. Usually it's TKIP that works every time in WPA2 mode, and
> not AES. Now, it's backwards. Congratulations, maybe.

Yeah, that emulator is also old as well. The newest software firmware has
both WPA and WPA2 in the drop down box. (Along with WEP, Radius, etc.)
AES/TKIP are selectable for both WPA and WPA2. The only combination that I
got it finally working with was WPA and AES.

I'm not sure what router or AP they were using at the place I needed the
bridge at. All I know is that it was a Linksys.

I have a AP at home that also does WPA1-PSK-AES. (It doesn't even have
WPA2). It is the DLink DWL-7100AP

If my reading was correct, AES was intended for WPA2, but some manufacturers
"snuck" it into WPA1 early, making WPA1-PSK-AES a proprietary "non standard"
?
Also read that even though the encryption matches with WPA2, there are major
differences with the other protocols, so the two (WPA1-PSK-AES and
WPA2-PSK-AES) can't talk to one another...

Ya'd think they (manufacturers) would have wanted to prevent confusion...
Oh well...

> I have a AP at home that also does WPA1-PSK-AES. (It doesn't even have
> WPA2). It is the DLink DWL-7100AP

http://support.dlink.com/emulators/d...WepParam0.html

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:16:10 -0500, "bc20" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>> I have a AP at home that also does WPA1-PSK-AES. (It doesn't even have
>>> WPA2). It is the DLink DWL-7100AP
>>
>>http://support.dlink.com/emulators/d...WepParam0.html
>
> Y'er right. Amazing. The data sheet at:
> <http://www.dlink.com/products/resource.asp?pid=304&rid=1012&sec=0>
> shows:
> WPA - Wi-Fi Protected Access
> (WPA - TKIP/AES PSK)
>
> Ugh. I was wrong. WPA-PSK-AES is sorta kinda supported on DD-WRT:
> <http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_security#Preference_Summary>
>
> You can use WPA + AES for higher security than TKIP, but only if
> your devices support it (it is optional). For this reason it is not
> very common. You also do not get the improved roaming features of
> WPA2.
>
> WPA + TKIP+AES provides a fallback in case AES is not supported by
> a device in that it switches to the more common TKIP. The
> disadvantage is that it might switch to TKIP unexpectedly but is
> more backwards compatible if needed.
>
> I still think it's a bad idea. My (second) guess is that there are
> quite a few client radios and drivers that will not support the
> WPA-PSK-AES mode.
>
> Weird, totally weird. It kinda looks like some manufacturers had the
> room to implement AES encryption, but ran out of horsepower or space
> to implement the various WPA2 authentication methods.
>
> Looking at the various home router certifications at:
> <http://certifications.wi-fi.org/wbcs_certified_products.php?search=1&lang=en&filte r_category_id=1&listmode=1>
> most of the common wireless routers are tested and certified for WPA
> and WPA2 with an assortment of authentication protocols. However,
> there's no detail on which combination of encryption protocols are
> included in the test.
> <http://www.wi-fi.org/certification_programs.php>
> The associated "white paper" on the certification process only hints
> that the testing follows 802.11i. So, grabbing 802.11i:
> <http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.11i-2004.pdf>
> I'm blessed with 190 pages of heavy reading which is guaranteed to
> turn my brain into mush. A quick search offers no mention of WPA or
> WPA2, but the underlying protocols are described in excruciating
> detail. Methinks I'll pass for now and leave this exercise for
> another time when I'm awake and have more time.

Yeah, the whole WPA1-PSK-AES thing threw me off at first too. I also
thought that WPA1-PSK-AES was "WPA2", but it is its own animal...

The Sony PS3 and PSP, along with with Nintendo Wii, support WPA1-PSK-AES (in
addition to WPA2). WPA1-PSK-AES are given as a seperate option...