WPA problems

Yesterday a thunderstorm knocked out the WPA function in my router. It was
all working fine till that thunderstorm. Now if I do not use WPA, the home
network connects, but if I use WPA then the separate PCs have trouble
connecting to the router: they say "connected" but immediately go back to
"acquiring IP" and then give up and disconnect. So now I am running with
token security using only MAC filtering.

Can a thunderstorm selectively knock out the WPA function of a router?

I have of course tried re-entering (cut and paste) the WPA pre-phrase in all
PCs and router but that did not help. I entered them all (including the
router) in the format "..... EE 22 5D 60 57 ....". Is that the correct way
or should they be entered as text "...8a3c11c5ff..." (I have both in my
notes recording the WPA used). I am too frustrated to try all the possible
combinations.

I am ready to go out and by a new router but hesitate because I remember the
trouble I had getting this home network set up and maybe even the problems I
now have may just be configuration problems - although all works if I do not
use WPA. Yuck.

Any advice appreciated.

Jeff wrote:

> Yesterday a thunderstorm knocked out the WPA function in my router. It was
> all working fine till that thunderstorm. Now if I do not use WPA, the home
> network connects, but if I use WPA then the separate PCs have trouble
> connecting to the router: they say "connected" but immediately go back to
> "acquiring IP" and then give up and disconnect. So now I am running with
> token security using only MAC filtering.
>
> Can a thunderstorm selectively knock out the WPA function of a router?
>
> I have of course tried re-entering (cut and paste) the WPA pre-phrase in all
> PCs and router but that did not help. I entered them all (including the
> router) in the format "..... EE 22 5D 60 57 ....". Is that the correct way
> or should they be entered as text "...8a3c11c5ff..." (I have both in my
> notes recording the WPA used). I am too frustrated to try all the possible
> combinations.
>
> I am ready to go out and by a new router but hesitate because I remember the
> trouble I had getting this home network set up and maybe even the problems I
> now have may just be configuration problems - although all works if I do not
> use WPA. Yuck.
>
> Any advice appreciated.
>
>
A lightning-induced power surge can do strange things to electronics. I
had a DSL modem and DSL interface in the router fried by lightning,
although (a) the rest of the router's functions worked OK and (b) the
router's rather primitive hardware diagnostics didn't show any problems.

Try using a new passphrase. You don't have to make it long or
complicated for this testing purpose. As to how it should be entered,
that depends on your router, which you didn't specify. If that doesn't
work, try WEP. If that doesn't work, I'd buy a new router. Before you
toss your old one, however, check to see if it has the capability to
save its configuration as a file on your pc. If you buy the same model
router, you may be able to "restore" your old configuration. Before you
attempt this, however, a call to your router mfr's support line would be
in order, just to make sure that a config file from the old router will
indeed work with the new one.

Lem wrote:
> Jeff wrote:
>
>> Yesterday a thunderstorm knocked out the WPA function in my router. It
>> was all working fine till that thunderstorm. Now if I do not use
>> WPA, the home network connects, but if I use WPA then the separate
>> PCs have trouble connecting to the router: they say "connected" but
>> immediately go back to "acquiring IP" and then give up and
>> disconnect. So now I am running with token security using only MAC
>> filtering. Can a thunderstorm selectively knock out the WPA function of a
>> router? I have of course tried re-entering (cut and paste) the WPA
>> pre-phrase in all PCs and router but that did not help. I entered
>> them all (including the router) in the format "..... EE 22 5D 60 57
>> ....". Is that the correct way or should they be entered as text
>> "...8a3c11c5ff..." (I have both in my notes recording the WPA used).
>> I am too frustrated to try all the possible combinations.
>>
>> I am ready to go out and by a new router but hesitate because I
>> remember the trouble I had getting this home network set up and
>> maybe even the problems I now have may just be configuration
>> problems - although all works if I do not use WPA. Yuck.
>>
>> Any advice appreciated.
>>
>>
> A lightning-induced power surge can do strange things to electronics.
> I had a DSL modem and DSL interface in the router fried by lightning,
> although (a) the rest of the router's functions worked OK and (b) the
> router's rather primitive hardware diagnostics didn't show any
> problems.
> Try using a new passphrase. You don't have to make it long or
> complicated for this testing purpose. As to how it should be entered,
> that depends on your router, which you didn't specify. If that
> doesn't work, try WEP. If that doesn't work, I'd buy a new router. Before
> you toss your old one, however, check to see if it has the capability to
> save its configuration as a file on your pc. If you buy the same
> model router, you may be able to "restore" your old configuration. Before
> you attempt this, however, a call to your router mfr's support
> line would be in order, just to make sure that a config file from the old
> router
> will indeed work with the new one.

Thank you. Yes it does have a way to backup the configuration file which I
did long before this problem arose.

The model is a smcwbr14-g. I kept the installation instructions (just one
sheet, not terribly useful) and it does not mention which way to enter the
passphrase :-( Of course that might be the problem and the thunderstorm
made it lose it original memory. I will try new short passwords for testing
to see if that is the problem, otherwise I may just buy a new router and how
configuring it will not be too difficult.

I have an email in to their support and am awaiting their reply. Not sure
this router is made any more though.

2 more related questions if a may:

a) I also thought to change the wireless channel. I know where to change
the chanel on the router setup, but where does one change it on the other
PCs (XP home and XP MCE).

b) I know of a website http://www.andrewscompanies.com/tools/wep.asp that
generates WEP passwords. Can I use the results for WPA or is there a
similar one for generating WPA passwords?

Thanks for replying.

Jeff

Jeff wrote:

> Lem wrote:
>
>>Jeff wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Yesterday a thunderstorm knocked out the WPA function in my router. It
>>>was all working fine till that thunderstorm. Now if I do not use
>>>WPA, the home network connects, but if I use WPA then the separate
>>>PCs have trouble connecting to the router: they say "connected" but
>>>immediately go back to "acquiring IP" and then give up and
>>>disconnect. So now I am running with token security using only MAC
>>>filtering. Can a thunderstorm selectively knock out the WPA function of a
>>>router? I have of course tried re-entering (cut and paste) the WPA
>>>pre-phrase in all PCs and router but that did not help. I entered
>>>them all (including the router) in the format "..... EE 22 5D 60 57
>>>....". Is that the correct way or should they be entered as text
>>>"...8a3c11c5ff..." (I have both in my notes recording the WPA used).
>>>I am too frustrated to try all the possible combinations.
>>>
>>>I am ready to go out and by a new router but hesitate because I
>>>remember the trouble I had getting this home network set up and
>>>maybe even the problems I now have may just be configuration
>>>problems - although all works if I do not use WPA. Yuck.
>>>
>>>Any advice appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>A lightning-induced power surge can do strange things to electronics.
>>I had a DSL modem and DSL interface in the router fried by lightning,
>>although (a) the rest of the router's functions worked OK and (b) the
>>router's rather primitive hardware diagnostics didn't show any
>>problems.
>>Try using a new passphrase. You don't have to make it long or
>>complicated for this testing purpose. As to how it should be entered,
>>that depends on your router, which you didn't specify. If that
>>doesn't work, try WEP. If that doesn't work, I'd buy a new router. Before
>>you toss your old one, however, check to see if it has the capability to
>>save its configuration as a file on your pc. If you buy the same
>>model router, you may be able to "restore" your old configuration. Before
>>you attempt this, however, a call to your router mfr's support
>>line would be in order, just to make sure that a config file from the old
>>router
>>will indeed work with the new one.
>
>
> Thank you. Yes it does have a way to backup the configuration file which I
> did long before this problem arose.
>
> The model is a smcwbr14-g. I kept the installation instructions (just one
> sheet, not terribly useful) and it does not mention which way to enter the
> passphrase :-( Of course that might be the problem and the thunderstorm
> made it lose it original memory. I will try new short passwords for testing
> to see if that is the problem, otherwise I may just buy a new router and how
> configuring it will not be too difficult.
>
> I have an email in to their support and am awaiting their reply. Not sure
> this router is made any more though.
>
> 2 more related questions if a may:
>
> a) I also thought to change the wireless channel. I know where to change
> the chanel on the router setup, but where does one change it on the other
> PCs (XP home and XP MCE).
>
> b) I know of a website http://www.andrewscompanies.com/tools/wep.asp that
> generates WEP passwords. Can I use the results for WPA or is there a
> similar one for generating WPA passwords?
>
> Thanks for replying.
>
> Jeff
>
>
If you received a CD with the router, the manual is probably there, in
pdf form. Otherwise, http://www.smc.com/files/AQ%5CWBR14G_MN.pdf

A. Changing the channel should have no effect on whether or not WPA
works. The main reason for changing channels is to avoid interference
with, for example, a neighbor's wireless network. That said, If you
change the channel on the router, your pc's wireless network adapter
will scan all channels and find your router's SSID (which is one reason
NOT to disable SSID broadcast).

B.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

"Lem" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jeff wrote:
>
>> Lem wrote:
>>
>>>Jeff wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Yesterday a thunderstorm knocked out the WPA function in my router. It
>>>>was all working fine till that thunderstorm. Now if I do not use
>>>>WPA, the home network connects, but if I use WPA then the separate
>>>>PCs have trouble connecting to the router: they say "connected" but
>>>>immediately go back to "acquiring IP" and then give up and
>>>>disconnect. So now I am running with token security using only MAC
>>>>filtering. Can a thunderstorm selectively knock out the WPA function of
>>>>a
>>>>router? I have of course tried re-entering (cut and paste) the WPA
>>>>pre-phrase in all PCs and router but that did not help. I entered
>>>>them all (including the router) in the format "..... EE 22 5D 60 57
>>>>....". Is that the correct way or should they be entered as text
>>>>"...8a3c11c5ff..." (I have both in my notes recording the WPA used).
>>>>I am too frustrated to try all the possible combinations.
>>>>
>>>>I am ready to go out and by a new router but hesitate because I
>>>>remember the trouble I had getting this home network set up and
>>>>maybe even the problems I now have may just be configuration
>>>>problems - although all works if I do not use WPA. Yuck.
>>>>
>>>>Any advice appreciated.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>A lightning-induced power surge can do strange things to electronics.
>>>I had a DSL modem and DSL interface in the router fried by lightning,
>>>although (a) the rest of the router's functions worked OK and (b) the
>>>router's rather primitive hardware diagnostics didn't show any
>>>problems.
>>>Try using a new passphrase. You don't have to make it long or
>>>complicated for this testing purpose. As to how it should be entered,
>>>that depends on your router, which you didn't specify. If that
>>>doesn't work, try WEP. If that doesn't work, I'd buy a new router.
>>>Before
>>>you toss your old one, however, check to see if it has the capability to
>>>save its configuration as a file on your pc. If you buy the same
>>>model router, you may be able to "restore" your old configuration. Before
>>>you attempt this, however, a call to your router mfr's support
>>>line would be in order, just to make sure that a config file from the old
>>>router
>>>will indeed work with the new one.
>>
>>
>> Thank you. Yes it does have a way to backup the configuration file which
>> I
>> did long before this problem arose.
>>
>> The model is a smcwbr14-g. I kept the installation instructions (just
>> one
>> sheet, not terribly useful) and it does not mention which way to enter
>> the
>> passphrase :-( Of course that might be the problem and the thunderstorm
>> made it lose it original memory. I will try new short passwords for
>> testing
>> to see if that is the problem, otherwise I may just buy a new router and
>> how
>> configuring it will not be too difficult.
>>
>> I have an email in to their support and am awaiting their reply. Not
>> sure
>> this router is made any more though.
>>
>> 2 more related questions if a may:
>>
>> a) I also thought to change the wireless channel. I know where to change
>> the chanel on the router setup, but where does one change it on the other
>> PCs (XP home and XP MCE).
>>
>> b) I know of a website http://www.andrewscompanies.com/tools/wep.asp
>> that generates WEP passwords. Can I use the results for WPA or is there
>> a similar one for generating WPA passwords?
>>
>> Thanks for replying.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
> If you received a CD with the router, the manual is probably there, in pdf
> form. Otherwise, http://www.smc.com/files/AQ%5CWBR14G_MN.pdf
>
> A. Changing the channel should have no effect on whether or not WPA
> works. The main reason for changing channels is to avoid interference
> with, for example, a neighbor's wireless network. That said, If you
> change the channel on the router, your pc's wireless network adapter will
> scan all channels and find your router's SSID (which is one reason NOT to
> disable SSID broadcast).
>
> B.
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Thank you very much. You have helped a lot and I appreciate it.

Jeff