Linksys WRT54GS Encrypted wireless connection problems

espresso

Lady_K wrote:

I understand that and she could advance to that later but something is better than nothing at the moment. I think she will get into more mess if I ask her to try that just yet. If the ordinary encryption isnt working properly prob this one wouldnt anyway so rather get the ordinary working first

But you won't be able to configure any security if you can't access the routers IP address correctly and when you can do that, you may as configure the most secure method of security, as it only needs to be done once!

:eek:

Lady_K

Ok I'll try to look up how to do it then... god knows how but I'll have a go then I have to find an easy way of telling her.

Can I get a strong encryption passphase for WPA-PSK myelf to send to her?so its just a matter of her putting it in to save time? or an I totally off track?

Arent the longer passwords meant to slow things down?

What channel should he be on? she was on 11 before encryption and left it on that s that ok?

espresso

Yes you can go to this site to get a long random password. Just cut and paste into a notepad file. A long password won't slow things down but will make it as secure as possible. It it was working fine on channel 11, then leave it.

Lady_K

espresso wrote:

MAC address control does not really add security as it can be hacked just like WEP encryption. WPA-PSK is the only way to go for good security.

:rolleyes:

it gave 5 choices for security mode when she encrypted before which os the right one for WPA-PSK?


disabled
wpa personal
wpa enterprise
wpa2 personal
wpa2 enterprise
wep

As far as those passwords are concerned from that link... which one or ones would I need to get? how many exactly just one? Do you mean its as simple as just refreshing the page then copying and pasting the password to notepad then giving it my daughter later?

there are pwds there talking about binary bits and alsorts is it one from the top 3 I need?

I know when she encrypted before with wep she selected alpha numeric and it then gave her a box to put a code or pw only 5 digits long yet these are way longer on that link she changed it to hexa something

espresso

According to the manual which you can download here the WPA personal using TKIP will accept 63 characters, so personally I would just double click on the top box on the password site and cut & paste this to a notepad file. As this will be 64 characters, just remove the last character from the end of the password string. You will see the password when it is entered into the router because the router is itself password protected and hence secure. When this same password is pasted into the windows wireless wizard, it will be truncated to several blobs so that it cannot be read by someone looking on the PC.

HTH

Lady_K

Thanx not sure if it makes any difference but its not quite the same router as the one you gave a link for the manual above, its actually this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WRT54GS-UK-Wireless-G-Broadband-SpeedBooster/dp/B0002LHXB6incidentally they provided no manual with the router in the box I don't understand why they do that.

What does the tkip mean because she told me everything that was in the list and it just said wpa personal not with a tkip on the end, would that bit turn up once she selected wpa personal.

Can I also ask, is that 63 long hexadecimal number that I have to get, the actual key that the others using the network have to put in when they want to get on the net? As its going to take some to write out... prob best to put it on a usb storage for them to copy and paste

espresso

They don't tend to include printed manuals in the box but it may be on the CD as a pdf file. It is very easy to download the correct manual as long as it's not a Belkin product! from the manufacturers site.

TKIP stands for Temporal Key Integrity Protocol but don't worry about the technicalities. Just set up WPA-PSK, where PSK is the Pre Shared Key.

Yes the 63 character pass-phrase is what is entered into the router once and then entered into each of the PC's that you wish to be able to connect. Without this key they will not be able to connect to the router, hence it will be secure. If the pass-phrase key is stored in a notepad file, it is easy to transport this to the other machines needing the key by using a Flash drive or floppy etc. and simply cut & paste it in.

It really is quite easy despite all of the words describing the procedure but when it's done it's done and she will be secured!

HTH

Lady_K

Sorry that link didnt work, its a blue one

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=WRT54GS

Lady_K

There doesnt seem to be a manual or user guide available for that router on linksys here http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1148435315453&packedargs=site%3DUS&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

Not sure if she needs a firmware update too hers says v5

I did take a look on that manual you posted though even though its not the same router and on the bit about wpa personal it says it takes 64 keys and enter a group key renewal time of 0- 99.999 seconds... what would be put there thats if it will be same for her router?

that doesnt mean the passphase would have to be changed every so often does it?

Lady_K

http://www.linksysfix.com/netcheck/?callerID=WS&randseed=0.09427332488110174

After rebooting to eliminate that do you think its advisable for her to run this netcheck thing on the linksys site?