puzzling wireless security problem
 

I am set up a wireless network for a friend who is on AOL. I did not use windows version of wireless security on my friends laptop (at least not that i am a ware of).

Friends Laptop
XP sp2
Belkin Usb adaptor

Router (Thompson speedtouch 576)

I am using the router to setup security and have enable WPA (TIK) settings and inputted into on to the laptop using the software that come with the belkin. Everything worked fine until exactly 1 week later it could not connect but when i disable the security it works.

Does it change the key after a week or is there a setting which i am missing.

any help much appreciated.

:xmas:

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

Ensure that you are using WPA with Pre Shared Key (PSK). WPA does change the encryption periodically, I guess if you have not set this up on the laptop it could lose the connection. Not sure if that is the problem but definitely worth checking. Open your Belkin utility and ensure it is configured for WPA-PSK. TKIP should also be there somewhere but it sounds like you did that already.

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

what exactly is tkip? after reading the manual it sounds as if it is a temporary key which is used. I have selected this option and keyed in the key on the laptop.

Here is the manual.

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

Also bear in mind that if the signal is weak (or Windows rates it anything lower than "Good"), then Windows is more likely to have trouble maintaining a secure connection than it will an insecure one.

Try (if possible) moving the router.

---------- Post added at 10:26 ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 ----------

TKIP is a form of encryption. Not sure if it's part of the WPA standard, but most routers (and Windows) offer a choice between AES and TKIP encryption. Not sure which is best, but I normally use TKIP.

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

You can use TKIP with WPA. I do. :)

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

when you say normally are you using windows do to the key?

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

An overview of WPA can be found here, including



As I understand it, the 'Pre-Shared Key' (PSK) is used as the basis for generating session keys for TKIP. So while the PSK should not change (and should be identical on router and all clients) the session keys will change dynamically.

All you should need to worry about is -
All devices are set identically, eg WPA-PSK with TKIP
All devices have the same PSK.

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

I know you can use TKIP with WPA as it askes you which one you want to use as soon as you choose wpa

Re: puzzling wireless security problem
 

I personally do use Windows to Manage the connection. I have a Belkin Wireless PC card and the software I got with that, while it does provide all sorts of statistics and features, it isn't that good at maintaining the connection. There is an option somewhere there to allow Windows to manage the connection.