wifi setting wpa aes question?

Question

ok so i have a router and with wep i had no connection problem issues, i set up wpa tkip with a fairly strong over 18
character password , but sometimes , especially when generating lots of traffic i get disconnected on off and xp
tries to connected back to my network and really fast on and
off i get connected then no connection signal, i tried to set up
wpa aes in my motorola access point (i hear aes is a little stronger than tkip) but in windows xp it only shows tkip encryption in my networks properties in change order of preffered networks and the key doesnt work, also i use belkin
as my pci card to connect, any feedback would be awesome.

Answer 1

I used the security encryption for long time until my wife's computer began having problems. I finally abandoned encryption in favor of MAC filtering. You can get the MAC id from your card or internal device and enter that into the router along with any others you want. Those will be the only devices allowed to connect. Also, disable the SSID broadcast. This will prevent any wifi computer from seeing that your router is available.

Answer 2

Let's address one issue at a time.

Apparently you set up your wireless with WEP and it worked nicely.

You then enhanced security using WPA encryption with a very strong 18 character preshared key (also called tkip) and then problems started. (I belive the WPA move was very wise but you did not ask for my comment on this.)

Apparently connection problems are intermittant. Because you are able to connect it appears as though all the configuration steps were properly set up. I wonder if the intermittant connection issues arise from a router firmware weakness, a general connection issue (e.g. distance too great, interference from signal penetration through masonry, metal (e.g. ducts in walls), and the likes.

First go to the router maker's web site. See if there is a newer version of firmware for your router (be careful to select the exact router make, model, and serial # whenever you select firmware). Follow maker's firmware upgrade directions TO THE LETTER. ALWAYS USE A WIRED CONNECTION LINKING THE PC TO THE ROUTER WHENEVER YOU CONFIGURE THE ROUTER AND ESPECIALLY WHENEVER YOU UPGRADE ROUTER FIRMWARE. The firmware upgrade may be all you need to address but let's not stop and "proclaim victory" yet. Note also that some low end routers will erase the configuration including security config, MAC address list, etc with a firmware upgrade. They may have a way for you to download and store the config on your pc so you can, after firmware upload, reload the config file and you are back in business. Carefully read and understand the router's firmware upgrade directions.

Now let's test this out further by placing your laptop in clear line of sight with the wireless access point and run it under heavy load with no other users on the LAN and see if the problem happens.

If connection problems do not happen, this suggests that your movement around the house puts you in weak signal areas and this causes signal loss. You may not have seen it before because it takes longer to establish and reestablish connection with a higher encryption degree. (It may also have been a firmware weakness. Walk around with the unit and see if things are better. If you drop signal when walking around you may be able to eliminate this problem by reloacting the router to a location more central to your use. Also check with the pc maker to determine if there is a firmware upgrade or driver upgrade for your pc's wireless device as this may also be an issue. Carefully follow firmware or driver update directions.)

If connection problems happen under this test, it suggests that either the wireless access point OR the pc's wireless are unable to accomodate the stronger encryption. Perhaps the notebook has too many things running in the background and it is overwhelmed with all the chores it is being asked to do. Shut down unneeded programs including any that start automatically and see if this eliminates the issue.

Proceed with the above in a logical step - by - step process to identify and / or resolve the matter.

If none of the above works, write again, telling us what you did, your router make and model, and your pc wireless point info. We should be able to get this to work without going to AES.

Finally, as a technical person, I am very happy to see your logical approach to the matter. Persistance and logical approach will resolve this and you have made very sound initial steps.

Answer 3

Not all cards support all the encryption methods. The common ones are WEP, which is perfectly secure in normal use on 128 bit, and WPA TKIP. Also some combinations of equipment work better with one than the other. You really do not need over strong encryption, you are not running a major bank and it is not worth anyone's time to sit and spend 2 weeks cracking your code.

Answer 4

in case you have already have been given into the router administration internet site then you definately are interior the remarkable place. the secret's set on the router first. you are able to come to a determination what key to apply and then merely form it in. there is not any "professional" key. Its your activity to form a sparkling one in. So make it some thing extremely complicated, yet some thing you will remember once you're able to be able to desire to form the comparable key into your pc/instant pc.