Wireless encryption key

Question

Hi, I have an Inspiron 6400 running Windows XP Professional. I connect to the internet via a DLink DI624
wireless router. I have the connection encrypted with WEP using a 26 character hex encryption key and
MAC address filtering enabled to only allow my laptop to use the wireless connection. This works fine, until I
want to change the encryption key, heres how i do this.

I enable the new key on the router
I copy and paste it into a text file and put it on a USB stick
I copy and paste the new key into the wireless connnection properties on the laptop, and ....
....nothing. No IP address from the router, no internet connection...

Ive flushed the DNS cache using ipconfig/flushdns, ive tried /release and /renew with ipconfig, but cannot
seem to get connected with the new encryption key. When I eventually give up and go back to the original
key ...Voila... I am once again connected.
I must be missing something totally obvious here, but cannot see what it is, and was hoping somebody could
put me out of my misery and at least point me in the right direction.
Im thinking "is the encryption key cached someplace else that I havent checked?", but I dont know where to look.
Help please :smileyindifferent:

volcano11 · Answer

Why are you using the easily hacked WEP encryption in the first place? WPA would be much more secure.

Are you using Windows to manage your wireless network or the utility specific to your wireless network adapter? Have you tried removing the old profile for your wireless netowrk, rebooting then establishing a new profile?

Steve

inspiron_wvhpe · Answer

Can you access the routers configuration page. D-Link is usually http://192.168.1.1 .

Default username & password

Username:admin

password:admin

Go to wireless tab type your new password,click apply,click tools,system,click save and reboot

Inspiron 1501

MK36 AMD Turion

2 GB RAM

ATI 200MSeries

Windows XP
_____________
Inspiron 530S

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz

1GB RAM

ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT

Vista RC1

bloggs.barney · Answer

Thanks guys, it does seem a bit strange that having a wireless adapter which suports WPA and WPA2 that I use
WEP!!!?? The answer for this, I got some advice which told me that WPA was only supported on a network
which had a RADIUS server, I take it this is not true.
If so, i'll swap to WPA, or is WPA2 better.
I use the Dell utility to manage my wireless connection, I'll try removing the old profile and creating a new one.

jmwills · Answer

MAC filtering is doing nothing for the security of your network and is probably hindering the proficiency of the connection.

Chnage the password on the router and use a strong password on nothing less than WPA encryption (as previously mentioned) is all you need.

bloggs.barney · Answer

My Inspiron is the only wireless device on the network so I dont have to consider others, WPA2 is available from
the drop down list of available encryption methods on the router, so I think i'll go with that. I'll give this a whirl at the
weekend and let you all know how i get on. :smileyhappy:

bloggs.barney · Answer

Just checked on my routers help pages and this is what it says about WPA encryption:-
"WPA
Wi-Fi Protected Access authorizes and authenticates users onto the wireless network. WPA uses stronger security than WEP and is based on a key that changes automatically at a regular interval. This mode requires a RADIUS server in the network."

It also goes on to say WPA-PSK doesnt require a Radius server, but this encryption type isnt available from the drop down list of encryption types. However WPA2 is an available encryption type, but the help menu doesnt mention it?
Im now officially confused. Ive setup wired networks in the past, but wireless networks are new to me, as youve no doubt noticed.

My router is a D Link DI 624 Airplus XtremeG rev D2G
The help menu doesnt go into any more detail than that above, anybody know of this router and have WPA/WPA2 configured on it? (ie without the radius server).
I havent done a Firmware upgrade on this router yet and there is one available, do you think this will be beneficial, Ive read the notes on the upgrade and it makes no mention of improved support for any of the encryption types.

Barney :smileyhappy:

volcano11 · Answer

Millions of people, inlcuding me use WPA encryption without a radius server. You need to use WPA-PSK TKIP encrytion Just read the messages on these forums. Ancient (now) articles like the following, tell you how to set this up. protocols:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/bowman_05february10.mspx

http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

None of these are specific to D-Link routers, but it should not be difficult to set up once you see how its down on other routers.

Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless encryption key

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