Really dumb wireless question

[richard]

Now this question may be really dumb ops: but I as I have no experience with wireless. (We don't even have it at work ) I thought I'd ask.

I have been given a Buffalo WLA2-G54C as part payment for fixing someones computer and want to add it to my home network. All I need to know is what security to use as it supports both WEP & WPA. The idea is that I can connect both my home and work laptops it. Any suggestions :?:

[webman]

Ranging from least to most secure, we have:

No encryption + no MAC filter (open hot-spot)
MAC filter only
MAC filter + WEP
MAC filter + WPA

Apparently, a WEP key can be cracked in 10mins according to link posted on this here site by Geoff, IIRC. WPA is the best and would recommend that

[Geoff]

I personally don't bother with MAC filtering.

Also try and use AES encryption rather than TKIP when you use WPA.

[richard]

I personally don't bother with MAC filtering.

Also try and use AES encryption rather than TKIP when you use WPA.

I've tried that but I cannot get it to work with my D-Link DWL-G650+ wireless card.

[Dos_Box]

Ahhh. The D-link650 series. Evil, evil, evil. Try disabling the Windows wireless zero configuration service and using the D-link software. I've had no end of problems with this card type.

[richard]

Ahhh. The D-link650 series. Evil, evil, evil. Try disabling the Windows wireless zero configuration service and using the D-link software. I've had no end of problems with this card type.

Tried that as well as using the client manager software that came with the Buffalo unit and I still can't get it to work. :cry:

[indiegirl]

Ahhh. The D-link650 series. Evil, evil, evil. Try disabling the Windows wireless zero configuration service and using the D-link software. I've had no end of problems with this card type.

How odd, from what I've heard / read, not just with D-Link stuff, but generally, the trick to getting different makes to talk is to ignore the bundled software and just use the Windows zero config stuff for the whole lot - ie do the opposite to Dos_Box's suggestion!

I've done that with my cheapy wireless asdl modem/router and even cheaper card, and they seem happy enough...

[Dos_Box]

encounter problems with Buffalo base stations and Intel 2200BG wireless chipsets using WEP unless you use Intels software the M$ stuff just keeps refusing the connection.

[SimpleSi]

IME (6 schools with different APs and Wireless cards) there is no single solution that can be said to work.

Sometimes you have to use the manufacturers software - sometimes you have to bypass it.

Sometimes you have to swap depending on days of the week.

Sometimes you have to give all AP's the same SSID - sometimes this is verboten.

My most recent was a head's laptop (DEL 505) wouldn't connect to her home wireless router (Linksys) - I fiddled with it and by removing all encryption/WEP/WPA it worked for 5 mins then gave up.

She swapped the router for a Belkin one and it worked flawlessly straight away.

I used to curse Buffalo myself but now I curse them all.

However I'm having reasonable success with Dlink AP's which seem to work fine with Dell 505s and their own cards but YMMV.

regards
Simon

[ChrisH]

Were using the DLink APs with the Centrino, DLink and some Linksys cards without any problem. All using the windows native functions.

[Dos_Box]

Here I go again, a new Dell laptop lands on my desk with an Intel 2300BG wireless chipset and fails miserably to talk to either a Buffalo or Netgear base station. Pah! Disable the wireless zero configuration service and use the Intel PROset Wireless util and it works first time.

[DMcCoy]

Just incase anyone needs to know, to use WPA2 with XP you need a patch from microsoft. I'll try to find it later.