Telkom Router Mega100WR WPA issue

[JontyLP]

Hi all

I hope I chose the right forum - tricky choosing the right category. I have been pulling my hair out trying to get the wireless router (supplied with the self install Do2 package) working with WPA encryption. I'm loathe to use WEP unless I have to, but WPA seems to be problematic at this point (unless I'm doing something stupid).

I have no firewall software (apart from Windows XP default) running, and am able to get the wireless network running initially (so that I can connect from my laptop from around the house). I configured the router to use DHCP, hidden SSID, 802.11g, and WPA encryption (turned off MAC filtering temporarily). The lease time of both DHCP and group key interval were reduced by me, and I've made sure the DHCP range starts from 10.0.0.3 upwards (as the router is on 10.0.0.2 by default). I've chosen WPA-PSK with TKIP on the client side, specified the passwords correctly, and everything works to begin with.

The issue though, is when I disconnect from the wireless network for some time, and then try to reconnect (eg. head off to work with my laptop, or just leave the PC off for a while). When I try to reconnect, not only can I not see the wireless network (yes, I turned off SSID on the router, but naming the network connection on the client side with the right SSID should make it visible, esp if a connection was previously established), but even if I log into the router (via the USB cable) and reveal the SSID so that I can see it when I do a search, I can't connect to it.

I really suspect a WAP issue here, and would appreciate any feedback. I tried updating the firmware, but I can't find a later version than 99.70.1. I've done a fair bit of research, and it seems that people with other routers in the UK and abroad have had issues using WAP that sound identical to my problem. Does anybody know anything?

Thanks for your help.

Jonty

 

[JontyLP]

Hi all

I resolved the issue. For all those people who are using Intel (PRO) Wireless BG2200 network cards, or other Intel chipset wireless network cards (internal to Sony Vaio and IBM R51 laptops, and possibly others), note the following!!!

After scouring for hours through various forums and noticing that several people were having similar issues, I finally stumbled across a site that mentioned a fix. Make sure that your card's network drivers are up to date (which I had done), and also, use the software that comes bundled with your laptop to connect to your wireless network access point. This seems like a loosers way out, but the reason for this apparently is that both the Intel Connection manager Software (that comes bundled with the Sony Vaio, and is freely available from the Intel site), and the IBM Access Condition Softare conflict with Window's management of the network connection. I think that what really goes on is that the WPA keys go out of sync when the group key interval expires, and Windows and the card's controller manage to bugger up the key which is why the network address and the allocation of the wireless network IP do not resolve when the group key interval expires, or when you disconnect from the network for some time and the router generates a new WPA key. I stand corrected though if this theory is incorrect (I'm not a networking guru).

Anyway, bottom line - do things the easy way, rather than trying to use Windoze to manage the connection behind the bundled software's back

 

[headstrong]

Glad to hear that Jonty!

 

[sidewinder58]

HAHA, I'm having a similar problem. Wireless connectivity issues between the router and a Dell Latitude D630 running windows xp. Unfortunately for me, I tried it both ways (The intel wireless drivers from Dell Support & Windows own management) and I still get the disconnectivity effect after about 2 days. Then it just searches away but never connects.

If anyone can theorize something else, that would be awesome, cos I'm all out.