Linux Format forums

FranBlakes · Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:16 pm Posts: 82 Location: Worcs.

Just got a new router

My aging laptop wont connect to it (doesn't see it).
- unless I setup a “Guest Network” without security options Shocked

SSID is not broadcast
Under “Wireless Card Access List” Access Control for specified devices and MAC Addresses has been turned on.

How secure do you think this is?

Didn't know whether to put this in Help! or Discussion
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Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS!

roseway · LXF regular Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:27 pm Posts: 410

An unsecured guest network sounds like a bad idea. Why not just turn off Mac filtering in the router? Get the old laptop connecting, then re-enable Mac filtering with the laptop's Mac address as a permitted client.
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Eric

FranBlakes · Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:16 pm Posts: 82 Location: Worcs.

The laptop is using NDISwrapper to get WIFI to work.

It connected to the previous router using WEP, I could not get it to connect/see the router when using WPA.

The new router has WPA/WPA2 - my laptop does not see the router Sad

The options for the router:
·None
·WPA2-PSK [AES]
·WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]
·WPA/WPA2 Enterprise

The laptop will only connect using None
Which is why the SSID is hidden, and MAC filtering is enabled to allow the laptop to connect.
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Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS!

roseway · LXF regular Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:27 pm Posts: 410

Unfortunately Mac filtering without encryption isn't secure, and hiding the SSID doesn't add any security. WEP isn't secure either, of course. I wouldn't personally operate any WiFi network without at least WPA2 encryption - I'd be too concerned about the possibility of somebody hacking into it and using it to download something nasty and illegal.

In my opinion you need to sort out the laptop's WiFi encryption capability, or resign yourself to using it with only an ethernet connection.
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Eric

towy71 · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:07 pm Post subject:

get a usb wifi adaptor and it should have wpa, a lot of older wifi cards could only handle wep and will not see better and newer routers might not have wep; bitter experience with an old powerbook and a dell latitude Crying or Very sad

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still looking for that door into summer

Paradigm Shifter · Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 1:16 pm Posts: 84

FranBlakes · Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:16 pm Posts: 82 Location: Worcs.

Thanks for the feedback.

Things I'm going to try

LiveCD see If I can connect

Reinstall Ubuntu 10.04.4 and see if the WIFI will work without NDISWrapper

Use USB Wifi adaptor

I have a broken laptop that I can remove the wifi from whether it's compatible...

Ethernet doesn't seem to work - blacklisted or due to NDISwrapper
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Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS!

FranBlakes · Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:16 pm Posts: 82 Location: Worcs.

Well I've replaced the WIFI card.

It works! Shame the LED stays on all the time. The previous card would blink the LED when WIFI-ing.
(this must be the card - the light was always on when in other laptop)

Just got to work how to swap DVD drive - but that's for another time!
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Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS!

Paradigm Shifter · Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 1:16 pm Posts: 84

Good to hear you swapped it to a newer wifi card successfully! Smile

FranBlakes · Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:16 pm Posts: 82 Location: Worcs.

Thanks Paradigm Shifter

Now the only problem is that it doesn't connect automatically, even though the tick box is enabled in both "connect automatically" and "available to all users".
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Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS!