Wireless question

A

Addis

The King
Got my new access point for christmas.

To configure it, i'm instructed to configure my PC for a static IP. In XP SP2 I have done this for my ethernet connection and I can use my browser to configure the AP. I've set it to use WPA and disabled SSID broadcast. DHCP is also enabled.

Now, my laptop has a broadcom wireless NIC, and when I set the connection paramters and attempt to connect it just keeps giving the status "aquiring network address". DHCP is attempting to lease an IP but its not working. If however I set it also as a static ip. e.g. 192.168.0.5 I can successfully connect to the network and adminstrate the AP from my browser.

Now the problem is I can't get net access. Currently I use a blueyonder cable service, and my modem has an ethernet port which I normally connect. I read somewhere that a wireless AP and router are different, and I would need a router for this job. When I connect my device like this:

cable modem -> ethernet link -> WAP -> wireless link -> laptop
I am on the network but can't access net. FF just says looking up for a few seconds and displays server can't be found. I read that if I use a wired router in between by modem and my AP it will work.

Can you confirm this anybody?

Just for interest, my AP is a netgear WG602.
 
Addis said:
Got my new access point for christmas.

To configure it, i'm instructed to configure my PC for a static IP. In XP SP2 I have done this for my ethernet connection and I can use my browser to configure the AP. I've set it to use WPA and disabled SSID broadcast. DHCP is also enabled.

Now, my laptop has a broadcom wireless NIC, and when I set the connection paramters and attempt to connect it just keeps giving the status "aquiring network address". DHCP is attempting to lease an IP but its not working. If however I set it also as a static ip. e.g. 192.168.0.5 I can successfully connect to the network and adminstrate the AP from my browser.

Now the problem is I can't get net access. Currently I use a blueyonder cable service, and my modem has an ethernet port which I normally connect. I read somewhere that a wireless AP and router are different, and I would need a router for this job. When I connect my device like this:

cable modem -> ethernet link -> WAP -> wireless link -> laptop
I am on the network but can't access net. FF just says looking up for a few seconds and displays server can't be found. I read that if I use a wired router in between by modem and my AP it will work.

Can you confirm this anybody?

Just for interest, my AP is a netgear WG602.
Click to expand...

Typically an Access Point is as it says, an Access Point, it doesn't Route traffic, if it did.. it would be a wireless router. Some Wireless Access Points do have routing capabilities, but most don't, because if they do, they are called Wireless Routers :)

I would goto the manufacturers website and check if it has routing capabilities, if it does we need to look into the problem further, if not then you require a wireless device capable of relaying data between networks (a router).

I would first try and enable SSID broadcast and see if that works, some wireless devices can be picky and may require SSID.

Also, if you're disabling SSID for security fears, don't bother, there arn't any.

To erradicate any possibility of Wireless War drivers (or wireless hackers) or exploits that can be taken advantage of just set you're AP or Wireless Router like so:

DHCP IP Range: 192.168.1.55 - 192.168.1.89
DHCP Server: 192.168.1.54

Make sure you are using WPA and not WEP, WEP has severe security flaws, also make your phrase use upper, lower case, numbers and characters such as:

My_Wireless!33_4 then encrypt it in 128bit and record the access key in its hexidecimal form for use with any wireless devices required to be in use.

The reason you change the default IP Range that the DHCP server is set to lease is because any exploits that actually work against WPA wireless networks is to detect the network, detect what router your using via a finger command, look the routers default network IP address up, and access it via that. then they know where your dhcp server is (with your control panel) and can try to exploit things via that method.

Default IP addresses for servers/webpanels/routers are:
192.168.1.1
192.168.1.10
192.168.1.100
10.7.1.1
10.7.1.10
10.7.1.100

so stay away from defaults.
 
Enabled SSID broadcast still same. What actually assigns the DHCP ips in my config? Is it the AP/modem/laptop? I'm not sure what is the DHCP server.

And to reiterate, do you think using a wired router would solve this issue or DHCP? I mean if I connected my modem and AP to the router, would it solve this issue and allow internet access?
 
You should have your configuration wired as such:

Modem > Router > AP > Laptop

See diagram attached i've drawn it out for you.
 

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