Does wireless security protocol have any effect on maintaining connections?

[imported_SLIM]

Two lines of thought here; I'm betting you guys can easily answer both even though I've not had any luck finding a direct answer with web searches.

#1 Does the type of security protocol implemented have any effect on staying connected with a wireless connection (increased hardware overhead, something)? The main cause for this question is that I'm having a tough time getting consistent wireless connection b/t my vista laptop with intel 3945abg and D-link 624. I'm guessing that the security protocol (I'm using WPA2 AES and would be ok with going back to WPA if that would help) has very little to do with connection stability, and I'll keep trying different channels etc.

#2 As far as security is concerned, I'm using MAC filtering such that only designated MAC addresses can connect to my router both wired and wireless and I'm using WPA2. Is there anything else I can do to improve on this (aside from adaware, avg, windows firewall)?

Thanks.

 

[nwrigley]

This doesn't answer your question, but why use any security protocol if you're employing manual MAC filtering? Since your blocking any device that you haven't manually given permission to, I would think that WPA would be unnecessary.

 

[Fardringle]

MAC filtering is useless as a security measure. If you were using it as your only security measure and I wanted to get in, it would honestly take less time for me to sniff your network, determine the MAC address of your laptop, and connect to your network (pretending to be your laptop) than it would take for you to log in to your router and block my MAC address.

Unless your wireless hardware (or software) are malfunctioning in some way, the type of encryption that you use should have no effect whatsoever on the speed or reliability of the connection.

If you are experiencing connectivity problems, you're probably getting interference from other wireless devices in the area such as other wireless networks and 2.4ghz cordless phones, or you may be too far away from the router or there are too many walls blocking the signal.

The very first thing to do is change the channel on your router (use channels 1, 6, or 11) and make sure you don't have any 2.4ghz phones near the router or your laptop. If that doesn't make any noticeable difference, move the laptop closer to the router and see if your connection improves.

If you still have connectivity problems while close to the router, run NetStumbler on your laptop to see what other wireless signals are in the area that may be interfering with your connection. NetStumbler will tell you the type and strength of each signal as well as the channel it is using. Set your router to a channel that is not being used by anything else in the area.

If you still need help, post back with specific information about the distance and number of walls between the router and laptop as well as the details of any other wireless signals detected by NetStumbler.

 

[imported_SLIM]

I gave netstumbler a quick try last night, but all it said was access denied. I'll try and loosen my security protocols tonight and see what it says. I switched to a 5.8g cordless phone a while ago, but I do still get great signal strength from my next door neighbor's 2wire. In my case, we are not trying to break any records here, my laptop is either on the other desk in my office or the living room (10 ft away or 20 ft away with one perpendicular wall b/t the router and laptop respectively).

 

[JackMDS]

If the signal is Not encrypted your info can be obtained (sniffed) from the air without logging to you system.

WEP might to decrease the signal WPA and WPA2 decrease is usually negligible

That said some hardware or hardware combination might have such problems because (sadly) that is the nature of the Entry Level Wireless industry.

If you find that WPA works better than WPA2 use WPA it is safe too.

 

[Techno Pride]

WEP/WPA/WPA2 should not affect the signal at all. They're just encrypting the data that's being broadcast. The problem you're having is not being able to stay connected. Try the guides here:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com...nt/blogcategory/76/98/

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Techno Pride
WEP/WPA/WPA2 should not affect the signal at all.

This is simply incorrect.

 

[Techno Pride]

I acknowledge that encryption may lower throughput though.

-------------------
Sorry by trying to answer I made a mistake editing part of you post.

JackMDS

 

[imported_SLIM]

Not having a lot of luck with Netstumbler 0.4 and vista home premium/intel 3945abg. Anybody have some hints on getting Netstumbler to say anything other than access denied (down in the information bar)? It does not see my AP or my neighbor's 2wire which windows normally easily picks up. OR... is there a similar app out there that's been updated since 2004?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Techno Pride
I acknowledge that encryption may lower throughput though.

You are right about the Signal's Amplitude, the encryption does not affect the Amplitude of the signal.

But the Network does not care about the Amplitude, it cares about the bandwidth, and if it is too low it cannot process it, or is unstable in processing.

So actually the maintained Signal Amplitude ends up just being Noise.

 

[Fardringle]

You need to run NetStumbler as Administrator in Vista or the operating system won't let the program communicate with the wireless adapter. Instead of double-clicking the program shortcut to run it, righ-click and select "Run as Administrator".

 

[imported_SLIM]

Thanks Fardringle, I was actually coming back to this thread to say I did just that. But it still is not picking up my AP or my neighbor's AP even though windows connection utility can see both fine. It simply says "no APs active." Odd...

Any suggestions for an alternative program with similar functionality?

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.passmark.com/products/wirelessmonitor.htm

 

[spidey07]

Dear lord this thread has turned into misinformation central. No, security protocol has nothing to do with maintaining association to an access point. Given the you're running vista here is the order of importance:

1) drivers
2) using the client utility over windows built in support
3) maintaining acceptable signal to noise ratio (a product of #1 and #2), this include trying different channels on the AP - 1, 6, 11.
4) make sure to broadcast SSID, actually should be #3
5) make sure your client and access point are setup EXACTLY the same with regards to security and encryption

If you follow all of these and still have problems then it a noise or environmental problem. this is where the client utility comes in handy as it will tell you exactly what your SNR or RSSI is, bars don't mean jack.

 

[imported_SLIM]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Dear lord this thread has turned into misinformation central. No, security protocol has nothing to do with maintaining association to an access point. Given the you're running vista here is the order of importance:

1) drivers
2) using the client utility over windows built in support
3) maintaining acceptable signal to noise ratio (a product of #1 and #2), this include trying different channels on the AP - 1, 6, 11.
4) make sure to broadcast SSID, actually should be #3
5) make sure your client and access point are setup EXACTLY the same with regards to security and encryption

If you follow all of these and still have problems then it a noise or environmental problem. this is where the client utility comes in handy as it will tell you exactly what your SNR or RSSI is, bars don't mean jack.

1. using 11.5.0.32 which is the latest from intel
2. Didn't think intel had a separate program, but I'm downloading what I think is intel's connection wizard.
3. Wirelessmon 2.1 works well with vista and has validated my guess that my neighbors (3 different access points) are using chan 6 so I've been using #1 (#11 seems to have interference from some other source as it is the worst channel I've tried).
4. SSID broadcast is forced by my AP (dlink di-624) since I'm using extended range mode
5. My security settings are good (don't think I could connect at all if those were incorrect).

I'll see if intel's connection wizard does any better assuming that is what I've just finished downloading.

Thanks for the help guys.

Edit: The intel app was more of a diagnostic that checked the status of the card but is not really a connection wizard. Wirelessmon gives quite a bit more info.