WPA across multiple PCs

[boozie]

Determined my old old WEP adapter on one of my PCs was a liability, bought a nice new USB wireless adapter. Installed it and converted everything over to WPA2. Constant disconnect/reconnects from network (WRT54G w/ updated firmware). At various points I couldn't get any of 3 PCs to connect wirelessly.

Is there something with WPA or WPA2 where the encryption might be different across different adapters and thus messing things up?

I switched to WPA (TKIP was only option on router), was able to connect 2/3 PCs consistently. The laptop wouldn't connect, says it can't every time I tried. I plug the laptop in with an ethernet cord. Tried to play darkspore with my fiance on the laptop and one of my wirelessly connected PCs. The wireless connection stays connected but goes to crap. I disconnect from darkspore 5 times after a few minutes of use, ping in vent reads 500-30k (all on the wireless PC, the plugged in laptop doesn't notice anything).

I feel like things shouldn't be this hard, I am baffled and completely frustrated after wasting what essentially boils down to enough time that I would have been better off renting my router from my ISP.

The most confusing part is that everything was working okay with WEP. My theories are either, WPA encryption isn't consistent over all adapters and/or when plugged in with an ethernet cord the laptop gobbles preference from my router, thus neglecting my other PCs.

I know this isn't really easy to fix over my description but I am grabbing for straws here, any help is appreciated.

[e] In case it matters, the laptop is Win 7 while the other PC's are XP. Also the laptop will sometimes connect wirelessly, but it's not dependable so we resorted to plugging it in mostly.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Consider using DD-WRT if you can. It tends to be bit more reliable than the stock firmware. If you have a recent WRT54G, newer than V4, and not the "-GL" model (L for
Linux), then you may be out of luck.

Generally, though, you want to have all of your wireless devices speaking the same encryption mode/type. Getting rid of WEP is a good idea, it's practically push-button crackable at this point.

I use WPA-PSK (AES), which is functionally very similar to WPA2-PSK (which I believe defaults to AES), but it still allows me to do things like WDS mode (wireless mesh networking) with DD-WRT.

I suggest investing in a DD-WRT-capable router, preferably with BroadCom hardware (as those flavors of DD-WRT tend to work the best), and go from there.

Mine is rock-solid, I had uptimes around 270 days before I rebooted my routers, just because.

I occasionally have problems with one laptop, loosing connection, but I'm pretty sure that the problem lies with that particular laptop, as the other router in WDS mode does not lose connection (have several wired computers on a gig-E switch, wired into my secondary router.)

The problem with that laptop is pretty rare, perhaps once, maybe twice a month if that.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I switched to WPA (TKIP was only option on router)

This seems strange to me. Broadcom hardware has AES hardware acceleration, so they should support WPA-PSK with AES. At least all of my WRT54G units have, as well as my Netgear WNR834Bv2 units, which are also Broadcom hardware.

Which exact model of WRT54G do you have?

 

[boozie]

It says V8 which I assume to mean 8.0. I am not really comfortable flashing it so DD-WRT is out unless I buy a new router. I also wasn't able to connect the Wii using WPA2-PSK, but it connected when I tried the WPA.

Just very very annoying how everything was okay as WEP and now nothing works properly.

 

[boozie]

Anybody have anything else on this? If I try WPA2 I can do AES or TKIP+AES, but if I do WPA it forces me to TKIP. I show strong signal strength connected to the router with WPA but I can't play any games w/out insane ping.

I pretty much have to go back to WEP and pray I don't get hacked since the woman won't allow ethernet cords running throughout the place. (I did it for a long time, so I have to compromise)