Ticket Options

Question Profile

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> protecting wireless broadband

katebuckingham - Nov 16, 2007 - 3:23 pm

Please would you let me know how I go about securing my wireless broadband. I keep hearing that I need to on the radio and I don't even know where to look!

leonard.leotech - Nov 16, 2007 - 4:20 pm

Welcome to Macosx.com-and what a great question!

It's really important to hear that you want to secure your wireless broadband. So that I can help you begin to protect it, I need to know what type of wireless router do you have? Some popular routers are Linksys, Netgear, and Apple Airport.

Thanks!

Leonard Slutsky
Macosx.com

katebuckingham - Nov 17, 2007 - 2:52 am

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. The box I have is netopia. Hope that helps.

katebuckingham - Nov 18, 2007 - 9:51 am

I have just had a reminder that I should be responding, but I am unsure as to why. Leonard asked me what router I had, I have replied Netopia and therefore surely I am awaiting a response?

leonard.leotech - Nov 19, 2007 - 5:27 am

Sorry for the delay. A solution will be posted shortly.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Leonard Slutsky
Macosx.com Tech

leonard.leotech - Nov 19, 2007 - 5:34 am

Sorry for the delay-I was away from my computer this weekend.

What model Netopia do you have? I'm not farmilar with the line, but I can do some research on http://www.netopia.com/support/hardware/.

Thanks in advance,

Leonard Slutsky
Macosx.com Tech

katebuckingham - Nov 19, 2007 - 3:09 pm

The netopia router I have has Cayman 3347W on the back along with a lot of other information which looks like serial numbers etc.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

leonard.leotech - Nov 19, 2007 - 3:55 pm

Great! Detailed instructions are at http://www.netopia.com/support/hardw...s/CIR_005.html.

Let me know if you need any clarifications about the details.

Leonard Slutsky
Macosx.com Tech

katebuckingham - Nov 20, 2007 - 11:37 am

Thanks for that but unfortunately I can't get what I see...

the IP address is http://192.168.1.1 which is unable to load
the IP router is http://192.168.254 but it asks me for a user and password, which I don't have - does this mean that I am already secure and I don't know it? How can I check?

Thanks for your patience.

Kate

leonard.leotech - Nov 20, 2007 - 3:45 pm

Sorry for the inconvenience, but between the Netopia Site and the documentation for the device, I can't find your device's default password. I recommend contacting Netopia at http://www.netopia.com/support/contact_us.html.

Thanks for visiting Macosx.com. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

Leonard Slutsky
Macosx.com Tech

TechSupport - Nov 26, 2007 - 2:40 pm

We apologize for not being able to resolve the issue you asked of us. It is the absolute worst case scenario for us to do this. In our review of why this happens, it generally is related to either the particular issue being addressed or frequently, incomplete or incorrect information provided. We hope by moving your request to the public forums that you will be able to get a solution without leaving you empty handed.

Your ticket has been closed with our support team. Your request has just been posted to Mac OS X System & Mac Software and is available for your viewing at:

http://macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296715

Again, thank you for using Macosx.com. We hope you will consider using us again in the future.

katebuckingham - Nov 26, 2007 - 2:59 pm

I have been in touch with netopia and received a reply which I'm afraid is completely beyond my computer skills. I said I was reasonably competent-perhaps I should reassess my competence on the techie side, more of a word,xcell,accounts software user that a setter up of hardware.

I have a G4 Mac and my children (2) have e macs in their bedrooms (hence the wireless) and we also have just become the proud owners of a macbook.

Could you explain what the information below means (I have added little bits in capitals):

Dear Madam,

Your Customer Nr: Person#: 3175647
The Case Nr:Vent#: 8210923 and Vent#: 8212522

If the wireless connection had been secured, then you will have the only solution to access to the router's LAN IP address at http://192.168.1.254, using a network cable instead of the WIFI...DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE TO UNPLUG THE NETOPIA AND ATTACH THE PHONE CABLE DIRECT TO MY MAC?


The only parameter in the router that is meant to prevent computer to "see" each other in the local network is 'block wireless bridging' which according to your request must remain "un"checked" as it comes by default. I PRESUME IF I CHECK THE 'BLOCK WIRELESS BRIDGING' THE CHILDRENS' COMPUTERS WILL HAVE NO INTERNET.
Please find the menu in the course of my tutorial for the securization with our routers :
advanced wireless options.



Please find the available tutorials for your product at :
http://www.netopia.com/support/intl/...wr_3300ie.html
????????
How to set up the "advanced Wireless Options" : http://192.168.1.254 > expert mode/ configure : lan or Wireless ???????
then advanced wireless options : WEP-auto : the long passphrase will be calculated into a Hex key,
whose lenghth is settable to 64 or 128 bits. The default key Nr is a way to store different keys.
The enabled one is the one set as default.

The WPA (personal WPA) is nevertheless more secure.
The Passphrase is used on the computers' wifi utility.

After any change, please click on the left menu "restart router".

Here is a technote:
http://www.netopia.com/support/intl/.../IEWG_112.html

It is recommanded to set the default channel to 11 (at "advanced Wireless Options"), and choose the 802.11b+g mode,
so as to have the best compatibility and association with your device.

+++++
When the wireless signal is too weak at both end points, at the antenna of the wireless adapter and those of the WLAN router,
then please find some troubleshooting and options here.

The antennas are not removable, as the 3D-Reach system do use two antennas (an internal secondary antenna is used)
and Netopia's wireless routers cannot be eligible when you consider using repeaters.
The WDS support has not been implemented, as it doesn't belong to the strict 802.11b/g standard.

The Netopia routers must be set up as standalone Access point and use one or two additionnal non-Netopia Access Points.
The first AP has to wired to an ethernet LAN port to the Netopia and configured as master AP,
as our routers'compatibility won't be garantied with WDS-based repeater.
The second AP (same SSID as in the first AP) can work as wireless repeater to the first AP.

The Netopia stands as a single isolated AP (another SSID network...,
a different channel chosen with a 3 digit difference), that you could even disable (save and restart)
to make things easier...
Each AP its own SSID and isolated channel nr.
Each wireless device will be in a area free of obstacles and parasiting surfaces or electrical devices and each AP has to be placed 1.5, 2 meters awayof other APs.

++++++

You could move the router to a different place whose signal direction would make a different angle to the wall and rotate it on its central axis,
so as to orientate towards the laptops and orientate both its antennas : its vertical antenna and the hidden internal antenna (which makes a 90 degree with the other).

Please move away from the router and from the laptop any metallic piece or electrical device, so as to prevent any parasiting shield.

------

1. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0406.mspx
2. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net...i/wififaq.mspx
You will be advised to use the "connect to a (wireless) network manually and
specify no authentication accordingly / mode : access point / always connect.
Later you will change the Advanced wireless Options in the router to WPA-PSK
(preshared key) version 1 and 2 and you won't select the automatic search for
the channel, and you will keep the 801.11b+g mode.
If you had created a manual wireless profile in Vista and used the same
Wireless SSID Network name, then you will tick "enable closed system" // >>
save and restart.
In the System, on your card, you wil be advised not to allow this device to
shut down the computer (no power save mode).

The Netopia tech notes are located at :
http://www.netopia.com/support/intl/.../IEWG_110.html
http://www.netopia.com/support/intl/...47nwgukie.html

If once you wouldn't access the standard Ip adress ie 192.168.1.1 or 254,
please consider proceeding with a hardware reset.
The tiny reset button must be pushed so long as the power LED is turning to red/ green/red /green. If not the Router is defective and has to be replaced.
You could plug a wired computer and check the router Ip in using the DOS command : ipconfig.
When you read the IPv4 info you will find the Default gateway address, which must be your router's address.
Routers from Eircom use 192.168.1.254

To troubleshoot wireless issues, you could set up a manual LAN IPv.4 address on your computer, when you edit the properties of the TCP/IP IPv4.
Each connection in the LAN will use its own IP:
(192.168.1.3 for instance, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, Gateway 192.168.1.254, DNS of your ISP
(eircom's : Primary DNS: 213.94.190.194 Secondary DNS: 213.94.190.236
or 4.2.2.2 and 4.2.2.1

> the DOS command:
ipconfig /all
then ping -t 192.168.1.254 (the actual IP of your router)



And please follow the official tutorial on Vista about connecting to wireless networks?
TechNet Home > Community > Columns > Cable Guy
The Cable Guy - April 2006
Connecting to Wireless Networks with Windows Vista
Published: April 10, 2006 | Updated: January 5, 2007
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0406.mspx

Other Microsoft Manual :
If you need to adapt the Wireless advanced settings you can manage then save through the EXPERT MODE/configure with Windows, please follow Microsoft tutorials :
according to your Windows version :
. http://www.microsoft.com/france/tech...i/default.mspx
. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...isoho.mspx#EEH
"The Cable Guy - Windows XP Wireless Auto Configuration - November 2002 Updated: November 1, 2005"
. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net...faq.mspx#EUCAC
. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg1102.mspx

Best regards.

Matthieu

Definition of WEP or WPA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access
http://www.netopia.com/support/hardw...s/NQG_110.html
http://www.netopia.com/support/hardw...s/NQG_112.html


Motorola Home and Networks Mobility
Technical Support
E-MAIL: techsports@netopia.com
WWW: http://www.netopia.com/support
PHONE: 510-597-5400 Mon. - Fri. 6AM-5:30PM Pacific Time


Reference Codes
------------------------
Person#:3175647
Vent#:8212522
Email#:12959078

----------*----------
> Original Message (11/24/07 at 05:44:00):

> I have tried to access the area to password protect my wireless broadband,
> but I appear to need a password to access it. Please could you either supply
> me with the default password or explain how I go about protecting it.
>
> Many thanks.



______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________