Help with setting WPA security?

I'm using a Linksys WRT54G wireless router. I'd like to set WPA encryption.

I'm having trouble setting a password.. it is not letting me use whatever password I wish. I'm getting messages about acsii and hex characters.

Does anyone have a quick step-by-step on how to setup security?

 

Are you sure you are using WPA and not WEP? From the message, it sounds like you are in WEP and it is telling you to generate a paraphrase.

 

I'm trying to create a WPA Shared Key.. but having trouble here.

 

I've had both WEP, WPA, and WPA2 as security on my wireless router, and WPA does not use acsii or hex characters. Same for WPA2.

Both WPA and WPA2 uses a password you set.

 

Hmm...

I'll try to play around with again today after work. Do yous set up wireless security in the router settings or in network connections settings? I have noticed that both can be configured...

Can anyone with a Linksys wireless router let me know what to do to set either WEP or WPA security?! Thanks

 

Everything is case sensitive when it come to these settings.

Under the wireless tab of your routers admin.
Change the Default SSID. Spaces are not allowed.
Select WPA Pre Shared Key (TKIP)
Enter your pre share key.
I recommend going to http://www.grc.com And use one there random generated keys.
Use the All Printable chr option. Copy and Paste this to you notepad. While you are their, you might as well save several of the strings for future use.

Copy and past the key into the routers setup. You will need this later on for your note book.

Once every thing is set into the router. Save the setup then Reboot it.

Now once the router is backup. If SSID is broadcasted connect to it Paste you pre-share key.

This you get you started.

 

I have a WRT54G, it should be simliar with your linksys.



This is what mine looks like.

 

Thank you very much. I will try this out tonight

Yep, mine looks the same. Did you create your own pass key?

 

Yea, the place where I blurred out is my own password.

 

Cool, so it didn't have to be some complex jumble of alphabets or letters?

If I chose to, could I use "notebooks" as my WPA key?

 

The security is as only good as the key.

Besides I copy and paste. And keep a collection of keys on a usb stick for quick use.

 

Yep. Practically anything you want.

 

Ah, I see. For now, I'm more concerned about knowing what I can or cannot use as a pass key, as opposed to how secure each key is

Thank you though.

 

Security can at time be a real problem to setup at times. Even those who do it all the time. Unless you are in a corporate word no 2 machines are a like.

 

Thanks for the help. I think the main thing was that I was trying to use AES (which is selected by default) as opposed to TKIP. This gave me trouble in setting a key.