Do any wireless APs support multiple keys?
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Posted by void.no.spam.com@gmail.com on May 24, 2008, 3:16 pm
Please log in for more thread options problems, so I'm thinking about getting a new one. But one thing I would really like is to be able to set multiple keys that can be used at the same time. It would be nice to use one key for my own computers, and another key for anyone who comes over and visits. With my current AP, I set a key for my computers and then I forget what the key is. Then if someone comes over with a laptop and wants to use the wireless, it's a pain because I have to go back into the AP and configure a new key, and then enter that new key back into my computers. If I could just enter a second key into my AP, and have it allow that key in addition to the first key, that would be great. I could even delete the second key after the visitor leaves. Are there any APs that let you do that? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Jeff Liebermann on May 24, 2008, 3:38 pm
Please log in for more thread options Ummm.... deteriorating performance might be an indication of interference from other wireless systems. Try changing channels (1, 6, or 11) and see if it helps. >But one thing I
>would really like is to be able to set multiple keys that can be used >at the same time. It would be nice to use one key for my own >computers, and another key for anyone who comes over and visits. With >my current AP, I set a key for my computers and then I forget what the >key is. Then if someone comes over with a laptop and wants to use the >wireless, it's a pain because I have to go back into the AP and >configure a new key, and then enter that new key back into my >computers. If I could just enter a second key into my AP, and have it >allow that key in addition to the first key, that would be great. I >could even delete the second key after the visitor leaves. Are there >any APs that let you do that? Yep. One $40 cheapy that I sorta like is the MyEssentials ME1004-R. <http://www.myessentialssupport.com/product/?pid=ME1004-R>
It has two WPA keys. One give you access to the LAN and the various
desktops. The other WPA key give you access only to the internet. See the user manual for details. The nice part is that a "blank" key will not work. It has to be a real WPA key (8 char minimum). Note that the router itself is nothing wonderful or miraculous. It has a non-removable antenna, fairly low power output (about 25mw), and a modest mix of features. It also has a really irritating delay of about 30 seconds every time you save your settings. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by void.no.spam.com@gmail.com on May 27, 2008, 4:27 pm
Please log in for more thread options > On Sat, 24 May 2008 12:16:03 -0700 (PDT), "void.no.spam....@gmail.com"
> > >I have a 5 year old wireless AP that is starting to have some
> >problems, so I'm thinking about getting a new one. =A0 >
> Ummm.... deteriorating performance might be an indication of > interference from other wireless systems. =A0Try changing channels (1, > 6, or 11) and see if it helps. The problem isn't deteriorating performance. The AP doesn't have a power button, it just turns on whenever you plug it in. But the last couple times we've had a power outage, it has not turned back on when the power comes back on. Both times, I had to plug and unplug it at least 50 times before it finally turned on. But once it's on, it works fine. > >But one thing I
> >would really like is to be able to set multiple keys that can be used > >at the same time. =A0It would be nice to use one key for my own > >computers, and another key for anyone who comes over and visits. =A0With > >my current AP, I set a key for my computers and then I forget what the > >key is. =A0Then if someone comes over with a laptop and wants to use the > >wireless, it's a pain because I have to go back into the AP and > >configure a new key, and then enter that new key back into my > >computers. =A0If I could just enter a second key into my AP, and have it > >allow that key in addition to the first key, that would be great. =A0I > >could even delete the second key after the visitor leaves. =A0Are there > >any APs that let you do that? >
> Yep. =A0One $40 cheapy that I sorta like is the MyEssentials ME1004-R. > <http://www.myessentialssupport.com/product/?pid=3DME1004-R> > It has two WPA keys. =A0One give you access to the LAN and the various > desktops. =A0The other WPA key give you access only to the internet. See > the user manual for details. =A0The nice part is that a "blank" key will > not work. =A0It has to be a real WPA key (8 char minimum). Looks like that is sold as a Belkin. I just looked around, and it appears that Belkin is the only company that offers APs/routers with a "guest password" feature. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Belkin APs/routers get very good reviews. I've seen quite a few reviews where people say they drop connections frequently, and even stop working after a couple months. > Note that the router itself is nothing wonderful or miraculous. =A0It
> has a non-removable antenna, fairly low power output (about 25mw), and > a modest mix of features. =A0It also has a really irritating delay of > about 30 seconds every time you save your settings. That doesn't seem like a big deal to me - how often do you change settings? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Jeff Liebermann on May 28, 2008, 12:10 am
Please log in for more thread options On Tue, 27 May 2008 13:27:03 -0700 (PDT), "void.no.spam.com@gmail.com"
>The problem isn't deteriorating performance. The AP doesn't have a
>power button, it just turns on whenever you plug it in. But the last >couple times we've had a power outage, it has not turned back on when >the power comes back on. Both times, I had to plug and unplug it at >least 50 times before it finally turned on. But once it's on, it >works fine. Your unspecified wireless router or access point certainly has a problem. My guess(tm) is a failing clock oscillator. In effect, you're "kick" starting it. Also, check the voltage from the wall wart under load to see if it's close to the specified voltage. >> Yep. One $40 cheapy that I sorta like is the MyEssentials ME1004-R.
>> <http://www.myessentialssupport.com/product/?pid=ME1004-R> >Looks like that is sold as a Belkin.
Yep. Belkin owns the company. >I just looked around, and it
>appears that Belkin is the only company that offers APs/routers with a >"guest password" feature. I think Sonicwall also has this feature, but I'm not sure and can't easily browse right now (slow packet radio link). >Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Belkin
>APs/routers get very good reviews. I've seen quite a few reviews >where people say they drop connections frequently, and even stop >working after a couple months. Yeah, that's about it. Belkin is about as bad as it gets. However, those are complaints about routers made by Belkin, not about the ones where Belkin bought the whole company. Also, every router manufacturer has its winner and losers. You can't just generalize that some vendors products are good or bad. It varies. For example, the various mutations of the Linksys WRT54G vary from excellent to dismal disaster. I'm not sure how many of these I've sold, given away, used as a loaner, or armtwisted the customer into trying. My guess is about 30 routers in the last year or so. No failures, no returns, no hangs, no complaints, and no problems. Also no firmware updates, so it's not going to keep up to date with the latest acronyms. I also haven't beaten it to death running benchmarks: <http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/>
I probably should, but haven't found a good reason to do it. Anyway,
$30 is cheap enough to try and toss if it doesn't meet your expectations. >That doesn't seem like a big deal to me - how often do you change
>settings? With my own routers (office and home) running DD-WRT firmware, I tweak the settings about once per week. It's mostly to simulate customer problems and issues. For my customers, I usually change the WPA key erratically, and backup the config files when convenient. That's usually about 4 times during the typical 4-6 year router life. -- # Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060 # 831-336-2558 jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us # http://802.11junk.com jeffl@cruzio.com # http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by void.no.spam.com@gmail.com on May 28, 2008, 11:01 am
Please log in for more thread options > On Tue, 27 May 2008 13:27:03 -0700 (PDT), "void.no.spam....@gmail.com"
> > >The problem isn't deteriorating performance. =A0The AP doesn't have a
> >power button, it just turns on whenever you plug it in. =A0But the last > >couple times we've had a power outage, it has not turned back on when > >the power comes back on. =A0Both times, I had to plug and unplug it at > >least 50 times before it finally turned on. =A0But once it's on, it > >works fine. >
> Your unspecified wireless router or access point certainly has a > problem. =A0My guess(tm) is a failing clock oscillator. =A0In effect, > you're "kick" starting it. =A0Also, check the voltage from the wall wart > under load to see if it's close to the specified voltage. It is an Orinoco BG-2000. It's actually plugged in to a voltage regulating UPS, so it probably is something going bad in the AP. > >> Yep. =A0One $40 cheapy that I sorta like is the MyEssentials ME1004-R.
> >> <http://www.myessentialssupport.com/product/?pid=3DME1004-R> > >Looks like that is sold as a Belkin.
>
> Yep. =A0Belkin owns the company. > > >I just looked around, and it
> >appears that Belkin is the only company that offers APs/routers with a > >"guest password" feature. >
> I think Sonicwall also has this feature, but I'm not sure and can't > easily browse right now (slow packet radio link). I went to their web site and didn't see any wireless routers/APs. Their products also seem to be targeted towards businesses. > >Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Belkin
> >APs/routers get very good reviews. =A0I've seen quite a few reviews > >where people say they drop connections frequently, and even stop > >working after a couple months. >
> Yeah, that's about it. =A0Belkin is about as bad as it gets. =A0However, > those are complaints about routers made by Belkin, not about the ones > where Belkin bought the whole company. =A0Also, every router > manufacturer has its winner and losers. =A0You can't just generalize > that some vendors products are good or bad. =A0It varies. =A0For example, > the various mutations of the Linksys WRT54G vary from excellent to > dismal disaster. > > I'm not sure how many of these I've sold, given away, used as a > loaner, or armtwisted the customer into trying. =A0My guess is about 30 > routers in the last year or so. =A0No failures, no returns, no hangs, no > complaints, and no problems. =A0Also no firmware updates, so it's not > going to keep up to date with the latest acronyms. =A0I also haven't > beaten it to death running benchmarks: > <http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/> > I probably should, but haven't found a good reason to do it. =A0Anyway, > $30 is cheap enough to try and toss if it doesn't meet your > expectations. > > >That doesn't seem like a big deal to me - how often do you change
> >settings? >
> With my own routers (office and home) running DD-WRT firmware, I tweak > the settings about once per week. =A0It's mostly to simulate customer > problems and issues. =A0For my customers, I usually change the WPA key > erratically, and backup the config files when convenient. =A0That's > usually about 4 times during the typical 4-6 year router life. I noticed that the Belkins only allow a guest WPA password. Do you know if you can use WPA and WEP at the same time? Because I do have one computer that is using a wireless adapter that only supports WEP. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
>problems, so I'm thinking about getting a new one.