WiFi MAC address problems: is it my Tpad? Or my router?

Message

hellosailor · #1 Post by **hellosailor** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:23 pm

I'm trying to setup WiFi access (Intel abgn adapter) on my new Thinkpad running Vista, to a Verizon Westell 327W router. (Which Westell doesn't support because it is Verizon OEM'd, and Verizon tech support, well, don't ask.)

I have wired LAN access set up, no problem. And the WiFi worked with the last machine, no problem. And, the WiFi works with the Tpad *until* I set the router for restricted access, by MAC address only.

Even though I have the right MAC address for the Tpad's WiFi card, and I've used IPCONFIG to doublecheck and verify that, the connection is broken as soon as I enable MAC address filtering and the Tpad cannot re-establish it.

Is there anything funky about how these machines "show" their MAC address to routers? I see there is also a "Teredo Tunneling" device with an additional MAC number showing up, which I understand is the way they enable IPv6, but I wouldn't expect that to jam just my WiFi connection up.

Anyone?

#2 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:09 pm

this is really a software/setup issue not specific to the T60 series..
but i'll leave this here for a day mor so..
then it should be moved to the appropriate venue..

alacrityathome · #3 Post by **alacrityathome** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:51 pm

On my new T61p, I also had funny results with the wifi.

Had disconnects under WPA-PSK and finally switched to WEP with MAC filtering with no problem.

Have you tried to reset the router? Then just add your new T6X with no security. Then add WEP. Then add MAC filter for just your PC? Etc.

On some routers, there is a maximum number of clients under DHCP. Did you check that? Etc.

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:03 pm

I don't know the answer to your mac filtering problem, but I just wanted to offer an alternative. I also live in NY and have Verizon as an ISP. I dumped the Westell 327W router, bought a Linksys WRT54G and never looked back. The Linksys filters on Mac addresses with no issue, plus Linksys support is better than Verizon

. You'll need a DSL modem however. I use the older Westell Wirespeed. (very cheap on EBay) If you want to try wireless 'N' to take advantage of your new adapter, there are many good routers that do 'N' as well. One more suggestion, post this problem on dslreports.com in the verizon forum.

WRT54G $53 shipped

DAH · #5 Post by **DAH** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:51 pm

hellosailor wrote:I'm trying to setup WiFi access (Intel abgn adapter) on my new Thinkpad running Vista, to a Verizon Westell 327W router. (Which Westell doesn't support because it is Verizon OEM'd, and Verizon tech support, well, don't ask.)

I have wired LAN access set up, no problem. And the WiFi worked with the last machine, no problem. And, the WiFi works with the Tpad *until* I set the router for restricted access, by MAC address only.

Even though I have the right MAC address for the Tpad's WiFi card, and I've used IPCONFIG to doublecheck and verify that, the connection is broken as soon as I enable MAC address filtering and the Tpad cannot re-establish it.

Is there anything funky about how these machines "show" their MAC address to routers? I see there is also a "Teredo Tunneling" device with an additional MAC number showing up, which I understand is the way they enable IPv6, but I wouldn't expect that to jam just my WiFi connection up.

Anyone?

Are you doing IPCONFIG /all and then entering the value reported for the Physical Address? Changing the "-" to ":"?

hellosailor · #6 Post by **hellosailor** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:22 pm

Thank you, Bill. I thought this section would be appropriate since it might be something particular to the Thinkpad--after all, it works just fine with other computers and cards.

DAH-
Yes, the exact same MAC address, with the dashes replaced by colons. Which also matches the address printed under the machine in such tiny numbers. Checked it three times.

Alactrity-
No problem with the number of clients, it is a 4-port router but the WiFi section can take many more than four clients, and there are only two hard connections and this one WiFi being attempted. Again, everything is the same setup that works with other hardware--it is just something about the setup or hardware on the Tpad that is not working the way the others do.
Since WEP encryption can be broken in under 5 minutes (3 if you're any good) I think of it as worthless in any long-term situation, and won't use it at home.

Harry-
Please! I've got pay for the Tpad before I start randomly throwing money into new routers.<G> The 54G may be good, but this one has been working well enough. There must be something peculiar to this setup, something about the way the MAC address is being verified or passed, that makes that into the stumbling block. I'm suspecting the Teredo_Tunneling and whatever that is doing, simply because that's the only "new" thing about the WiFi connection from the Tpad, i.e. maybe the query for the MAC address is getting back a reply it can't recognize because of some extra data?

(Thanks all, that's some fast responses!)

#7 Post by **Harryc** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:28 pm

hellosailor wrote:Harry-
Please!

Let's see. The proper response would be ...thank-you?

Good luck with your Verizon router and service. I'll check back with you in a year :/

hellosailor · #8 Post by **hellosailor** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:56 pm

But Harry, I did say thanks to all, and that includes you. Even if "throw money at it" isn't really helping me at the moment.

No gots!<G>

alacrityathome · #9 Post by **alacrityathome** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:29 pm

sailor,

I was just suggesting a debugging sequence with WEP.

On my PC, I have BT3 penetration software running via vmware .... so I know the hazards of WEP.

What if you use everything but MAC filtering? Use WPA-PSK/AES and invisible SSID etc....everything except MAC filtering? Based on your descriptions....that should work and be more than sufficient for security.

hellosailor · #10 Post by **hellosailor** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:48 pm

That's exactly where I've let it at now--everything but MAC restriction. Still, I'd feel happier understanding why that isn't working--and being able to enable it again. That it isn't working means there is something I don't understand about the connection, and I prefer to understand the tech side. That I can't use one of the trivial security settings--well, every script kiddie out that misses SOMEthing, so I'd like to use every countermeasure I have. And, know how to connect to other routers--since I might want to connect to one that requires MAC filtering sometime, besides this one.

alacrityathome · #11 Post by **alacrityathome** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:12 pm

sailor,

You may want to check something ....very simple to miss.

Look at your MAC Filter portion of your Router info.

The enable should be checked....yes that is probably ok.

But, then look further. Sometimes their are two choices.

..Deny access to these MAC IDs.
..Enable access by these MAC IDs.

Make sure you have the right one checked.

Don't forget to report back when you solve this challenge.

hellosailor · #12 Post by **hellosailor** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:45 pm

That would be too .<G>

In this setup, the only list is an ALLOW list. Everything not on the list is denied, everything on the list is allowed.

alacrityathome · #13 Post by **alacrityathome** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:37 pm

shucks!

hellosailor · #14 Post by **hellosailor** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:10 pm

And it has been responsible for the loss of many fine ships and docks.

In this case, someone did right to call this IPv6 borer a Teredo, because it SUNK MY WIFI CONNECTIONS.

Someone elsewhere told me how to disable Teredo completely (start, run, "control ncpa.cpl", advanced, advanced options, uncheck the IPv6 ones) and once Teredo was gone, "everybody happy this bus!"

So for those of you who are not using IPv6 for anything, and may be using WiFi...I'd suggest doing the same, get rid of the worms!

#15 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:14 pm

hellosailor wrote:and once Teredo was gone, "everybody happy this bus!"

It seems that Harry's advice to you was correct, you really do need a new WiFi router!

Teredo is a legitimate IPv6 transition technology and does not create any issues with basically capable WiFi kit.

Cheers,

Bill B.

#16 Post by **Harryc** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:12 pm

Bill, thanks for mentioning it, and I agree. I also moderate a Linux forum and IPV6 is a common problem on various Linux distros, but I rarely see it reported as a problem on Windows systems. Any decent router should handle it. I neglected to mention that when I tried the same Router as the OP when I first got my Verizon account it also mishandled a VPN connection to my workplace.

hellosailor · #17 Post by **hellosailor** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:45 pm

That's arguing which came first, the chicken or the egg.

In this case, Teredo came last, and there's no reason to blame older equipment for not understanding a new standard. The fault lies in Teredo not being backwards-compatible with the world of existing equipment, unless you can find a particular spec that Westell doesn't meet properly.

There were a number of refernces online to problems caused by Teredo, and statements that MS is REMOVING it from the Server2008 distibution, or at least, not enabling it as a default, because they've gotten so many error reports on it.

Does Teredo do anything for me? No, not until IPv6 conquers the web. It also causes the ThinkVantage connection software to generate a bogus error message about why the connection is failing. Users should at least be warned (in the error messages) that something new, potentially worse than useless, is being added to the mix. And if Teredo isn't actually DOING something for you--it is just more overhead, one more process to slow the machine down.

You folks haven't mentioned any advantage to running it.

#18 Post by **Harryc** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:36 pm

The main reason to use IPV6 is because there is a growing shortage of IPv4 addresses, which are needed by all new machines added to the Internet. Sooner or later your favorite sites/servers will all be running IPV6.

#19 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:25 pm

hellosailor wrote:It also causes the ThinkVantage connection software to generate a bogus error message about why the connection is failing.

So, where is the citation for this?

Cheers,

Bill B.

slagmi · #20 Post by **slagmi** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:29 am

hellosailor,
Hope you're not losing sleep over Vista...
I'm assuming you have already sought and installed the latest firmware for the router...right?
I know this sounds weird, but try adding <all> the notebooks MAC's to the routers wi-fi inclusion list. Wired NIC MAC, Etc. Reboot the notebook, power cycle the router. Then try.
And get some sleep...If you're even still working on this..
Cheers!

#21 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:37 am

Also, MAC addresses can be 'spoofed' if anyone is so inclined.
http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/wireless/net ... fing-13077

WiFi MAC address problems: is it my Tpad? Or my router?

WiFi MAC address problems: is it my Tpad? Or my router?

Re: WiFi MAC address problems: is it my Tpad? Or my router?

The Teredo is a nasty worm, as every sailor knows

Re: The Teredo is a nasty worm, as every sailor knows

Who is online