is there any "trick" to 128bit wireless encryption?

[dakota81]

I've never figured this out before and would be a good thing to know of. How do you configure Windows XP Pro to connect to a wireless access point that uses the 26 character wep key for 128bit data encryption?

It seems to work fine for the shorter key, 64bit encryption, so I'm guessing there's a setting somewhere to let Windows know that we're trying to use 128bit encryption? Something? Strikes me as odd that the input box for the key is not 26 characters wide, and with the password input box showing all dots I don't even know if that box is accepting all 26 characters.

Suppose I'll also search google some more.

 

[BigShyBear]

There should be a pull down or a radio button on the setup page that let's you select 128bit over 64bit, and yes I've seen input fields that did not show the entire string as I typed them in.

I've run into a few idiot programmer gotchas.
At least 1 version of Belkin's code, if you are trying to put in a hex string that is all base 10 digits - the first character of the string has to be an 'a', 'b','c','d', or 'e', otherwise the code wants to use the string as a text string, not a hexadecimal string. (that one took me 4 hours to figure out on my nephews laptop)

 

[bcastner]

Do not use a passphrase generator: type the WEP keys in by hand.

WEP Math:

40 is the same as 64
104 is the same as 128

(In both cases there are 24 bits of padding, so add 24 to 40 or 104 to resolve the 64 or 128 bit key length)

1 ASCII Character=8 Bits
1 HEX Character=4 Bits

40 or 64 bit ASCII code has 5 characters
40 or 64 bit HEX WEP code has 10 characters

104 or 128 bit ASCII WEP code has 13 characters
104 or 128 bit HEX WEP code has 26 characters

 

[dakota81]

This is the screen Win XP Pro gives me to set up the wireless configuration:

http://secure.lcrcomputer.com/adam/sample.jpg

There's no drop down or any other type of selection for 64bit or 128bit keys.

It's just something that I cannot figure out how to do, and XP does not provide any help. I've set this kind of stuff up many times on Win98 machines as with them you use the software provided by the card's manufacturer. But there's just got to be something tricky with the way WinXP works.

 

[bcastner]

You tell XP to use either a 64 or 128 bit key by the length of what you enter. See my WEP Math guide above.(Prior to Service Pack 1, there were option boxes to choose Hexadecimal or Decimal input, and key length).

If the nework adapter only supports 64-bit key lengths, XP will not let you enter an 128-bit key.

For a discussion:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/wifisoho.mspx

 

[brotayo]

If you have configure your wireless access point to us 128-bit encryption, given it a name and it is working properly. When you power up your PC which has a wireless card or your laptop that has a wireless card it should show a ballon in the system tray that say "wireless networks are available click to view" Once inside click the one that you want and put in the key. It may not seem like it is being take but it is. This was used to configure a DLink WAP with 128 bit encryption.