HD Theater Won't Connect To Wireless LAN (yes, firmware updated)

[nightlyraver]

I just bought the HD Theater, and I know that it doesn't have the right firmware to use the Encore USB adapter that Sage sells on their website.

I updated the firmware to the latest production version and got the option to use the wireless adapter. The problem is that it will not connect to my network, simply stating that it's timing out (after only about 30 seconds). I see my wireless network on the list, and used the correct WEP key. I also know that the adapter works fine, since I tested it with my laptop.

I also updated to the latest beta firmware, and the results were the same.

The device works great with the wired lan, but I need wireless so I can use it in the basement. My wife won't let me run a wire up there because "it's too messy." I've been trying to get this working for hours without success.

Please help!!!

[paulbeers]

Well my guess is your use of WEP. I know one of the BETA versions supposedly fixed this (and then subsequent releases since should have the fix in it as well). Personally , I would recommend getting away from WEP since it can be broken with regularly available tools in less than a minute anymore. You might as well be running without a password!

[nightlyraver]

OK, so I worked around the problem and am posting for the aid of others.

I read in a different thread that WEP may be an issue. So I disabled WEP, and viola, the HD Theater easily connected to the network. Side note, there was a lot of hesitation and the video was unwatchable, but moving the device, literally, a few inches to the side completely solved the problem (I know that many others have had this problem, and you should note that interference can be neutralized).

The next issue was a completely unsecure wireless lan. I didn't want to screw with WPA, since I anticipated similar problems. So I just hard-coded the MAC addresses for the only 4 devices that will ever have any business accessing my wireless lan as part of the "allowed" list (all others will be blocked).

[CaptainSedge]

MAC address control is even weaker than WEP. All that one would need to do it sniff the packets that are being transmitted back and forth on your lan and clone one of the MAC's. Now we're talking access in seconds not minutes!

[sic0048]

Go with WPA. Everything supports it now and it is harder to crack than WEP. Certainly don't expect your network to be secure by simply using MAC address filters.

Any particular reason why you don't want to use WPA? This isn't 1999anymore. WPA is universally accepted now. Just make sure you use a strong password, because even WPA can be brute forced if you use a weak password.

[Protoman]

WPA2-AES is the best option to go with, since you won't take as big of a performance hit as you do with WPA-TKIP, and even worse with WEP.

The other consideration is if you have mixed clients running on your wireless. If you have both Wireless G and Wireless N clients connected to your router the Wireless N clients will run at Wireless G speeds to give them opportunity to communicate with the router.

Here is the article that supports these statements. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wirel...ding-to-80211n

Hope this helps,
Protoman