Oddball Update

What seems like years after the rest of the world moved up to WPA security, I finally got there tonight. Not for lack of trying, mind you. I’ve been trying to implement WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security for two years now, since we bought Apple’s notebook computer and I set up my first wireless infrastructure. Unfortunately, the abysmal quality of the device drivers for the notebook’s Intel 2200BG wireless adapter were so bad, the highest security level I could implement was the paltry WEP 64-bit. Anything higher, and the notebook would either BSOD randomly or refuse to connect at all.

As you might have read in a post here the other day, I got rid of the [equally abysmal] D-Link DI-624 router I’ve been using and pulled my old Linksys WRT54G (rev. 2) out of storage. Initially I went searching for a new Linksys model, since my old one had been retired due to some flaky behavior, but the only ones on store shelves these days are the crappy VxWorks-based ones that you can’t load third party firmware on. Screw that. So I took a chance with the old one — dusted it off, cleared its RAM and reset factory defaults. Then flashed to the latest version of HyperWRT Thibor, a popular third party firmware that includes options I need, like Static DHCP and QoS.

I’m pleased to report that the old Linksys is up and running without a hiccup, so it seems the forced resets and memory clearing have set it straight. It’s no longer freezing up like it used to, it’s prioritizing packets like a champ, and best of all, it cost me nothing. While I was messing around with this stuff, I once again thought about trying to get WPA security working…especially since I now have some additional wireless devices around the house, like my PSP and Xbox360. I went looking for a newer set of drivers for the Intel 2200BG…and whaddya know, a new set had just recently been released! I downloaded them eagerly and installed them on the notebook.

Not only has Intel totally rewritten their PROset software so that it’s actually usable and a worthy alternative to Windows WZC, but WPA security now works without a hitch. Finally. I reconfig’ed all of the wireless devices for WPA, and everything is working as it should. I just love it when a plan comes together! I’ve also done some really good work today on that big website merger, so I’m quite pleased with myself. It’s been a good day. And it’s not over yet. I seem to be in a very industrious mood. Too bad Daylight Savings Time is going to steal a whole hour away from me tonight.

On a lighter note, I was suckered into one April Fool’s gag today…when I came to write this update, in fact. When you login to WordPress, the dashboard displays recent news and updates about the WordPress software. The latest post from today was that the Textpattern and WordPress blogs had merged into one program called “WordPattern,” wherein some of the worst limitations of each were put together to result in one serious step backwards. I nearly had a heart attack, but then realized it was a joke. Damn good thing, too. Oh…and if anyone out there is still unsure, this should clear things right up.

Categorized as Computers