"Another router question -- wireless protection drops out" Topic

Cisco/Linksys WRT160N v3 router
Firmware up to date
2-1/2 years old

Wireless protection (WPA2) shuts off by itself. Can happen in days or weeks. Totally random.

I thought it may be DHCP Release Time setting or maybe not resetting itself after renewing its IP address, but it's random. Thought it may be the result of some automatic update of Windows or other app, but there's no correlation. Admin logs show no event that would cause this.

Nothing on the Cisco forums or troubleshooting guide about this.

Similar posts online say this may be a sign the router's dead, so replace.

Any suggestions before I purchase a new one?

Thanks

Rant: It bothers me that this router offers alerts when something happens or changes, but losing your wireless protection isn't one of them. Gee -- I guess that's not important…

What is required to re-establish the security? Do you lose connectivity or do you only lose encryption? Both of those answers together can speak volumes about what is going on, or at least, which system the problem lays.

Are broadcasting your SSDI?
What OS on your computer?

Regards, the Gorb

I stay connected to the Internet but lose wireless protection. I reestablish protection by unplugging the router for 30 sec, then reconnecting.

I'm running Windows XP SP3. I am broadcasting my SSID so my wife's and kids' laptops can wireless connect.

I have never really heard of a router losing WPA2 before. Losing the encryption key, yes, but not the encryption itself.

Forgive me for asking, but just how do you know it is losing encryption? Are you using a wifi network scanner like inSSIDer which shows your network as 'open'?

Regards, the Gorb

The router comes with a management app. I check it daily now, maybe more often, to make sure my protection is on.

OK. Normally the Cisco/Linksys routers simply allow you to use a web browser to make firmware configuration changes by entering the router IP address in your browser URL box (i.e., [http://192.168.1.1)].

Is this the configuration manager you mean or is it something else?

In the intermin, I would advise you to download inSSIDer (it's free) and run it on your computer to see if it detects the change in your security from "WPA2-personal" to "open".
link

Regards, the Gorb

Gorb -- the router comes with a manager called Network Magic that lets you check status, view your network map (what's connected), etc. I can also connect via the router IP address to access more comprehensive features, settings and admin capabilities. Network Magic is where I see that my wireless protection is active or not.

I will download inSSIDer and see if it detects anything.

Thanks for your help.

OK. I have a little experience with Network Magic and I have known it to incorrectly report network encryption status as disabled when it was not.

This usually happens when the version of Network Magic is out of sync with the router firmware. So if you have updated the firmware recently but not your version of NM, that is something to check.

The next time NM reports no encryption, step 1 would be run inSSIDer to see what it reports. Step 2 would be to double check the router security config through the router IP address.

I would trust these two before I trust what NM reports.

Regards, the Gorb