MAC filtering not working

**slick1** · 29-06-08, 04:38 PM

Hi all.

I've been asking quite a few questions in regards to wireless networking etc etc. In the past, i never really showed much interest in securing my network etc etc.

Now that i've WEP'ed my network, i was looking at the MAC filtering on my access point.

I put in the MAC address of my PC, Access point (Point - Bridge to Bridge mode), and i can still get onto the internet with my laptop which if i understand it correctly, i shouldn't be able to access the Access point because i dont have the MAC address of the Laptop in the MAC filtering page of the Access point. i do have the A/P WEP protected.

Any help figure out why the MAC filtering doesn't work??

Thanks
SLick1

**Woodstock** · 29-06-08, 05:01 PM

correct

**ol' boy** · 29-06-08, 05:16 PM

Hey slick, can you explain your set up a little more clearly mate?

like ROUTER (DHCP) -----> WiFi 1 (in AP mode) -------> WiFi 2 (in Client mode) -------> Laptop etc?

As in this example, if WiFi 1 has WiFi 2 MAC addy, and WiFi 2 has Laptops MAC addy ..... then the Laptop will get on the internet.

Personally i have everything MAC addressed, you can jam all that other encryption crap, only gives problems when i use it

**slick1** · 30-06-08, 03:36 PM

O.K here it goes

Router (DHCP)--->Minitar1 (AP-Bridge to bridge)-------->Minitar2 (AP-Bridge to bridge)--->4 port hub--->Minitar3 (Access point).

Router to Minitar1 is hard wired
Minitar 1 and minitar2 are around 600m apart and connect via a 12dbA antenna
Minitar2 is hardwired to the hub
Minitar3 is hardwired to the hub
The Home PC is hard wired to the hub.
The Laptop connects to Minitar3 wireless.

Minitar1 has Minitar2 MAC Address
Minitar2 has Minitar1, Minitar3, Home PC MAC Address
Minitar3 has Minitar2, laptop, home PC MAC Address

Hope this is understandable.

Regards
Slick1

**ol' boy** · 30-06-08, 05:07 PM

Ok, i use Ultra WAPs so they are kind of the same as Minitar.

I used to have a set just like yours only Minitar1 was in AP mode and Minitar2 was in Client (station-inferstructure) mode (and were also 200M apart with 14dBi antenna) and my Miniter3 was in AP mode like yours. I had a 8 port hub and hard wired PC and a roaming Lappy just like you.

To be honest, i know stuff all about AP-bridge to bridge mode? Or AP - Bridge to Point mode or what ever they call it.

To my understanding of my set up, the MAC addressing (or MAC address controling) only controled any wireless connection, anything on the wired LAN could go anywhere.

So after looking at your problem, Woodstock is right.

Can you tell us which AP your lappy is connecting to? You say it is Minitar3 but both 2 and 3 have MAC address logged. Are you sure which one it is?

**slick1** · 01-07-08, 10:21 AM

Hello again.

Minitar3 is a Minitar UltraWAP in access point mode. My laptop wirelessly connects to minitar3 (UltraWAP). The hard wired PC connects to the hub which has minitar2(Point - Bridge to Bridge mode) connected to it.

Slick1

**ol' boy** · 01-07-08, 11:03 AM

Right then.
Have you turned all encryption off and MAC filtering on in Minitar 3?
If you have MAC Filtering enabled in M3, and your Laptop MAC address is not in there, you will not connect to it, trust me on that

As a side note: Why you run WEP is beyond me. It is weak and can slow the WiFi connection slightly. But above all, if you are using MAC addressing as your security measure (which is the best way) then there is no reason to use it all. Unles you have people visit and want to tell them the log on details.... other than that, why do it?

**admin** · 01-07-08, 11:23 AM

I just use Mac Filtering. Its the easiest way in my opinion , the MAC address is either allowed on the network or it isnt.

There are a few neighbours networks who appear on my list with WEP , it is near tempting to see if I can bypass them. I believe you should be able to get around it in a couple of days using software ?