What is Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)?

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a standard for easy and secure wireless network set up and connections. It is a feature that makes it easy to add devices to your wireless network.  The WPS button is located either on the front or back panel of Linksys device. NETGEAR’s products use the name Push ‘n’ Connect for WPS.

To use Wi-Fi Protected Setup, your product must support WPS and be compatible with WPA security. WPS can automatically set up a random network name (SSID) and strong WPA wireless security for wireless routers, access points, computers, adapters, Wi-Fi phones, and other consumer electronics devices. Some Wireless-G routers may not have WPS feature.

NOTE: The Wi-Fi Protected Setup configures one device at a time.

Use Fix Home Network’s Easy Network setup Guide

Advantages of Wi-Fi Protected Setup :

•    Wi-Fi Protected Setup automatically configures the network name (SSID) and WPA security key for the router or access point and for wireless devices that join the network.
•    No one can guess your security keys or passphrase because they are randomly generated.
•    You do not need to know the network name and security keys or passphrases to use Wi-Fi Protected Setup to join a wireless network.
•    Wi-Fi Protected Setup has been integrated and supported in Windows Vista (currently, Windows Vista only work in Registrar mode).
•    Wi-Fi Protected Setup uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), which is a strong authentication protocol used in WPA2.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Protected Setup :

•    Unless all the Wi-Fi devices on the network are Wi-Fi Protected Setup -compatible, you will not be able to take advantage of the ease of securing the network.
•    This technology is fairly new, so not all wireless equipment supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
•    If your wireless device does not support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, it can be hard to join a network that was set up with WPS because the wireless network name and security key are random sequences of letters and numbers.
•    Ad-Hoc mode does not support Wi-Fi Protected Setup. Ad-hoc mode is used when wireless devices communicate directly to each other without an access point.

There are three methods on how to connect using Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

Method 1: Connecting a Device using the WPS button

Use this method if your client device has a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button or if it prompts you to press the WPS button on your router.

Step 1.Locate and press the button on your router.
Step 2. Within two minutes, click the WPS button on the device you want to connect to the router’s wireless network.
Step 3. After the device has been configured, click Close.
NOTE:  Alternately, you can access your router’s web-based setup page and configure from there.

Method 2. Connecting a Device using its WPS PIN

NOTE:  This method assumes that you already have your client device’s PIN.
Use this method if your client device has a Wi-Fi Protected Setup Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Step 1 : Open the setup page of your router.
Step 2 : Click on the Wireless tab, then select the Wi-Fi Protected Setup radio button.
Step 3: Enter your client device’s PIN on the appropriate field then click the Register button.
Step 4 : After the client device has been connected, click OK.

Method 3: Connecting a Device using the Router’s WPS PIN

Use this method if your client device asks for the router’s PIN.
Step 1 : Open the setup page of the router.
Step 2 : Click on the Wireless tab, then select Wi-Fi Protected Setup radio button.
Step 3: Take note of the router’s WPS PIN.  You may find the Router’s WPS pin on the back of the router also.
You can also find the router’s PIN through the web-based setup page.
IMPORTANT:  The router’s PIN may vary according to the device being used.
Step 4: When your device prompts for the router’s WPS PIN, enter your router’s unique PIN.
Step 5:
After entering the PIN, follow the onscreen instruction for your device.

NOTE:  If you encounter problems with the WPS setup such as “Connection Failure! Your client device failed to connect to the network.  Refer back to your client device for further instructions.  Press “OK” to continue.”, you may manually configure your router’s wireless settings.

Use Fix Home Network’s Easy Network Setup Guide and get connected to the wireless network