MAC Filtering problem

luky1971 · 06-19-2009, 05:01 PM

I use a Belkin 54g wireless router on a home network and I'd really like to use the MAC filtering featuring. However, after I enabled mac address filtering, my voip phone got disconnected. I figured I could solve this problem by adding my phone to the list of allowed mac addresses. So...do phones have mac addresses, and if so, how do I find out what it is?

**johnwill** · 06-21-2009, 08:30 AM

The VoIP adapter has a MAC address. OTOH, MAC filtering is an anemic security measure, why bother? If you use at least WPA encryption with a strong random key, there is no point is fooling around with MAC filtering.

A good read: The Six Dumbest Ways to Secure A Wireless LAN

luky1971 · 06-21-2009, 10:29 AM

I'll see if WPA works out for me, but it seems whenever I implement security measures certain devices that are supposedly compatible with those measures stop working...

**johnwill** · 06-23-2009, 06:50 AM

WPA is generally compatible with most stuff, WPA2 requires newer hardware.

06-19-2009, 05:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
luky1971 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3 OS: xp service pack 2	MAC Filtering problem I use a Belkin 54g wireless router on a home network and I'd really like to use the MAC filtering featuring. However, after I enabled mac address filtering, my voip phone got disconnected. I figured I could solve this problem by adding my phone to the list of allowed mac addresses. So...do phones have mac addresses, and if so, how do I find out what it is?

06-21-2009, 08:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: MAC Filtering problem The VoIP adapter has a MAC address. OTOH, MAC filtering is an anemic security measure, why bother? If you use at least WPA encryption with a strong random key, there is no point is fooling around with MAC filtering. A good read: The Six Dumbest Ways to Secure A Wireless LAN __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

06-21-2009, 10:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
luky1971 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3 OS: xp service pack 2	Re: MAC Filtering problem I'll see if WPA works out for me, but it seems whenever I implement security measures certain devices that are supposedly compatible with those measures stop working...

06-23-2009, 06:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: MAC Filtering problem WPA is generally compatible with most stuff, WPA2 requires newer hardware. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience