MAC address filtering problem

I have a network setup using WPA-TKIP on a Linksys WRT54G Wireless router.

I have recently turned on MAC address filtering so that only MAC addresses in the list are permitted.

This is laregly ok with the exception of one machine. One Acer laptop with an Atheros AR5B93 wirless adapter will not connect.

It connects with the MAC filtering off.

As far as I can tell the drivers are up to date.

Any help appreciated.

How are you obtaining the MAC address for the Acer?

I'm using IP config /all in a CMD window.

Confirmed it was correct by sucessfully connecting without MAC filtering and confirmed that this adapter was configured by DHCP.

The router "Connected Devices", with Filtering off, or "Available stations", with Filtering on, will give you the correct MAC address.

Agreed. Using information from the router is more reliable than getting it from the computer.

OP - are you quite sure that you're not using the MAC of a wired interface by mistake? (Seems obvious, but worth a check.)

OK, thanks for the ideas.

I'm actually looking after a mini network in the English department in a school in Thailand.

I got lumbered as I have a technical (hardware) background.

The school has been shut down due to the political unrest and it will be Monday at least before I get back to the office to check it out.

In the meantime any further ideas welcomed and I'll report back when I can.


I am sure that I have the correct MAC. With filtering off and no wired connections you can see the DHCP configuration using IPCONFIG.

Edited by JamieP (Wed 19-May-10 12:20:03)

Don't forget the Laptop will have two MAC adresses..........

Use the one from the router stats.

Thanks people.

I fixed it by getting the correct MAC address from the router stats.