Last Update: March 21, 2015

WiFi Radar HOWTO

WPA with WiFi Radar v2.0.x

by Sean Robinson

These directions are for the v2.0.x series of WiFi Radar (WR).

WPA Supplicant Configuration

The directions for configuring WPA Supplicant are based on my very limited testing. If you have recommendations for improving this document, please let me know.

Sample /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf File for WPA2

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant eapol_version=2 ap_scan=1 # WPA protected network, supply your own ESSID and WPAPSK here: network={ scan_ssid=1 ssid="<your network name>" proto=WPA2 key_mgmt=WPA2-PSK pairwise=CCMP TKIP group=CCMP TKIP psk=<your encrypted pre-shared key> }

Sample /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf File for WPA

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant eapol_version=2 ap_scan=1 # WPA protected network, supply your own ESSID and WPAPSK here: network={ scan_ssid=1 ssid="<your network name>" proto=WPA key_mgmt=WPA-PSK pairwise=CCMP TKIP group=CCMP TKIP psk=<your encrypted pre-shared key> }

Both of the above configurations may need to be tweaked for your particular set-up, but they should work as a starting point.

The ssid line in network in the WPA Supplicant configuration file should be set equal to the network with which you are trying to connect. As an example, my AP ESSID is WinterPalace, so I use ssid="WinterPalace" (including the quotes).

The psk line in network in the WPA Supplicant configuration file should be set to the encrypted pre-shared key (PSK) for your network. As an example, my PSK is KingdomOfSummer, so I use psk=375f1dc413f1548f6e15e55ece55cc6cb8a33b412ef18f6f00bff0241b01b56d on that line. Where did that long string come from? Running the wpa_passphrase command with the network name and plaintext PSK will tell you the encrypted PSK. $ wpa_passphrase WinterPalace KingdomOfSummer network={ ssid="WinterPalace" #psk="KingdomOfSummer" psk=375f1dc413f1548f6e15e55ece55cc6cb8a33b412ef18f6f00bff0241b01b56d }

So, to wrap this up. My AP uses WPA (not WPA2), has the ESSID WinterPalace, and its pre-shared key is KingdomOfSummer. The /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file I use looks like: ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant eapol_version=2 ap_scan=1 #fast_reauth=0 # WPA protected network, supply your own ESSID and WPAPSK here: network={ scan_ssid=1 ssid="WinterPalace" proto=WPA key_mgmt=WPA-PSK pairwise=TKIP CCMP group=TKIP CCMP WEP104 WEP40 #psk="KingdomOfSummer" psk=375f1dc413f1548f6e15e55ece55cc6cb8a33b412ef18f6f00bff0241b01b56d }

WiFi Radar Configuration

Main window

To configure WiFi Radar: start up the program, click on the Preferences button, then click the WPA tab.


Preferences - WPA window

This should have been filled with sensible values by your disribution package maintainer. If not, it probably contains the possibly-sensible-for-your-distribution defaults. Click the Save button when you have the settings you want.


In the Main Window, tell WiFi Radar to use WPA with a specific network profile. Click on the network profile in the list, then click the Configure button.

Profile Editor window opened

In the network profile editor which opens, click on No WPA to open the WPA option. Enter the WPA driver your card uses. This is probably wext, but you should verify it first. Click Save when you have the driver entered. That's all that is required.

Profile Editor window