Streaming video boxes using wifi

[cbeast]

I've connected two different video streamers via wifi, a Roku and a D-Link. Both were connecting to password protected wifi modem routers using WEP and neither needed a key to be entered. They just aoutomatically connected and worked. Do corporations that make wifi hardware have special access?

[Raoul Duke]

I have no idea what is it you're asking, but... WEP? Really? Are you aware that a Wi-Fi network protected with WEP can be cracked in 5 minutes or less?

[cbeast]

I have no idea what is it you're asking, but... WEP? Really? Are you aware that a Wi-Fi network protected with WEP can be cracked in 5 minutes or less?

They are not my routers and I agree that I would not set them up with WEP. Here's the thing, I was prepared to enter the WEP key into the wifi TV device so that it would have internet access, but neither of them needed a key. They just worked like I had entered a key. My laptop needed a key to access their routers, but the TV streaming devices did not.

[Taz]

Is it possible, they were set up once before?

[cbeast]

They were both brand new out of the box. Now that I think of it, I did first set them up with an ethernet cable first. Perhaps they were able to automatically get the key via the cable. Still, even that would be odd.

[xDan]

There is this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Setup

It's not something I've personally experienced though. And I think you might still need to push a button or something...!?

[cbeast]

There is this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Setup

It's not something I've personally experienced though. And I think you might still need to push a button or something...!?

Near-Field-Communication Method, in which the user simply has to bring the new client close to the Access Point to allow a near field communication between the devices. NFC Forum compliant RFID tags can also be used. Support of this mode is optional.

This may be it.