TKIP incompatibility

[krusej23]

Has anyone heard anything about Apple coming with an update that will allow me to use my ipod touch on my college campus since they use TKIP and the ipod is not compatible with that? I was really hoping 1.1.4 would fix it but so far I don't think it did.

[daihard]

Has anyone heard anything about Apple coming with an update that will allow me to use my ipod touch on my college campus since they use TKIP and the ipod is not compatible with that? I was really hoping 1.1.4 would fix it but so far I don't think it did.
So what is "TKIP" anyway? I've never heard of the term before.

[krusej23]

its form of security, like wep.

[rockmyplimsoul]

its form of security, like wep.Are you sure its TKIP that the Touch is not compatible with? I thought it was AES that the Touch wasn't compatible with (AES is is typically used in corporate and university networks with WPA2). In any case, I wouldn't hold your breath on Apple coming up with a solution anytime soon.

[kornchild2002]

I did some searching around and TKIP is actually known as WPA, it hasn't gone by the name TKIP since 2002. The iPod touch is compatible with WPA but it is not compatible with WPA-Enterprise which seems to be used by many campuses. This has to do with the way the key is used. Every data packet sent has its own encryption key, this is what makes it incompatible with the iPod touch.

So the answer to your question is no, the iPod is not compatible and no one knows when. Apple is a closed door company and nobody really knows anything until Apple says something. For future references you might want to say WPA or WPA-Enterprise instead of using the 6 year old TKIP term which is no longer recognized by anyone.

[daihard]

I did some searching around and TKIP is actually known as WPA, it hasn't gone by the name TKIP since 2002. The iPod touch is compatible with WPA but it is not compatible with WPA-Enterprise which seems to be used by many campuses. This has to do with the way the key is used. Every data packet sent has its own encryption key, this is what makes it incompatible with the iPod touch.
I did a little experiment based upon your observation. I modified my access point (AP) to use WPA. Now, WPA gives me two options for encyption algorithms - TKIP and AES. I naturally chose TKIP and restarted the AP.

Surprisingly (or maybe not so), I've been able to connect my iPod touch to the WPA/TKIP network without any problem. The only thing I've noticed is that when I try to connect my MacBook to the same network, it shows the network type as "WPA-Personal." So it may be that TKIP is okay as long as it is used as part of WPA-Personal, but it becomes incompatible with the iPod touch when used with WPA-Enterprise.

[rockmyplimsoul]

TKIP is not WPA itself, rather TKIP is just one way that security keys are managed in a secure network. AES and PSK are others security key management systems, all associated with WPA and WPA2. I believe the hierarchy of security goes something like AES>TKIP>PSK.

[PG4G]

I wish the iPod Touch would support 802.1X security as my Australian university (La Trobe University, Melbourne) uses it and its free, its just I can't access and it's horrible.

[krusej23]

Thanks for the update kornchild2002. I'm just really hoping that they update it soon but from what I have heard is that it is pretty much impossible to control an ipod or iphone if they were to allow it on our network on campus.

[Touchmyipod]

WPA-PERSONAL w/ TKIP works flawlessly for me. I have no issues, I will try and look at my router settings, see if anything pops out I may help with.

[Dim]

I wish the iPod Touch would support 802.1X security as my Australian university (La Trobe University, Melbourne) uses it and its free, its just I can't access and it's horrible.I would like this as well, as that's what my work uses.

[krusej23]

Just to reiterate what kornchild2002 said, it is only wpa-enterprise that you would have problems with and that is what my college has. Until Apple comes out with an update to allow ipods or iphones to use this type of security or colleges go away from this and use a security that ipods are compatible with(won't happen), we are out of luck.

[kornchild2002]

Just to reiterate what kornchild2002 said, it is only wpa-enterprise that you would have problems with and that is what my college has. Until Apple comes out with an update to allow ipods or iphones to use this type of security or colleges go away from this and use a security that ipods are compatible with(won't happen), we are out of luck.

My college campus uses a different encryption setup. The wi-fi network is open and anyone can access it but you must first sign in and register your device. You do this once and that is it, you can now access the internet anywhere on campus. So I have yet to run into WPA-Enterprise but I hear that many campuses use it.

TKIP is not WPA itself, rather TKIP is just one way that security keys are managed in a secure network.

Right but it is under the WPA standard so it would be easier to describe it as WPA-Enterprise TKIP instead of making people go use Google to determine what TKIP means.

[daihard]

I wonder how hard it would be for Apple to add support for WPA-Enterprise? College students probably make up a good portion of the iPod touch users. If enough complaints are filed, Apple may get their butt up.