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[rasmasyean]

Use WPA or WPA2 mode to achieve a balance of strong security and best compatibility. This mode uses WPA for legacy clients while maintaining higher security with stations that are WPA2 capable. Also the strongest cipher that the client supports will be used. For best security, use WPA2 Only mode. This mode uses AES(CCMP) cipher and legacy stations are not allowed access with WPA security. For maximum compatibility, use WPA Only. This mode uses TKIP cipher. Some gaming and legacy devices work only in this mode.

To achieve better wireless performance use WPA2 Only security mode (or in other words AES cipher).

OK, I undersand that WPA2 is more secure and all, but the above sentences are kind of confusing.

Why does WPA Only offer “maximum compatability”? More “compatability” than WPA or WPA2 mode?

Why does WPA2 Only mode achieve “better performance”?  You get more Mbps with WPA2 clients?

[FurryNutz]

OK, I undersand that WPA2 is more secure and all, but the above sentences are kind of confusing.

Why does WPA Only offer “maximum compatability”? More “compatability” than WPA or WPA2 mode?
Some older devices don't support the WPA2 so WPA is given to give “compatability” and ensure older devices can connect to the router wirelessly.

Why does WPA2 Only mode achieve “better performance”?  You get more Mbps with WPA2 clients?
Thru development since wireless came out, they have been able to take there work on WPA and make it better over the years and thus they came up with WPA2. Again not all devices support WPA2 and AES so there is still the mixed options of WPA and WPA2 so that older devices can connect along with newer devices which should be able to automatically detect if WPA2 is being offered and the device should use WPA2 if it supports it.

[Doctor Doom]

WPA traditionally uses TKIP cipher while WPA2 uses AES cipher.

WPA2 has 2 main advantages
- Stronger security (although honestly WPA is actually still pretty good for home use)
- Allows proper adoption to 802.11n with regards to negotiating above 54Mbps

WPA has an advantage over WPA2
- Better compatibility across the board (older and newer devices can both take advantage of WPA)

If your router supports WPA-Auto just make things simple and just use that. If your device supports WPA2 it will automagically use WPA2 as the preference.