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Studio 2017 license linked to built-in faulty wifi MAC; I can't use a usb wifi adapter/dongle

ALEXANDRE MELO

Hi colleagues,

There has been similar discussions but I couldn't find my case. Running Studio 2017 FL Plus, installed on a Dell Vostro notebook , well known for its faulty and deficient builtin wifi (Intel 7260) card. Alternatively, I could use the wifi or the LAN (cable/RJ45) to connect to the Internet  without problems (both network cards always activated). But in the last few weeks, I discovered that the wifi card is almost dying, very slow. I found a good solution: with not much money, I bought a usb wifi dongle that is dual band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The best of both worlds. I had to disable the built-in wifi card to avoid conflicts and to be sure to connect via usb dongle. To my surprise, I lost Studio license. Studio was asking me to buy and activate a license. I removed the usb wifi, enabled the lousy buitl-in wifi and Studio is activated again.

I am very frustrated (and angry) because my notebook is not that old, the processor is fast (i7), just the wifi is lousy and I can't use a better wifi. Apparently, when I installed Studio and first activated, it linked the license to the built-in wifi MAC address, not to the MAC address of the cable connection. Using a cable with the LAN (RJ45 terminal) with the wifi disabled is the same thing. Studio asks for activation. Thus, the problem is related to the in the built-in wifi card.

I ask the colleagues for help to solve this because I am forced to use wifi in many situations - like traveling or in a hotel. Cable is found at home only. Therefore, I'd ask some advice on the workarounds that I see, if I'm right or wrong, or if I could find problems with my license, in case a colleague or someone from SDL can enlighten me:

a) Disable the built-in wifi card in Control Panel and spoof (change) the MAC address of the wifi usb dongle making it the same as the MAC of the built-in wifi. In this case I'd need to have the built-in wifi always disabled to avoid two equal MAC's. Would Studio "think" that I had the right wifi network card connected to the Internet?

b) Remove the usb wifi dongle. Return the license. Uninstall Studio 2017 completely. Disable the built-in wifi card; Leave only the LAN card enabled; reinstall Studio. Activate Studio. This way, I think, Studio will only see upon activation my cable/RJ45 network card and its MAC address. Therefore, I'd be able to use the usb dongle and leave the built-in wifi permanently disabled. Many thanks, Alexandre Melo
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  • Hello ,

    The problem here is that when you swap from wired to wireless connection, you are using different MAC (Ethernet) addresses- even the dongle will have a different address compared to the built in WiFi/Cable connection

    You cannot have multiple connection options on the same MAC address.- Spoofing MAC's might cause more problems than its worth.

    When for instance you license Studio via 'connection a' - then when you connect via 'b' this address is no longer recognised.

    The simplest solution I think- is to simply close down Studio properly before disconnecting  from the web and then restarting in the new environment.

    Lydia Simplicio | RWS Group

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  • in reply to Lydia Simplicio

    Hi Steven, many thanks.

    I am using the USB wifi donle (1200 AC, dual band) and managing to keep the built -in wifi (lousy) enabled, but disconnected from the network. The Ethernet (cable) is enabled, too, but disconnected. Therefore, I am on wifi, with the dongle connected and the built-in disconnected (but enabled, I stress this detail). Studio works. Studio also works if I connect to the network via Ethernet cable, built-in wifi enabled but disconnected (airplane mode ON, for instance). Studio does not work (it asks for activation) if I DISABLE the built-in wifi.

    However, since I can install my license on 2 computers, I checked another laptop. On this 2nd computer, it is different. Studio asks for activation if I DISABLE the cable connection (note: by disable I mean "Action"/ "Disable Device" in Device Manager- I do NOT mean just connecting /disconnecting from the network with that network device).

    Conclusion: on the 1st computer, Studio caught the MAC address of the built-in wifi card when I first activated it (this is an older computer; it had Studio 2014 before; then Studio 2015 (these two used different activation methods (Nalpeiron); then Studio 2017 (SafeNet); on the 2nd computer, newer, I went directly to Studio 2017, when I first activated Studio it caught the MAC of the Ethernet card. I am then working, but I 'd like to better understand this process.
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  • in reply to Lydia Simplicio

    Hi Steven, many thanks.

    I am using the USB wifi donle (1200 AC, dual band) and managing to keep the built -in wifi (lousy) enabled, but disconnected from the network. The Ethernet (cable) is enabled, too, but disconnected. Therefore, I am on wifi, with the dongle connected and the built-in disconnected (but enabled, I stress this detail). Studio works. Studio also works if I connect to the network via Ethernet cable, built-in wifi enabled but disconnected (airplane mode ON, for instance). Studio does not work (it asks for activation) if I DISABLE the built-in wifi.

    However, since I can install my license on 2 computers, I checked another laptop. On this 2nd computer, it is different. Studio asks for activation if I DISABLE the cable connection (note: by disable I mean "Action"/ "Disable Device" in Device Manager- I do NOT mean just connecting /disconnecting from the network with that network device).

    Conclusion: on the 1st computer, Studio caught the MAC address of the built-in wifi card when I first activated it (this is an older computer; it had Studio 2014 before; then Studio 2015 (these two used different activation methods (Nalpeiron); then Studio 2017 (SafeNet); on the 2nd computer, newer, I went directly to Studio 2017, when I first activated Studio it caught the MAC of the Ethernet card. I am then working, but I 'd like to better understand this process.
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