Entering long complex Wi-Fi passwords: Network Error Operation Timeout

ken.koda · December 20, 2020 at 8:58 AM

I've just installed a fresh LibreELEC onto an SD card for the Pi.

I only have a wi-fi connection available, no wired ethernet.

During setup it asks me to enter the Wi-Fi password. It is long and with special characters.

After entering the password correctly, I receive the toast notification error: "Network error: Operation timeout".

I skipped the step and tried again through Settings -> Connections -> Selecting the appropriate wi-fi connection.

It is not possible to manually enter the password any faster than attempted, in order to avoid the above error.

AFAIK, the password cannot be copied and pasted from anywhere within the UI.

I cannot change the wi-fi password.

What are the solutions available?

**CvH** · December 20, 2020 at 9:58 AM Official Post

Its a limitation of the underlaying connection manager, it doesn't support "special security" ultra long passwords.

This is also unlikely to change because it is no security benefit using such passwords.

ghtester · December 20, 2020 at 10:00 AM

It's a bit older thread and I have not tested if it's still valid but you may try:

RE: Can I add WiFi config to SD card pre-install? (headless setup)

If you can't change the wi-fi password at all (at least temporarily), you may also finish the setup with some another / temporary wi-fi AP, perhaps using mobile hotspot at your phone. Then maybe connect through SSH and try steps outlined here (but it's even older thread):

enter wifi password by SSH

I can confirm an issue with special characters that can't be used also for 'tethered' Wireless Access Point names.

ken.koda · December 27, 2020 at 9:43 PM

Quote from CvH

This is also unlikely to change because it is no security benefit using such passwords.

Surely, you mean no security benefit specifically to the limitations within LibreELEC?

**chewitt** · December 28, 2020 at 2:40 AM Official Post

The length of a passphrase string determines its ability to resist brute forcing. Once you've gone much beyond 16 chars the amount of compute time needed to guess the passphrase is so insanely huge that there's not much point in having a longer one. It's also largely irrelevant because attackers rarely brute-force, they focus on finding flaws in the crypto implementation; which is how WEP, WPA and WPA2 are normally beaten.

Anyway.. if you cannot change it, access via SSH and (from memory):

connmanctl

agent on

scan wifi

services

connect <identifier of service>

copy/paste the string when prompted

ken.koda · January 3, 2021 at 4:37 PM

Quote from chewitt

Anyway.. if you cannot change it, access via SSH and (from memory):

What is interesting is how to SSH to the Pi if I can't connect to the Wi-Fi in the first place, via the UI or the unsuccessful SD card approach.

As mentioned, an ethernet connection is not possible and the Wi-Fi password cannot be changed.

ghtester · January 3, 2021 at 4:58 PM

In case you refuse all offered solutions, you should perhaps select another platform instead (RPi OS + Kodi)?

**chewitt** · January 3, 2021 at 5:20 PM Official Post

LE does not support pre-boot configuration of wireless details, it's not a requirement for our userbase (the other 99.999999% of it) so your options are to connect via Ethernet (direct cable between two devices with 169.x.x.x addresses is fine, it doesn't need to be a proper network) or use Raspberry Pi OS via NOOBS which can support pre-boot WiFI configuration.