Getting an Airported G4 to talk to a non-apple wifi router

[AusNick]

Folks,

First off, sorry if I've put this in the wrong conference, it's late, I'm tired, and running out of options.

I'm having trouble getting Macs with Airport cards to talk to non-apple wi-fi routers.

Case 1: G4/400 with airport, running Tiger won't talk to the wi-fi router supplied with a Telstra BigPond install

I've verified that everything on the mac side works as it should, the Machine can see the router but won't connect, despite the password being correct.

Case 2: same as case 1 except the machine is a G4/733, The ISP is Optus, and the wifi router is a D-Link (I think).

Again, everything works on the mac side, the machine can see the hardware but can't connect

I set up both APs, to varying degrees and didn't do anything that would have prohibited the machines from connecting. Hell, the Optus install was open until I enabled WPA2

Silly thing is, my second gen iPod Touch can hook in, but not the macs, I just don't get it.

My searches on the net led me nowhere, or round in circles, so in desperation I figured I'd try here, as I know you guys (and girls) know your sh*t.

TIA,

Nick

 

[protocol7]

Hell, the Optus install was open until I enabled WPA2

Assuming we're talking original Airport cards here (and not Airport Extreme) WPA2 isn't supported.

 

[mcdermd]

Also, those original airport cards are 802.11b only. The WAP may be setup for 802.11g only.

 

[AusNick]

Okay, thanks guys, might be onto something here.

I'll have to check things out. But I'm fairly sure the D-Link was set to handle B and G standards, the bigpond router I don't recall.

ARGH!

But thanks again.

Nick

 

[AusNick]

Progress.

At least with the BigPond installation. Logged into the router and changed B&G to B(legacy)&G, and it worked.

I also turned on the firewall. Okay the router firewall was off, as was the Windows firewall on the PC I was using. WILL PC USERS NEVER LEARN?! >

When I go and deal with the D-Link router, I will look for a similar option. At least I know the firewall on that router is on.

Nick

 

[phreakout]

Also keep in mind that the 802.11b standard may not fully support the latest encryption standards, such as WPA or WPA2. You might have to rely on WEP or WPA first standard revision for encryption.

73s de Phreakout. :rambo:

 

[mcdermd]

An original-original 802.11b Airport card will only support 40 bit WEP encryption. The later-original 802.11b airport cards support 40 bit and 128 bit WEP encryption.

 

[AusNick]

How does one tell the difference?

I'm guessing System Profiler, but then I didn't know there was more than one revision of the card.

Nick

 

[phreakout]

I can think of only 1 way. You'll need to trash the preferences file for your Internet Configuration and Internet Connection. You'll find them in Macintosh HD > Users > Home > Library > Preferences. The files you want are labeled "com.apple.internetconfig.plist", "com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist" and "com.apple.internetconnect.plist". Delete thoseand then go through recreating the settings for connecting to your D-Link Wireless Router. It will ask you what the password is for connecting to your router and there it will tell you what type of encryption it uses.

73s de Phreakout. :rambo: