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Eriamjh · Dec 6, 2002, 06:25 PM

I have a working wireless and wired network sharing an internet cable modem. One mac is wired to a Linksys BFSR41 router and the other is using Airport to an Orinoco RG-1100 (Access Point, basically an Apple Basestation) that is connected to the same router via ethernet.

The problem is I have a third PC (not a Mac) that I need to connect wirelessly using a WMP11 Linksys PCI card and the card is not getting an IP from the router. The card is installed and it claims to connect to the basestation. It detects 90%+ signal strength and "connects" using the 128bit WEP key. The router assigns connected computers IPs using the DHCP, but for some reason it will not give this PC an IP. I've tried forcing the IP under the network TCP/IP properties for the card but no luck.

What strikes me is even with no IP, I can't see the router when I type in it's IP address in explorer. It seems like the card is not really working.

The macs can't see the PC either.

The Linksys card software claims to be connected to my wireless network, but I have my doubts. I've updated the router's firmware (it was over two years old, but working fine) and still no luck.

Anyone have any siggestions? should I be able to access the router using its IP in the browser?

Thanks
dan

ghporter · Dec 6, 2002, 06:58 PM

You probably have a problem with either "associating" with the access point, or with a WEP key not being correct. The client will "authenticate" with the access point-its presence will be acknowledged-but not complete the process of "associating" because of some other setting; you need to make sure that everything is set for an "infrastructure" type network, so the access point can do its thing properly.

Eriamjh · 08:35 AM

It is set for "infrastructure" and I typed in the WEP key properly (as far as I know). If I search for networks, it detects the BS. I click on "connect" and it asks for the WEP key. I put it in and it says it is "connected" to the BS. but I can never see the router nor get an IP. It assigns itself that 169.whatever IP address typcial of networks that can't find an IP.

thesearcher · Dec 6, 2002, 09:04 PM

Is there a firewall running on the pc? What os is it using?

Eriamjh · Dec 7, 2002, 08:35 AM

During all attempts to get wireless working, I turn off Zone Alarm. It's runnign Windows ME.

It seems like the basestation is not allowing the card to pass to the router. All indications are it's connected, but the PC cannot see the router or even ping any of the macs or the router.

Unless I get some suggestions I haven't tried (and I have tried for hours), I will be returning it an trying one from another brand.

I went with the PCI card because it is a desktop. The card was $60 (wireless products for PCs are way cheaper than airport. Thanks Apple.).

I didn't want to buy an adapter and use a PC card because that adds unnecessary cost (I don't have a notebook PC or Mac).

I've looked at the basestation setup and found nothing to indicate why this card can't access the router. My other two macs work fine and other than the 128bit WEP, it's an open network.

Any more suggestions?

thesearcher · Dec 7, 2002, 01:00 PM

One last thing that you've probably already ruled out - What happens when WEP is shut off?

Eriamjh · Dec 7, 2002, 02:03 PM

Update: OK, I solved the problem... kinda. It IS the WEP (should have checked this first). I was not actually connecting. Once I turned off the WEP, I could get access.

Here's a new problem. Apple merely requires a "password". If you put a 13 character password in quotes ("), you get 128 bit WEP. But the PC has several different WEp options. It has a "passphrase" and 4 "keys". Which one corresponds to Apple's password? I am running an open, unprotected network right now, but want to make it secure. Anyone have ideas?

So this is really a PC-to-mac problem (note: not vice-versa).

thesearcher · Dec 7, 2002, 02:57 PM

If I'm not mistaken, 128 bit WEP uses the passphrase, and 64 bit uses the 4 keys.

Eriamjh · Dec 7, 2002, 07:12 PM

Well, success... sort of.

I updated the Airport software on my airport enabled Mac to 2.1.1. There is this "password" button once you enter the BaseStation. I hit the "use Encryption" checkbox, changed the password (without quotes, I think) and then clicked on the password icon. It said "To connect to a network created by this basestation not using Airport software, you should use the following equivalent network password (WEP) key: xxxxxxxxxxx"

I punched that into the PC wireless software and set it to 64 bit (40bit) and I got access. It's not 128bit, but it's working. So I'm somewhat secure. Next is lockout by MAC address I guess.

Part of my problem is I cannot update the firmware of this RG-1100 basestation. It is NOT an Apple BS, but it works like one.

The next step is to get the 128bit working. The basestation supports it, but I may need to use the PC to configure it.

Dammit, Apple. You use industry standards, but you find a way to avoid using the same terminology or implementation. Macs cannot truly integrate with PCs if someone has to "translate" things.

I'll let youknow if I get 128 bit working.

ghporter · Dec 8, 2002, 07:46 AM

It isn't just Apple; if you look at three different manufacturers you will probably find three different names for several features-unless you stumble on three "manufacturers" that simply put their own cases on an OEM's innards; these prove amazingly similar. D-Link, SMC, and 3-Com use the same manufacturer for their "guts," and you will see a lot of similarity in the setup and management of these boxes.

Using your PC to set up and configure the RG1100 shouldn't be too much of a pain, and it should also allow you to upgrade the thing's firmware, if you need to do that.

The big problem with getting 128-bit WEP to work for most Mac users is just getting the hex data that almost everybody else in the business uses for keys into the Mac to begin with. I'm told that some recent version of the AirPort software allows you to check a box that says "this input is hex," but I haven't seen it. If you start the input with "$" (no quotes, of course), the software should interpret the input correctly as hex and let you rock and roll.

Eriamjh · Dec 12, 2002, 06:57 AM

Oh sure. After hours of wasting my time and finally getting it setup, Apple posts this KB article about how they use a different "format" than most PC wireless cards.

Better late than never, Apple.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106250

At least someone else can figure out more easily if they do a search here.

Thanks for everyone's help.