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subego · Oct 25, 2003, 02:52 PM

Hi Ya'll

This is a serious pisser.

Just did a fresh install of Panther on my 12" PowerBook.

When I try to set Airport to "join: A specific network" it won't take my password.

I know I'm using the right password because it works when I join the network from the Airport menu.

I've tried every possible permutation I can think of. It's a 128-bit hex key, so I've tried using the "$" character. I've tried not using it. I've tried the original key, which was generated by a Linksys WET-11, so I didn't expect that to work anyway. The preference pane allows you to paste in passwords, so I very carefully typed it into TextEdit and pasted it in.

Zip. Zero. Nada.

I can connect manually, so this isn't the worst thing in the world, but 'tis a bit of a bitch to have to type in that long-ass password every time I start the thing up.

TIA!

Apfhex · Oct 25, 2003, 09:04 PM

I have the same problem with Panther on my PowerBook G4!!

Using the AirPort menu to join a specific network, I cannot get my password to work. I did it exactly like I had done it in 10.2.x, and also tried it with the $ symbol.

The problem, it seems, is that it DOES NOT allow me to type certain characters in the password (such as z, x, and v). This is with a 128-bit HEX password.

For the time being, I've disabled the WEP password, but I'm looking forward to a FIX for this surprisingly major bug!

ghporter · Oct 26, 2003, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Apfhex:
The problem, it seems, is that it DOES NOT allow me to type certain characters in the password (such as z, x, and v). This is with a 128-bit HEX password.

For the time being, I've disabled the WEP password, but I'm looking forward to a FIX for this surprisingly major bug!

Apfhex,
Of course you can't use 'z', 'x', and 'v' in a HEX password! The only allowable characters in hex are 0-9 and a-f. I think your original password was text, not hex. Have you tried entering it that way?

The problem with WEP passwords/keys and AirPort software is that Apple chose to "make things easier for the user," and go their own way-and tha's different from the fairly standard way EVERYBODY ELSE handles keys. Giving you the option of using a text password gives you too many variables to remember when you have to enter it again, and leads to this sort of problem...

Suggestion: write down your password and all the other settings on that tab, and put it away in a secure place. When and if you need to refer to it, you'll have all the data you need.

aaanorton · Oct 26, 2003, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by subego:
When I try to set Airport to "join: A specific network" it won't take my password.

Try changing channels.

Apfhex · Oct 26, 2003, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by GHPorter:
Apfhex,
Of course you can't use 'z', 'x', and 'v' in a HEX password! The only allowable characters in hex are 0-9 and a-f. I think your original password was text, not hex. Have you tried entering it that way?

Good point, but...

As 128-bit ASCII, it won't let me enter enough characters (13 is the limit), and the encrypted password given by my Linksys router is 26. AND just choosing the "Password" option doesn't work either.

I remember I DID choose the 128-bit HEX option before and it WORKED. I tried using the hex escape $ before the password, but it won't let my type that now.

I had no problems this way under 10.2.x. This only happens in 10.3.

Apfhex · Oct 26, 2003, 03:19 PM

By the way, I'm using Apple's "How to Join an Encrypted Wireless Network" document for refrence: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n106424

aaanorton · Oct 26, 2003, 04:14 PM

Go to a different channel on the router/AP. If the one you're on is getting interference, you can get "there was a problem joining the selected network" messages and the like.

subego · Oct 26, 2003, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Try changing channels.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what would that do?

I can join my network using the Airport menu, just not using the Network preference pane. This would seem to indicate the preference pane is hosed, not my network...

Right?

aaanorton · Oct 26, 2003, 07:44 PM

OK, don't try it.

nobitacu · Oct 26, 2003, 08:18 PM

Yea, I have that problem once every few weeks as well, that my Airport will tell me that my password is wrong, and if I try to type it in, it will still tell me it is not correct, even though I know 100% that it is correct. Than I'll have to reset my Airport and do everything over again to get it back to work. This happens in Panther as well, as it just happened today, even with the new 5.1.3 firm update. Apple better hurry up and find a solution to this... because AEBS is really a full of problem Airport that cost a lot.

Ming

subego · Oct 27, 2003, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by nobitacu:
Yea, I have that problem once every few weeks as well... Than I'll have to reset my Airport and do everything over again...

Ming

Have you tried downgrading your AEBS to earlier firmware? This was happening to me so often I was about to declare the thing worse than useless.

I downgraded to 5.1 which helped immensely, though hasn't entirely put it at the level of my old "un-extreme" ABS.

I have heard that downgrading further to 5.0.4 provides even better results.

subego · Oct 27, 2003, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
OK, don't try it.

Ok, I won't.

mav.rc · Oct 27, 2003, 09:54 PM

Subego, I am having almost the exact same problem you are having. On my machine, I've narrowed it down to the following problem:

1. Create new location, go into AirPort settings, "join specific network, type in SSID/WEP key, click apply. Network connects and works.
2. Disconnect Airport card by changing to a location with Airport disabled or just putting machine to sleep.
3. Wake up machine. That location will now be completely uncooperative, and say that the 'password is invalid' every time. It will never work again.

Connecting to the access point manually works. On top of that, saving the passwords to the keychain and then using "Automatic" works as well (although it sucks down power and takes forever to get connected.)

If anybody has any ideas, now's the time.

aaanorton · Oct 27, 2003, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by mav.rc:
If anybody has any ideas, now's the time.

Been there, tried that...

subego · Oct 27, 2003, 11:33 PM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Been there, tried that...

Don't think it's not appreciated

subego · Oct 27, 2003, 11:40 PM

Originally posted by mav.rc:
Subego, I am having almost the exact same problem you are having. On my machine, I've narrowed it down to the following problem:

1. Create new location, go into AirPort settings, "join specific network, type in SSID/WEP key, click apply. Network connects and works.
2. Disconnect Airport card by changing to a location with Airport disabled or just putting machine to sleep.
3. Wake up machine. That location will now be completely uncooperative, and say that the 'password is invalid' every time. It will never work again.

Connecting to the access point manually works. On top of that, saving the passwords to the keychain and then using "Automatic" works as well (although it sucks down power and takes forever to get connected.)

If anybody has any ideas, now's the time.

We do seem to have the same problem, even down to the part where it works under "Automatic".

I think this may need to be reported to the mothership.

P.S. Do you have a 12" rev. B too?

mav.rc · Oct 28, 2003, 12:10 AM

^^ Nope, an 800mhz iBook. Bought it in October '02.

mav.rc · Oct 28, 2003, 12:14 AM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Been there, tried that...

http://support.uidaho.edu
Tell ya what, YOU try convincing them that they need to change channel on the several hundred access points on campus because my iBook doesn't work, ok?

nobitacu · Oct 28, 2003, 11:17 AM

I've always been getting this problem once every few weeks. Even before I have Panther. So I don't think this is due to panther's fault. It's the stupid AEBS and its faulty firmware that Apple is not yet fixing.

Every few weeks or so, my password for my network will not work anymore, even though I know 100% that it is the right password. I than have to do a hard reset to set up the Airport for it to work again.

Ming

mav.rc · Oct 28, 2003, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by nobitacu:
I've always been getting this problem once every few weeks. Even before I have Panther. So I don't think this is due to panther's fault. It's the stupid AEBS and its faulty firmware that Apple is not yet fixing.

That might have something to do with it in some cases, but I have a Linkys WRT54G at home and Cisco/Lucent wireless gear on campus. I don't own any AirPort base station.

subego · Oct 31, 2003, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Go to a different channel on the router/AP

I did end up trying this...

No dice.

mav.rc · 06:04 PM

One of my friends sent me this link from Apple Discussions, so I installed the Airport update for the hell of it, and guess what, now my Location for my home network seems to work just fine. (Wow, that's a long sentence.) I haven't gone to campus to check and see if it works there too, because it's REALLY DAMN COLD outside, but I probably will tomorrow.

Try it, maybe it'll work for somebody else.