[veryniceguy2002]

I got a D-Link DI-624+ wireless router, and a PowerBook G4 (only 802.11b). Wireless networking works without problem previously when I setup my wireless without any security setting (no WEP, password setting at all).

Now I want to put on security protection on to avoid my neighbours tapping into my net access. I tried to turn on WEP (128 bits) into my D-Link router, and I put my PBG4 into that wireless network with the key and it seems the router accepts the authenication without problem (I can actually see the router log file stating my PowerBook was connected). Also I can see the wireless strength on PB's menu bar once connected.

However, my PBG4 cannot connected to the internet, or even connect to any of the Macs in the network (which I can connect previously with my WEP off). I checked the network settings in the Systems preferences, and it's not getting any IP address from the router's DHCP server.

I tried to assign a fixed IP address (done it on both PowerBook setting and in D-Link router setting) and still no luck.

Any ideas??

[ghporter]

Here's the problem: WEP does not have a standardized method of turning a passphrase into a key-every manufacturer does it differently. The best alternative if you're set on using WEP is to create a hex key and enter it in both the router and the PowerBook.

Now if you have current AirPort software, your PowerBook probably supports WPA, which in addition to being actually secure (WEP certainly isn't!) also features a standardized passhprase-to-key process. According to the manual, your router also supports WPA (you may need to upgrade the firmware, but they say this support was available as of "Q4/2003"), so you should be fine. WPA is significantly better than WEP, is truly secure, and is much easier to use.

The final step in securing your home wireless network reasonably well would be to limit it to allowing only certain wireless user's hardware by their hardware address-called a MAC address, and no it doesn't have anything to do with Macintosh. You do this with what's called MAC address filtering. Check the router's manual for instructions on this.

[veryniceguy2002]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Here's the problem: WEP does not have a standardized method of turning a passphrase into a key-every manufacturer does it differently. The best alternative if you're set on using WEP is to create a hex key and enter it in both the router and the PowerBook.

Tried to use hex key instead of ASCII, but still no luck.

I might give WPA a try (my router's firmware already support WPA or WPA-PSK). However, how to I enable my PowerBook to support WPA? (I am using Mac OS X 10.2) Do I have to install the Apple Airport software into my PBG4 to do so?

[ghporter]

You don't say anything different, so I'm assuming you have an AirPort card in your PowerBook. I'd say that best thing to do is to install the latest AirPort software, which should update the card's firmware if necessary. I'm saying this in the belief that any AirPort card is capable of handling WPA based on this Apple knowledge base article. This article says that any version of AirPort software since 3.2 will let you join a WPA network, but I think it's best to go with a more mature version.

One thing about wireless networks that Apple does is to use different terminology than the rest of the industry. Your router will handle WPA-PSK (which stands for WiFi Protected Access-Pre-Shared Key), while Apple calls the same thing "WPA Personal." It's the same thing, but Apple gives it a different name.