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1196golf · May 3, 2006, 04:00 PM

I cannot connect to my network from my pbg4 via my airport card. Can connect flawlessly w/ windblows laptop and g5 desktop and can print from either to my HP printer. pb does not recognize the network name. Verizon is my ISP - they're next to useless "we don't support that router." I've been on permanent hold with India trying to get a tech person from Netgear. Using the web based setup program, my Win and HP are recognized. I have added the MAC address for my pb and have it shows as an attached device. But, no connectivity. Any thoughts I'd sure appreciate

tony

ghporter · May 3, 2006, 08:25 PM

Welcome! Now for the third degree...

Forget getting any help on this from Verizon; they don't support your router because they don't need to (and that's probably good for you). As the only computer that doesn't connect is your PB, that's most likely the part with the problem.

Do you have WPA or WEP set up on your router? You can very easily have a solid radio connection but no network connection if a client (your PB) doesn't have the right network key.

1196golf · May 5, 2006, 07:39 AM

I have WPA-PSK set up on my RangeMax router. PBg4 only allows WPA Personal. Under the assumption WPA-PSK and WPA Personal are the same, when I enter the same data in the drop down box on the PBg4 as is on the router, I still get "unable to connect." I even disabled all security on the router and attempted to log in from the PBg4 w/o security (selecting "None") and still am unable to connect. I've deleted all network preferences - no cigar. I dl'd 10.4.6 - no cigar.
BTW, the Winblows laptop I've got in the network connects flawlessly using the WPA-PSK data. It's time either for the Geek Squad, or, rifle practice

any thoughts I'd sure appreciate,

tony

ghporter · May 5, 2006, 08:28 AM

You are correct in thinking "WPA-PSK" on the router is pretty much the same as "WPA Personal." However, you must also ensure that the router is set for the right kind of WPA-PSK: it must be set for the "TKIP" algorithm rather than "AES" which is very different.

If your PB is getting a signal and the card has the right passphrase, it SHOULD connect. Here's where I think you're running into problems: with security off it should connect no matter what. I think your AirPort card isn't properly connected to the PowerBook's antenna. Dig in and double check that (check Apple's Knowledgebase for a step-by-step guide to installing an AirPort card in YOUR model to see how to get there), and see what you find.

1196golf · May 5, 2006, 09:40 AM

Checked the card out; connections on both card and antenna solid. Netgear's web browser does not give an option to set WPA-PSK for TKIP or AES; reading the side bar, though, it appears the algorithm is TKIP, but that's only a guess on my part.

Referencing another thread, however, if when I enter the passphrase into the router, the router then converts that passphrase into a "key," and when I then enter the passphrase into the network drop down box under the network name, and that passphrase conversion doesn't take place, well, then perhaps that accounts for how it is that I can't connect. Unfortunately, unlike w/ WEP, WPA on the router doesn't give me the conversion key (although when I was trying WEP and had the key and entered that in the pbg4, it wouldn't connect either. (Parenthetically, the pbg4 connects to the router perfectly via ethernet).

thanks for your thoughtful assistance, I appreciate it,

tony

ghporter · May 5, 2006, 01:41 PM

With WPA, the conversion is part of the standard; ALL systems should produce exactly the same key from the same passphrase. This is one reason you need a fairly long and complex passphrase-the algorithm --NOT THE ENCRYPTION-- is subject to brute force dictionary attacks.

Now for something drastic. With the PB turned OFF (not asleep) take OUT the AirPort card. Start the PB and run it for a while. You may even plug in the built-in ethernet port to the router and make sure you can connect THAT way. Run for a while like this, then do a couple of restarts-full blown boot from cold is what I'm talking about. This should clear out any "memory" of the card.

Once that's done, turn the machine off again and reinstall the card. The computer should detect it and properly install the drivers. You might actually want to see if there's a newer version of the AirPort software available and install that too. It can't hurt and it could fix things that the above process might not.