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RobOnTheCape · Jan 20, 2009, 07:32 AM

I had to disconnect and reconnect all my electronic wiring last night, and the last was the airport base. If I connect the cat wiredirect from the modem to the laptop I get online, however, if I plug into the airport base I get nothing. When using diagnostics I get "The Airport network "our house" requires a password. Please enter the type of wireless security and the network password".

The Wireless security is defaulted on "WEP Password". Though I should have before, I have never set up a secure network, and have never had to do anything besides turning on the laptop.

All help appreciated.
Thanks

Big Mac · Jan 20, 2009, 08:03 AM

You need to use the Airport Admin Utility to configure the base station. You may need to do a hardware reset of it if it won't let you in without a password. Here's an older Apple article on the utility:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2044

RobOnTheCape · Jan 20, 2009, 08:30 AM

using the utility I was able to reset the password, but still I'm unable to connect. It is still asking for a password, and when I enter the new password it will not accept it. I'm wondering how this base came to ask for a password in the first place.

RobOnTheCape · Jan 20, 2009, 05:11 PM

Still working on a solution. I wonder if a new password is even needed. Perhaps airport just doesn't understand why it cannot connect to the modem and thinks it is a password problem. I am trying to connect with my pc as well and I am not asked for a WEP password with the pc.

Thanks

ghporter · Jan 20, 2009, 05:36 PM

Is the password request definitely coming from the AirPort base station? Not from say your DSL modem?

And WEP is poo. On a stick. WPA is miles better in every way, and unlike WEP, it's actually secure. Move up and you'll be a whole lot safer.

ibook_steve · Jan 20, 2009, 11:09 PM

Don't use WEP, but if you are, try putting a $ in front of the password.

Steve

RobOnTheCape · Jan 21, 2009, 11:54 AM

I'm not sure where the message is coming from, but as I mentioned, the pc doesn't get this message, only that there is a big red "X" in the graphic showing the connection between the router and modem.

Luckily a friend/IT person is coming over tomorrow to check it out.

I will now change this, but have never secured my connection. Our house is far enough off of the road that someone would have to pull onto our driveway to pick up the signal. However, it's time to lock it up all the same.

RobOnTheCape · Jan 22, 2009, 08:44 PM

Finally fixed. This is after many hours with Apple mainly, and some with Comcast. Apple reps were asking me to reset the modem and were puzzled, asking me to again call Comcast to do a hard reset. I said I've done it quite a few times, but tried once again. I think the fourth Comcast rep noticed I had a modem which needs to be reset from the back of the modem itself since it has a battery inside. One push and a few seconds later I was up and running.

Cold Warrior · Jan 22, 2009, 10:32 PM

You led us astray with your WEP comments.

Your network was a victim of the cable company's insistence on MAC address authentication with its modem and the device connected to it. Powering the cable modem off for a couple minutes fixes it as you found out.

Veltliner · Jan 23, 2009, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

WEP is poo.

You can't say shorter... (maybe drop the "is"? :

to the OP: your router should have WPA(2), too, and it's not harder to set up than the outdated WEP.