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General discussion

Help needed with home wireless access

Jan 31, 2007 6:16PM PST

I have 3 PCs at home that use a 3COM OfficeConnect ADSL modem & wireless router to connect to the internet. I have also a McBook Pro that I just love, however I've a problem connecting to the internet at home. I use a 64bit WEP encryption password and broadcast the SSID and the PCs get connected with no trouble except the Mac!! Not broadcasting the SSID and I get connected but my son's PC doesn't connect!! Why can't I connect to the internet using the WEP password that the 3COM router has set?? Does anyone here run PCs and Mac at the same location and at the same time?? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Discussion is locked

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I've seen this happen.
Jan 31, 2007 10:03PM PST

The SSID issue is simple. Buggy drivers on the machine in question. But consider this, disabling SSID broadcast is not a big security gain. I won't discuss at length but you could listen to a recent discussion about it where it was covered. Link -> http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7808_102-0.html?forumID=76&threadID=230041&messageID=2383477

As to the Mac I wonder if you are missing some router firmware update. I just went over such on another make of router and sure enough the router firmware was outdated. If your 3Com doesn't have an update then try another router.

Bob

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Thanks
Feb 2, 2007 11:41AM PST

Thanks for your link Bob. I don't know anything about getting a firmware upgrade as I messed up someother hardware before with trying to upgrade it so i think I'll just have to go get another modem router. As for not broadcasting the SSID...I believe that it will make it difficult for someone to mooch on my account but it's not foolproof. Anyway here in Singapore, the courts have just prosecuted two moochers for using some else's internet access, the second guy's sentence is pending!!
Thanks again.
Regards
Anthony.

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I take it you didn't listen to the discussion.
Feb 2, 2007 9:56PM PST

And could end up at the same problem. Sorry to read you didn't understand the issue.

Bob

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I did understand the issues
Feb 4, 2007 12:06PM PST

Bob I did listen to the episode you linked me to and I had changed the default SSID and passwords but the problem was just that my Mac would not accept the password that I set until just now when I applied boya84's tip and voala....it works! I had earlier decided to get another router (Netgear) because it is compatable with Mac OS and was recommended by a colleague. Anyway alls well that ends well so thanks again.
Rgrads
Anthony

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I don't know if this impacts you -
Feb 2, 2007 12:15PM PST

My neighbor was having issues with a Linksys, I think - anyway, it turns out that under certain conditions, (is WEP binary?) the password needs a leading $... It took a while to figure this out... but now everything works great. If you have the manual you might have look.

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That was the tip I needed!! Thank you!
Feb 4, 2007 11:37AM PST

About a year ago someone told me of this same fix when I asked around at the local Tech Mall where everyone here in Singapore gets their computer stuff...but stupid me by the time I got home, I forgot what it was that I had to add to the front of the WEP password string. That's why I decided not to broadcast the SSID so that I don't need to set a WEP password.

You've saved me $$$ in that now I get online at home without having to get another wireless system...my colleague suggested a Netgear system as he's using one at home with PC and Mac systems....looks like I don't need it now...so Thanks again!!

Regards
Anthony.

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YAY!
Feb 4, 2007 11:47AM PST

Glad to help!

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Linksys Routers (wireless)
Feb 2, 2007 10:05PM PST

have a known problem with the distribution of IP addresses to Mac computers. Although the router status page gives every indication that all is well, it is in fact, not.
It does not have the same problem communicating with a PC.

Solution? Linksys released a Firmware update to correct the problem. Available, free, at the Linksys site


P

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(NT) Make that "SOME" Linksys routers (wireless)
Feb 2, 2007 10:05PM PST