HT203228: AirPort Express: Difficulty joining third-party network that is using WEP

Learn about AirPort Express: Difficulty joining third-party network that is using WEP
acehagen

Q: Airport Express & Directv Cinema

When my Directv was recently installed, the service professional told me that apple's wireless products don't always work well with their system.  In order to take advantage of the internet services of Directv, I was told to contact Apple.  He said that there is a "character" - probably not a number or letter - that is at the end of some number or code that is causing the problem.  Once I found out what that "character" is - I could call them back and they could talk me through my Directv menus to rectify the situation.  Does this ring a bell to anyone???  Has this happened to any of you . . . if so, please advise on who I should contact and what I should say to them so they can tell me about this "character". 

 

Thanks

AirPort Express Base Station

Posted on Feb 20, 2012 2:27 PM

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Q: Airport Express & Directv Cinema

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 20, 2012 3:28 PM in response to acehagen
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 20, 2012 3:28 PM in response to acehagen

    By default, when you set up an Apple router, it assigns the user's name as the wireless network network name.

     

    So, if you accepted Apple's defaults, your wireless network name would look something like this, for example:

     

    acehagen's wireless network

     

    DirectTV uses a very basic method for wireless connections.....that does not recognize punctuation marks, apostrophes, exclamation marks etc.  So, DirecTV wants to see something like this:

     

    acehagens wireless network

     

    I've found a few instances where DirecTV does not even like blank spaces in the name either, so I would recommend that you setup your wireless network name as one name, using all small letters or numbers, with no spaces. Something like this:

     

    aceshagens

     

    You need to change the name of your wireless network using AirPort Utility on your Mac. Then, chances are the DirecTV device will connect just fine.

  • by acehagen,

    acehagen acehagen Feb 20, 2012 5:33 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2012 5:33 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob - your advice worked perfectly.  I am all hooked up now . . . thanks for you help!!

  • by wavesandbeaches,

    wavesandbeaches wavesandbeaches Jan 25, 2013 4:38 PM in response to acehagen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2013 4:38 PM in response to acehagen

    Thanks very much.

    Simple but very important advice.

    Nothing else worked, but simply changing the name of the network got us hooked up and ready to go.

     

    Say no to apostrophes!