AEBS WPA/WEP Mixup

Question

AEBS WPA/WEP Mixup

My AEBS is set to broadcast using WEP encryption, yet when devices on my network attempt to connect to it, the router tells them it's using WPA.

On most Macs (pulling down the list of available networks from the Airport icon in the menubar) I see the name of my network, and when I click on it I am immediately prompted to input a WPA password (no other options available). This, of course, returns an error. The trick, so far, has been to select "Other..." from the Aiport menu and manually input the network name, manually select the type of encryption (WEP), and then input my WEP password.

However, the real problem with this method is my Nintendo DS. I want to use the DS with my AEBS, but the DS only works with WEP. Because the AEBS insists that it's broadcasting WPA (even when it's clearly set to WEP), the DS cannot connect to the network (despite all my cajoling, manually inputting the hexidecimal WEP password in the DS, etc.)

Does anyone know why my AEBS would insist it's using WPA when it's clearly set to use WEP? And how can I fix this error so my DS will work with my router?

iBook G4 (1.33 mHz), 1 GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Nov 29, 2007 4:48 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 27, 2007 4:17 PM in response to Bryan Behrenshausen

I'm having the same issue. I can get the DS to connect to my AEBS if I change my "Wireless Security" setting to "None". If I use "WEP (Transitional Security Network)" I get a message on the DS that it is not compatible. For some reason the DS believes the AEBS is using WPA and not WEP.

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Answer 2

Jan 4, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Todd Ryckman

There really should be a sticky tread about this for people asking about how to get their Nintendo DSs to work with Airport Extreme Base stations.

The DS will not work with networks which use WEP ( Transitional ). If you look at your options for all the N-enabled network types, you will see all the WEP options are transitional networks.

So how do you set up your network to use a Traditional WEP or Standard WEP encryption?

Hold the option key as you select the 'Radio mode' in the section where you set your wireless security. You will now see network types that are not N enabled, and just g/b compatible. Select this type, and you will now be able to use normal WEP encryption, not a transitional WEP.

You will also notice that the "Equivalent Network Password" option from the "Base Station" pull down menu is no longer grayed out like it is when you are using a WEP transitional network. This is where you will get the Hexadecimal equivalent password that your DS needs to join the network.

Hope that helps, my DS works fine with my AEBS.

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