AirPort not working after 10.5.2 update

I also called Verizon regarding their Westell Versalink modem. The CSR told me that older firmwares lack support for Leopard and promptly provided a new firmware that includes WPA/WPA2 in addition to WEP, among other things. Thanks Kristopher Hupp!

nerowolfe wrote:
One of the unfortunate features of upgrading is that older things no longer work or don't work properly. The onus in these cases is on the vendor of the older equipment or software. Sometimes they do not do anything or cannot do anything in which case you have to update the hardware.
It was like that when 128 bit encryption came out and unless you updated your router you were still stuck with 64 bit. Ditto for 256 bit these days.
Remember the old Apple pre-SCSI interface? Today it's as useless as an 8" floppy. 🙂

quote Apple:
"The 10.5.2 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac."

so how is this enhancing compatibility? Ok, I don't want to be unreasonable, but we're not talking about changing standards or anything. This is an update to fix lots of things that weren't working as they were supposed to and I don't blame Apple for the problems with Leopard, a few hick ups at start aren't that bad. On the whole I also think they did a pretty good job with 10.5.2, the short time I used it at university Airport really seemed improved. But it really doesn't help at all that it won't connect to my home wifi any more. This is a bug and not some type of new standard that renders old equipment unusable (in my case not really that old) in favour of something new and better.

Message was edited by: atothej13 to fix typos

Hi, I have same problem. Problem was partly resolved after switching settings from WPA-TKIP to WEP-128bit with ASCII on my router. I'm using Zyxel 660HW-T3 and my MacBook Pro is in revision 3,1.

P.S.: I bought few Macs to my company (we are working with video, photos and DTP) for stability and good support. But this is really big failure from your company!

I troubleshot this more this evening. The cause is definitely a problem with the DSL modem that the upgrade to 10.5.2 renders connections unusable.

A call to Verizon tech support where I told them (after getting through their set questions) that the 10.5.2 upgrade made the Macbook unable to connect to the wireless triggered the right solution script on their part. The support fellow (heavy accent) talked me through the steps to download the firmware update for my brand of modem, and the web interface allowed for the uploading of the upgrade. The upgrade did a complete change in the U/I of the modem's web interface and he was ready to walk me through the steps to reconnect.

This will be tough on some Users who are not quite savvy. The thing to remember is that the wired connection still works and they should connect to the modem via ethernet before calling Verizon to troubleshoot.

NOT all wireless routers are created equal.

If you are not using an Apple wireless router, then get the software updates for your router...
99.9% of the time, it is the router software that is not compatible with Leopard.

Joseph Kriz

Apple released these updates because of security vulnerabilities encountered in the latest software/hardware. The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) released a bulletin today about the alert.

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-043B.html
"Apple has released Security Update 2008-001 and OS X version 10.5.2 to correct multiple vulnerabilities affecting Apple Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. Attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code, gain access to sensitive information, or cause a denial of service."

I guess the next thing we'll see is a Norton product for mac... that'll be the day.

Nerowolfe and al:
I have just been able to get through Verizon tech support and am finally communicating with you from my new Macbook Pro; Yay! I can use my Titanium powerbook a well. Alas, I think my iBook has been superceded by the new technology. I never put Tiger on it, though the specs indicate the G3 can take it. That might make a good project for tis weekend.

Thanks for all of your help. I am sure I'll be back with the iBook, but that was not the presenting problem here.

Nerowolfe,

I 'returned' before giving the Verizon router model. It is: Westell 327W
I have service in the Tidewater VA area and it appears my call was the first on this particular problem and the tech rep aptly looked into getting the router up and running for me.

Again, thanks.

I'm another Westell Versalink 327W user who was having this problem after the 10.5.2 update. I got the firmware update for it at http://verizon.net/versalinkupdate and it fixed the problem. As a bonus, it now has a WPA option (as Kristopher Hupp mentioned).

Note that this solution only works for this particular router, which was provided to new Verizon DSL customers for a while.

Sorry, but with my router and Macbook (last model before SantaRosa) is everything all right with 10.5.2. Just with Macbook Pro (3.1). So the promlem must be on Aplle's side!

Hi enricod,

Yes, many routers will and still work with the PC and other Apple computers using Panther or Tiger.

The changes have been with the Leopard and security and networking with different routers.
Even though a person can still connect using Tiger or other operating systems, some routers will not allow Leopard to connect.

As mentioned above and in other threads, updating the specific router has solved many connection problems. If a persons router has the latest firmware and software available from the manufacturer, then again, many people can connect.

I have 3 Apple Airport Express Base Stations and have no problems with any of my computers.
My friends that come over with their laptops do not have any problems.
I don't think anyone here is having problems with Apple Base Stations, it is only other brands that people are having problems with.

So, this appears to be just a problem with some other brands of routers other than Apple.
Again, after many people have updated their routers, the problem was solved.
Some routers many not have the updates available yet and therefore are going to have to wait for an update until that particular company offers it.

At this time I am on the road and have not had any problems accessing wireless connections where I have stayed. I have no idea what brand or type of routers or wireless connection they have been using.
It just works for me so far.

Good Luck and I hope you find a solution.

Hi ! I'm italian so sorry for my english.

I don't agree with you.
I own an airport extreme and since i updated my imac to 10.5.2 i barely can connect via wireless. I think the problem is the "n" protocol and the update, but i spent money on my airport 'cause i want the ****** "n" performance so why now must i downgrade to "g" ? Apple people this time is worst than Microsoft that's it, ignoring the trouble for their customers.

The problem is on Apple side. Definetly!! I switheched from WPA to WEP (because my MBP 2,2GHZ couldn't connect to my router, but MB 2,13GHZ can connect to router).
And one small problem appeared just to MBP. Again! Just to MBP! So the problem must be on driver side, or is something wrong with MBP hw? I don't think so.