Can't access my network if I have WPA/WPA2 enabled

Question

Level 3

887 points

Can't access my network if I have WPA/WPA2 enabled

Network setup:
AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11b/g
iMac G5 running Mac OS 10.5.8 with an 802.11g card
iMac G4 running Mac OS 10.4.11 with an 802.11b card
iPhone 3GS running iOS 4.2.1

Since I live way out in the sticks, I haven't had to enable WPA/WPA2 on my network. However the utility company is going to install what they call a "smart meter" that will allow them to read my electric meter via WiFi. Since it will be within my network zone, I decided to enable WPA/WPA2.

So I used my G5 iMac to update the AEBS and selected WPA/WPA2 Personal. I was able to connect with my G5 and my iPhone; I ran into a problem with my G4 iMac. When I tell it to use WPA2 Personal, it drops back to just WPA Personal and tells me it can't connect to my network but not why it can't connect.

Why does the G4 drop back to WPA when I tell it to use WPA2?
Why won't WPA connect to a WPA/WPA2 network?
Should I try WEP 128 even though it isn't as secure as WPA?

Active: iMac (G5, G4), PB G4, iPad, iPhone, iPod, MP2100 Retired: iMac G3, A2c, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Mac OS 10.4.11, Mac OS 9.2.2, iOS 4.0/3.2, Newton OS 2.1

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 8:34 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,315 points

Jan 6, 2011 8:51 PM in response to romad

Why does the G4 drop back to WPA when I tell it to use WPA2?

WPA & WPA2 are wireless security standards. WPA uses TKIP as the encryption protocol. WPA2, on the other hand, introduced the stronger CCMP/AES protocol.

The G4 came with the original AirPort card. This card only supports 802.11b and only the TKIP encryption protocol that is part of the WPA standard. When configuring the AirPort Extreme for WPA Personal or WPA/WPA Personal, wireless clients will use TKIP for access. When configured for WPA2 Personal, they will use CCMP/AES.

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Answer 2

romad Author

Level 3

887 points

Jan 7, 2011 8:36 AM in response to Tesserax

That answers question 1, but not question 2. As I understand it, setting the AEBS to use WPA/WPA2 is supposed to allow connections by either of them. So why won't it allow the connection? If there isn't a way to use both WPA & WPA2, then I have no recourse except to use WEP.

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Answer 3

Jan 7, 2011 8:41 AM in response to romad

Does the AEBS have a setting for Transitional Security Network? You might have to hold down the option key when you click on the Security selection box to see this. If it does, this might be a good choice.

This setting would allow WPA devices to connect using WPA and WEP devices to connect using WEP. A bit more info:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24578?viewlocale=en_US

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

148,315 points

Jan 7, 2011 11:15 AM in response to romad

Let's see. The WPA minimums are:

o AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) w/firmware 5.5
o AirPort Extreme Card or AirPort Card running Mac OS X 10.3.n
o AirPort for Mac/ AirPort for Windows 3.3 (aka AirPort Utility)

It is my understanding that there are at least two variants of the original AirPort Card and that one of them does not support WPA at all.

If this is the case, you basically have three choices: 1) Switch to WEP, 2) Replace the AirPort Card, or 3) Get a USB wireless adapter that support the newer standards for both mode and encryption.

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Answer 5

romad Author

Level 3

887 points

Jan 7, 2011 4:33 PM in response to Bob Timmons

In AirPort Utility, the Wireless tab for my AEBS gives only the following options in the Wireless Security drop-down menu:

None
WEP 40 bit
WEP 128 bit
WPA Personal
WPA/WPA2 Personal
WPA2 Personal

So if the 802.11b card in the G4 can only go as high as WPA, and the 802.11g card in the G5 only WPA2, it seemed like the proper option would be WPA/WPA2 on the AEBS, but that doesn't work for the G4. I'm going to try using plain WPA Personal and see if it works with ALL my computers. Couldn't find any option for TSN.

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Answer 6

romad Author

Level 3

887 points

Jan 7, 2011 4:36 PM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax wrote:
Let's see. The WPA minimums are:

o AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) w/firmware 5.5

Mine is 5.7

o AirPort Extreme Card or AirPort Card running Mac OS X 10.3.n

Mac OS 10.5.8 and 10.4.11, respectively

o AirPort for Mac/ AirPort for Windows 3.3 (aka AirPort Utility)

Mine is 5.5.2

It is my understanding that there are at least two variants of the original AirPort Card and that one of them does not support WPA at all.

How can I find out if mine does?

If this is the case, you basically have three choices: 1) Switch to WEP, 2) Replace the AirPort Card, or 3) Get a USB wireless adapter that support the newer standards for both mode and encryption.

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Answer 7

Tesserax

Level 10

148,315 points

Jan 8, 2011 12:50 PM in response to romad

Couldn't find any option for TSN.

... and that would be normal as TSN is not available on the non-"n" AirPorts.

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Answer 8

Tesserax

Level 10

148,315 points

Jan 8, 2011 12:51 PM in response to romad

How can I find out if mine does?

I will have to get back to you on this. I recall seeing something about this a while back. I will dig through my notes to see if I can find any information to share with you.

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Answer 9

romad Author

Level 3

887 points

Jan 9, 2011 3:23 PM in response to romad

OK, I have it working. What I had to do was set the AEBS to WPA Personal so it would accept a connection from my G4 iMac which can only go that high. Even though the WPA/WPA2 Personal setting is supposed to allow connections to the AEBS from either WPA or WPA2 secured devices, it would not allow WPA; only WPA2.

I'm going to mark this as "answered" as my earlier questions are now moot.

Message was edited by: romad

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Answer 10

Tesserax

Level 10

148,315 points

Jan 9, 2011 3:46 PM in response to romad

Thanks for sharing your solution!

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