Where is my WEP password?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Where is my WEP password?

I am trying to connect Airport Express 802.11n with my new Sony BDP-S390 Blu-Ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi

When I go to set up I see my network name on the tv screen with a lock. it asks for a WEP password. I've tried my network password (which works with my iPhone and iPad) - and it doesn't work (I get an error message - wrong number of characters). Then I tried my base station password - and got the same error message. Where is my WEP password? I did some searches online and got lots of different answers from - it's the same as your base station password - to - you need a special code. I'm at a loss. It looks as thought it requires 8 characters.

This is so frustrating. All my Mac devices connected so easily. Any help would be appreciated. I had no problem setting up Apple TV. It worked in 2 minutes. I think the people at Apple feel the same way and maybe that is why they are working on a TV as well.

Thanks.

AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Gen), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 8, 2012 8:41 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,339 points

Jun 8, 2012 9:37 AM in response to vicki21

FYI ... Sony does provide online support for configuring this player to a wireless network for specific routers. The following link takes you to that information.

I didn't find the AirPort Express in their list, but any of the Extreme models should work. Unfortunately, they do not show specific step-by-step instructions for Mac, but again, using the Windows 7 choice is relatively close.

The key is the Wireless Security type that your AirPort is using. The example in the instructions uses WPA2 Personal. This is the same as WPA2-PSK in Windows-speak. If your Express is set for either WPA2 Personal or WPA/WPA2 Personal, the Sony should recognize this as WPA.

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Answer 2

vicki21 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 8, 2012 10:44 AM in response to Tesserax

Nothing happened when I clicked on "link" - but I just retried to connect again and noticed it said WEP key (not WEP password) if that matters. I also found one answer on web - that said you have to find the full hexadecimal key (some MAC secret) located somewhere under system preferences > network. And that you need this key to use if you're not using a Mac compatible device. Has anyone ever heard of this?

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Answer 3

Jun 8, 2012 11:00 AM in response to vicki21

Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility 6.0

Click on the Base Station menu at the very top of the computer screen....up where the Help menu and Apple icon are visible. Do not look at the Base Station tab in the window in the center of your screen.

Click on Show Passwords and your very long "key" will be revealed. Unfortunately, this rarely ever seems to help users who ask for it, but you never know.

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Answer 4

vicki21 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 8, 2012 11:07 AM in response to Bob Timmons

When I do this the showpasswords . . . restart . . . and restore default settings . . are all greyed out. Any ideas?

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Answer 5

Jun 8, 2012 11:20 AM in response to vicki21

When you open AirPort Utility, click on the AirPort Express icon and then click Edit.

Then see if that will Show Passwords

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Answer 6

Tesserax

Level 10

148,339 points

Jun 8, 2012 12:05 PM in response to vicki21

Sorry, please try this link instead. Then select the "Connect our Sony Blu-ray Disc player to a wireless router" item.

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Answer 7

vicki21 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 8, 2012 2:23 PM in response to Tesserax

I will try this tonight and let you know if it works. It's a lot of steps - I don't want to mess up my IP connection because everything else works so great - but I'm going to try and I'll update. Thanks for your help.

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Answer 8

HACKINT0SH

Level 5

5,804 points

Jun 8, 2012 9:47 PM in response to vicki21

and got the same error message. Where is my WEP password?

Seems your sony may be suffereing the faults of many third party devices... WEP isn't going to work with WPA. These are totally different encryption schemes.

WEP is a horrible method, that was broken before it was even standardized. The fact it was standardized is even a mystery, as its name is basically false advertising. Wireless Equivalent Privacy? Certainly not.

Is there a chance you can do some sort of firmware update for your Sony?

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Answer 9

vicki21 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 10, 2012 8:16 AM in response to HACKINT0SH

There is a firmware update! But ok now - does this sound really stupid. How would I update the firmware if I can't connect to the internet?

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Answer 10

HACKINT0SH

Level 5

5,804 points

Jun 10, 2012 10:44 PM in response to vicki21

Can you connect the ethernet from your MODEM directly into your Sony through an ethernet cable?

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Answer 11

vicki21 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 11, 2012 6:35 AM in response to HACKINT0SH

Unfortunately the tv is in another room so I can't. But I don't think that's the problem because like I said the DVD player does SEE my network. It just won't accept any password that I type in.

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Answer 12

a brody

Level 10

82,841 points

Jun 11, 2012 6:39 AM in response to vicki21

I would recommend temporarily leaving your network unprotected clearing all knowledge of the passwords from the router and not connecting it to a machine with personal data while you update the firmware of your other devices. Once you are done, you can see if it supports the new WPA2 protocol. If it doesn't contact the vendor who makes the device and tell them WEP has been antiquated by 10 years.

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Answer 13

Jan 10, 2013 9:13 PM in response to vicki21

Hi Vicki - I was just wrestling with this tonight. Hope the answer isn't too late. 🙂

I noticed that going through the regular setup, it kept defaulting to WPA and not WEP, even though there was a choice for WEP and I would choose that and put in my 13 character password, and even tried putting in the 26 character WEP key (thanks for the help Bob Timmons!) - no dice. It would say Wireless: OK but Internet Access: Failed.

So, I tried Manual. When I chose WEP, the next screen asked me to put in my WEP password - *not* WPA! Aha. So, I put in my normal password, clicked next and voila! it connected fine. Wireless: OK, Internet Access: OK.

Hope this helps someone save 2 hours. 🙂

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