I just installed an old Airport card in my PB G4. It will not connect via my wifi at home. It is an Overdrive Pro 063. What do I need to do?
The firmware is version 9.52.
Thanks
PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Powerbook G4 867 Mhz; Airport Card
Is the airport displayed in the upper right corner? It has the specific semicircular symbol. If yes, how did you try to connect?
Yes.
Have symbol.
Clicked on "Turn Airport on". My wifi did not appear. I clicked on "Other". My wifi appeared in the list of one item. I clicked on my wifi name "OverdrivePro063". Up popped a window requesting the password. I entered the PW. Up popped a wondow stating "There was an error joining the AirPort network "OverdrivePro063". The window has two buttons "Try again" and "OK". I clicked "Try again" and received the same results. I then clicked "OK" and the option to sign on disappeared.
I then started the whole process over by clicking on "Other" to find my device's name again. It did not appear so I clicked on "Open Network Connection" It did not show my wifi device's name. I entered my device's name again and clicked on it. The PW request window showed up again. I entered the PW and the error message popped up again. I haven't clicked on either button as I don't want to appear insane. You know, Einstein said that one symptom of insanity is to do the same thing over expecting different results. Well, not me.
Do you have any suggestions as to what I might be missing? Hardware? Software? Firmware? A piece of chain to turn the computer into an anchor?😁 Just what?
Thanks.
The 867 Mhz G4 Powerbooks have a 802.11b Airport Card. Some of the newer routers like Airport Extreme will only work with 802.11g/n cards. The older cards can not be upgraded to an extreme card so you have to go with an external USB Wireless Adapter. I had to do this with my original 1999 iBook to be able to connect to a new Airport Extreme base station.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/MXP2802GU2/
First of all, reset the base station by pressing the reset button as specified in the manual, usually 5-6 seconds. Then remake setting without any password.
If you can connect without psswd, pass to the next step, choose a gradual protection level. Note that many non-Apple wl routers requires 13 characters for a psswd, mandatory for Windows users.
The base station does not have an option to delete PW. It comes built in. I can't change it, I can't delete it. I also use a MacBook Pro with the base station. It has a newere airport card installed and works just fine. It is the older G4 that has issues.
Question: Do I remove the old airort card then use the usb device, does the usb device work in concert with the old airport card, or does the usb device override the old airport card without removing the old card?
Yes, because that generation cannot handle newer protection protocols, your newer MBP pro can.
Any base station has an option to reset and hard reset its settings, usually this is a small hole you must press with a paper clip. If you do not want or do not know how to do this, try at least to lower protection level.
No, you must not remove it, as the USB to wl adaptor uses another driver. You may turn old mac wi-fi off, it will be uselessly on anyway.
hankdz2 wrote:
The base station does not have an option to delete PW. It comes built in. ... It is the older G4 that has issues.
I don't understand how it can be that a base station will not allow the option to create whatever network security you desire, but if Cattus Thraex's suggestions are not working you are probably out of luck.
Firmware 9.52 is the latest available for your PowerBook G4 with its 802.11b AirPort card. It supports WPA but not WPA2. If you have the option, select WPA or WPA Personal in the base station. That is all you can do.
This cannot be true, ANY base station has the option to reset it and hard reset it.
Need help with new Airport installation on PB G4????
