Old G4 cannot connect to new Extreme network

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Level 1

15 points

Old G4 cannot connect to new Extreme network

I have an older Powerbook G4 that I cannot connect to my existing network. The Powerbook is a 1 Ghz PowerPC G4 running OS X 10.3.2 with all software updates. My home network is run from an Airport Extremem Base station, and the security password is WPA/WPA2 Personal, which allows my PC netbook to connect as well as my Mac stuff. All my other machines are newer and run more current OS X, and connect fine.

I have tried every configuration on the Powerbook I can think of to access the base station, but have been stymied so far. Help!

Powerbook G4-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jan 19, 2013 8:34 AM

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Answer 1

edex67

Level 4

3,255 points

Jan 19, 2013 9:19 AM in response to idickers2

The PowerBook might not support WPA/WPA2 Personal (might only support WEP). What is the year/model identifier of your PowerBook?

Also, upgrading to the max OS X might help (and is recommended anyway).

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Answer 2

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 19, 2013 10:00 AM in response to edex67

It's a Powerbook6.2 (G4 aluminum from 2003). I seem to remember that I needed to use WPA/WPA2 so my PC, running Windoze 7, could connect.

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Answer 3

edex67

Level 4

3,255 points

Jan 19, 2013 10:43 AM in response to idickers2

What error message do you get when you try and connect to the AirPort? Can you connect via Ethernet? (I wouldn't recommend using WEP due to the fact it's woefully insecure). Your PowerBook appears to support WPA according to Mactracker.

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Answer 4

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 19, 2013 11:52 AM in response to edex67

The error message is: "There was an error joining the selected Airport network.

Yes, I can connect to the web via ethernet.

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Answer 5

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 19, 2013 2:01 PM in response to idickers2

Could it be incompatibiltiy between the airport in the extreme base station and the Powerbook? The base station is running 802.11n. The Powerbook says the wireless card is "AirPort Extreme". Are these compatible??

I can't find exactly which protocol is run on my Powerbook. When I search the serial number, these are the specs: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP90

Thanks for any suggestions!

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Answer 6

edex67

Level 4

3,255 points

Jan 20, 2013 2:10 AM in response to idickers2

The AirPort Extreme in the PB is 802.11g. Make sure your AirPort is set to 802.11b/g/n compatibility in the 2.4GHz band. Try setting up a guest network with no encryption and see if the PB connects to that.

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Answer 7

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 20, 2013 4:25 AM in response to edex67

Thanks for the help! The Extremem Bases station has been running in pretty much "off the shelf"configuration, except for WPA/WPA2. I have not picked a 5 Ghz network, and am running with the followingsettings, which I thought are b/b compaible:

Radio Mode: 802.11a/n-802.11b/g/n (Automatic)

2.4 GHz Channel: Automatic

5 GHz Channel: Automatic

I can't remember how to add a second network, so I'll have to do a little reading and report back with the resutls.

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Answer 8

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 20, 2013 5:34 AM in response to idickers2

I made a guest network with no encryption, and the Powerbook connects with no problems.

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Answer 9

edex67

Level 4

3,255 points

Jan 20, 2013 6:41 AM in response to idickers2

OK, try changing the guest network to WPA Personal. Then we can narrow down the fault to WPA2.

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Answer 10

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 20, 2013 8:11 AM in response to edex67

I tried both security options (WPA and WPA/WPA Personal) for the guest network, and got the same error message as previously from the Powerbook when I tried to join the guest network.

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Answer 11

Jan 20, 2013 8:46 AM in response to idickers2

Hello,

Have you updated your Airport software to 4.+ for Mac OS X 10.3.9?

In order to connect to wireless bases with WPA/WPA2 you need to apply this patch

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL455?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Best of luck

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Answer 12

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Jan 20, 2013 9:53 AM in response to idickers2

If all else fails try one of these external adapters.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXP3802NU2C/

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Answer 13

idickers2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 20, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Knucklesmac

Perfecto! Upgrading to Airport 4.2 solved the encryption problem. However, I had to upgrade from 10.3.2 to 10.3.9, which introduced an unstable version of Safari....

So I think it's time to finally buy some more ram for this old laptop, and stick 10.4 on it.

Thanks for all your help!!

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