Networking G4 through Linksys Access Point

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Networking G4 through Linksys Access Point

Here's a networking question for all you network guru's out there (hopefully?).

I've got my home wireless network running through an Airport Express in my living room, hooked up to the Cable Modem. I want to get my Quicksilver G4 connected up wirelessly, so this weekend I went down to the local computer store to see what options I had.

It looked like I could go with a PCI wireless card with OS X drivers, a USB wireless card with OS X drivers, or an Wireless Ethernet bridge that could be configured from a web browser.

I decided on the bridge, and the person in the networking section sold me a Linksys WAP54g (or WAPG54?) Wireless Access Point, saying he had sold this to mac users to do the same thing.

So... now I am stuck on configuring the device. I know I need to connect directly to the Access Point using the device's IP address to set it up as a bridge as opposed to an Access point, but I can't access this configuration screen by hooking up the access point via Ethernet to the G4 and tpying in the IP into safari.

Has anyone here configured the equipment or something similiar that could help me out? Maybe I should have gone with a different Bridge, or a different wireless solution all together?

Thanks for any advice!

Macbook Pro, Power Mac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Sep 26, 2006 10:12 AM

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Answer 1

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Rory Game

Level 2

313 points

Sep 26, 2006 10:37 AM in response to CWorthing

Hi there,

I don't know about your model of AP but I have a Netgear WG602 v3 & to login to that with Safari I have to create a new network location & enter a specified (Computer's) IP Address etc into that & then login with Safari to change settings. Then when finished I logout just flip back to Auto. location in network Sys. Prefs. to get online. But all kit is different so best fine tooth-comb your manual.

Also make sure you setup a least WEP 128bit encryption & maybe even a MAC (Media Access Control) list on your AP if you can - as to keep unwanted guests & the odd casual visitor out.

Hope you can sort it.

Rory

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Answer 2

CWorthing Author

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Sep 26, 2006 10:44 AM in response to Rory Game

Hi Rory,

Just to clarify, when you set up the new network connection, do you leave it on DHCP? Or you give the new network connection a manual IP address? If manual, how did you decide which IP address to give your computer?

In terms of security, I have the Airport Express running WPA2 and it hides its access name. If I set up the Wireless Access Point to simply bridge my G4 to the Airport Express, do I still need to worry about the security options on the Access Point?

Thanks for your response!

Macbook Pro, Power Mac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Answer 3

Rory Game

Level 2

313 points

Sep 26, 2006 10:58 AM in response to CWorthing

Hi,

the IP Address I have to enter for "my" AP is a manual one specified in the Netgear's instruction manual. All I do is: New Location > Manual IP > enter IP > enter Subnet Mask (both as in AP instructions) > Apply & open Safari & enter AP's IP address into browser & off we go.

The above is most likely make/model specific & is intended to only provide Admin access to my AP - I don't get online with this setting. To do that once configured I go back to full Auto setup, job done.

As I said this mostly likely differs on your AP so check your instructions booklet to see if you need to do the same.

Security: So long as you set your AP to the same channel & same security settings & of course bridge mode (repeater) you should be ok.

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Answer 4

CWorthing Author

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Sep 26, 2006 11:02 AM in response to Rory Game

I see, I misunderstood. When I get home tonight I will try creating a new network configuration and enter the Linksys AP IP address for this, then try entering the same address in Safari. Hopefully this will let me access the AP's configuration settings!

Thanks so much for your help, I may be back later tonight with more questions...

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Answer 5

Rory Game

Level 2

313 points

Sep 26, 2006 11:21 AM in response to CWorthing

Hi again,

dont enter the same address, as the IP address cannot be the same for both your computer & your AP - it'll confuse the ** out of the poor thing!

If you must, make sure your Mac's IP address is in range (i.e. next to, not the same) of your AP. So if your AP is 192.168.1.1 you could try setting your Mac's IP address in a new location to 192.168.1.2 - but keep in mind your basestation!

But read your instruction manual before you do anything. As what I described above was meant as only an example of what I have to do with my AP to gain access - so chances are it'll be different for yours. But if your instructions say about setting a special IP Address for your computer in order to login, then yes do the above. But if not you may need to find another solution.

As I stated above the Manual IP Address I enter is one specifically for the computer to use & not the AP's own IP address.

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Answer 6

CWorthing Author

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Sep 26, 2006 11:38 AM in response to Rory Game

Unfortunately the Linksys manual is not very helpful in explaining how to access the Admin settings on the Access Point (they want you to set up everything using the windows-only set up wizard), but I will try out a few combinations of IPs and hopefully one will work.

I don't think my airport express has anywhere near the same IP range as the Linksys Access Point, so that shouldn't be an issue. If it is I suppose I can just unplug the Airport Express while I am setting up the Access Point from the G4 via Ethernet.

Macbook Pro, Power Mac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Answer 7

CWorthing Author

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Sep 28, 2006 8:23 PM in response to CWorthing

Hi Again,

Using your helpful advice I was able to access the Linksys network settings, but no luck getting the G4 connected to the airport express.

I set up the Access Point as a Bridge and added the airport express' MAC address. I then configured the SSID and security settings to match the airport express' security settings.

I then set the router to acquire an IP address dynamically (at which point I could no longer access the router's settings -- I assume because it was succesfully finding a new IP address?)

I then set the G4 back to automatic. It did receive an IP address but it was in the original range of the Access Point and not in the IP address range of the Airport Express/cable modem. And, obviously, no internet connection.

Perhaps I've done something wrong with the IP addressing, should the Access Point be set to DHCP? Is there any way to test whether or not the Access point is connecting to the airport by examining the Airport Admin utility from my Macbook?

I am not exactly sure how to troubleshoot this problem, but if you can see anything in my description that points towards an answer I would be much obligied!

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Answer 8

Rory Game

Level 2

313 points

Sep 29, 2006 3:52 AM in response to CWorthing

Hi,

good you could login to your AP, maybe you could just test the network with no encryption, until you get the G4 working.

Ensure both units are set to the same channel & Transmission rate, make sure security settings are the same. If your using a WEP 128bit password try using the long string of Hexadecimals (shared key) rather than just entering the password its self, your AP should be able to generate a Hex key from an entered password - use that instead of entered word.

Would be good to check your EX settings & maybe a good idea to try to get logged back on with your AP for network fine-tuning.

So you have: Modem > EX > ---wi-fi--- > AP > G4

maybe try your EX to your G4 & your AP on your modem, as you may find it easier to setup your EX around your AP. But I'm unsure if that'll work. Or maybe someone out there who's a bit more knowledgeable about the subtle workings of the EX can help?

Rory

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