Q: How do I connect a PowerBook G4 to the internet?

Are you tryng to connect by wireless or an ethernet cable? Big difference!

If wireless, OS 10.2 may not support WPA security as found on newer wireless routers. Try WEP temporarily, understanding that WEP is not very secure compared to WPA.

The standard security and settings in Jaguar, Panther, are for a different lower level

of secure wi-fi than later Tiger and Leopard. The length of some passwords or other

information necessary to setup may not be accepted in the older operating systems.

Tiger 10.4.11 is likely the best system for the computer; even so, there are a few

better aspects of Leopard 10.5.8 (except it uses more system resources than 10.4)

yet in either OS X version, there are few browsers and the issues with Flash/Java

are reason enough to use TenFourFox browser which by default is more secure.

WEP is an activity above zero encryption. WPA or WPA2 is slightly better. Options

in the base station and in the computer's firewall make the computer a little safer...

If you use an old base station for older Mac gear, you may be able to isolate any

lower spec wi-fi, to that gear, and then be sure to use 'safer browsing' practices.

Is there a reason for needing the older PB G4 online? The suggestion to use an

Ethernet cable and go that way solves several problems, and is much faster, too.

Good luck & happy computing!

There are a few fairly well rounded articles on general connections to the internet

via small networks, and troubleshooting issues across several setups...

•Solutions for connecting to the Internet, setting up a small network*, and troubleshooting - Apple Support

•Creating a *small Ethernet network - Apple Support - covers vintage OS setups

•Mac OS 9: How to Connect to the Internet via Cable, DSL, or Local Area Network (LAN) - for vintage MacOS

•AirPort + Wi-Fi - AirPort Base Stations - Apple Support:

https://ssl.apple.com/support/airport/basestations/

•Using network locations in OS X v10.5 or earlier - Apple Support - older

•Using network locations (Mac OS X v10.6 and later) - Apple Support - newer

While some of these may be helpful, certain bits may be more so.

Good luck & happy computing!