WPA/WEP ENCRYPTION-Linksys router

jeffrey,

Exactly what happens when you try to connect the MacBook to the wireless network ?

And how do you set up wireless encryption on the Linksys router. Remember for WEP, there is 40/64-bit and 128-bit flavours, and then ASCII and Hex versions of each of those. Which have you tried ?

Do you use the exact same encryption choice when connecting via AirPort ? Don't rely on OSX to pick the right encryption technique. For me, I've seen it pick "WEP Password" instead of "WEP 40/128-bit ASCII", which is the correct one.

Do you set the password in hex or ascii on the Linksys ? And do you key it in hex or ascii on the macbook ? How long is the password ? for WEP the password must be exactly 5 or 13 ASCII characters (10 or 26 hex digits).

When setting up WEP or WPA or WPA2 some times it can be a pain to understand. This link should help setting up WEP.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108058
The WEP is an older less reliable protocall.
The WPA is next and the best is WPA2
Useing Linksys to set up, you type 192.168.1.1 in your Browser and it opens your Routers Utility.
Then you check your booklet to type in your Username and Password to open this utility to set up your security settings.
Each Router uses different method to open there browser utility.
Working from memory I think yours is type admin in the password field.
But check the booklet to be sure.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107795
If you are using a WRT54G and are setting up WDS here is Frank Canzolino's link on that set up.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=607414
Good Luck.
Don

Donald

WEP is just as reliable.

But many feel WEP is not as secure as WPA / WPA2. For everyday home use, WEP is just as secure as any other. Any encryption is better than none.

WEP's alleged vulnerability comes from it not cycling the encryption key with each transmission. This means that someone with the right sort of kit that can listen in on your encrypted traffic. And once they have collected and analysed terabytes of wireless traffic looking for patterns, they may be able to work out the encryption key. This would then give them the ability to listen to traffic.
WEP doesn't help it's case by encrypting the standard packet header (a known stream of bytes) with the encryption key, giving the determined hacker the first byte of the encryption key. WPA / WPA2 doesn't encrypt the packet headers.

Now we have to get realistic here, who has the resources to monitor and analyse all your wireless traffic, for months or years on end ? For corporate users, I can understand the need to use something more secure, with enormously increased volumes of wireless traffic.
Let's just say that whether you use WEP, WPA or WPA2, if you choose a password that appears in the English dictionary, any determined hacker will be into your wireless network in minutes.

Jeffrey,
Here is what works for me:
On the Linksys, select the 128 bits, 26 hex digits WEP option
Enter your passphrase and click generate.
Copy EXACTLY what appears as key 1 (remembering that this is in hex notation so you have only the numerals 0-9 and the letters A-F to contend with)
Then open Internet connect, select airport, select your router
Enter EXACTLY what appeared as key 1 into the
WEP 40/128-bit hex selection when your airport dialog asks for the wireless security key. Don't add anything (like $), just copy the entire 26 digit key into the password box and click ok. You should then connect.

jeffrey,

Lawrence's suggestion may work for you, and if it does you won't need mine.

I'd ask you to decide on which encryption technology you want. There should no issue with your MacBook using WEP or WPA, but I can't tell what your Linksys supports.

Let's assume you choose WEP. Choosing WPA / WPA2 should only mean you enter your key in a different box on the router.

Then choose a password, either in ASCII or hex. And either 40/64-bit or 128-bit. I'd suggest an ASCII password, something you can remember, but slightly modified to remove it from a dictionary search, ie. appl3, as a 5 character ASCII password. For WEP, the password must be exactly 5 chars (10 hex) for 40/64-bit or 13 chars (26 hex) for 128-bit.

Then convert your chosen password from ASCII to hex, appl3 converts to 6170706C33. Use 'man ascii' in Terminal to see how to convert each char into hex.
Then key your hex password into the router in the first box of the passkey.

Then connect to the router wirelessly by selecting 'WEP 40/128-bit ASCII' and keying your ASCII password, ie. appl3. You can select 'WEP 40/128-bit hex' and key your password in hex if you like making things difficult for yourself. You decide if it's easier to remember a 5/13 character password or 10/26 hex digits.

You final statement is right, but like I said, you can also select one of the explicit 40/128-bit options and key the password like your choice (hex or ascii).

Hi. I went on linksys site, typed in Apple/Mac on support page, went through all the 8 pages doing what it said to do and at end of last page it informed me they had no support available for Apple/macs etc in spite of the top of the first page of their download instructions. so...I returned it to the store, got a refund, went to the Apple store, got a Airport extreme and in minutes was online trouble free. Am sending this thru the Extreme.
good luck.

Jeffrey,
Here is what works for me:
On the Linksys, select the 128 bits, 26 hex digits
WEP option
Enter your passphrase and click generate.
Copy EXACTLY what appears as key 1 (remembering that
this is in hex notation so you have only the numerals
0-9 and the letters A-F to contend with)
Then open Internet connect, select airport, select
your router
Enter EXACTLY what appeared as key 1 into the
WEP 40/128-bit hex selection when your airport dialog
asks for the wireless security key. Don't add
anything (like $), just copy the entire 26 digit key
into the password box and click ok. You should then
connect.

Just wanted to say thanks. After weeks of scratching my head this actually worked for me on my new used G3 ibook and linksys wireless router. I'm online at last. Yipee!