Error Connecting 2wire 1800HG

I purchased 2 MacBooks - 2GHz White (mid priced range) and a 1.83GHz refurbished MacBook. Neither of the newer 2 GHz models will connect using the WEP password ($nnnnnnnnnn). My PowerBook G4 (17 in) and the 1.83 GHz MacBook both have no problems connecting to the 2WIRE network. One of the New MacBook has all the patches installed and is current. The other is fresh out of the box. The 1.83 refurb is also all current. Both of the MacBooks with all the latest updates installed were logged into a Netgear wireless G router (at another locale) and they worked great. I checked the Airport Ex card in the 3rd unit by creating a compter to computer network and everything worked fine. Go figure. Could it be the Airport Card firmware in the newer Intel Macs?

Hi. For what it's worth, I am having exactly the same problem connecting my brand new MacBook Core 2 Duo with my 2Wire 1000HG. I spent half a day on the phone with SBC/2Wire "support". Tried everything (changing password, $, different WEP settings, diff network configurations, etc. etc. . ) In the end, they threw up their hands and blamed Apple. The next day I called Apple Care, and the technician immediately told me that the new Intel MacBooks were incompatible with many older 2Wire modems. It sounded like he was very familiar with this issue. After walking me through a few usesless trouble-shooting steps, he said there was nothing else to do. His recommendation: Buy an airport base station. Please! In any case, it seems that Apple is aware of the problem, but basically giving up on it. I'm still holding out hope that there is some solution. If anyone out there comes up with anything, please let us know. . . . Thanks!

MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHZ Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I am having the same problem,

Just bought a Macbook Core2Duo and have a 2wire 1000HG. I can connect via ethernet, I can connect wirelessly at work and to a friends network, but not to my home wireless network.

Spent hours on the phone with a tech who tried all sorts of rubbish, Tried all the dollar sign and manually configuring IP addresses....

When I called again today a new tech told me that my 2wire home portal doesn't support the Mac. But 2wire have something in beta. Crossing my fingers that this is sooner rather than later, but the tech wasn't able to give me any info on time frame. I have tried contacting 2wire directly but nothing yet. Hope someone finds a solution!

Hi,

My problem is similar. 3-4 weeks ago, when I received my macbook, I've tried to connect via Airport to the WEP-encrypted 2Wire 1800HG at home. I couldn't get it to work with $ signs, hexadecimal equivalent of password etc. Finally I disabled the encryption from the 2Wire modem's portal, and it worked flawlessly. All this until last Thursday, when I suddenly couldn't connect to the wireless network anymore. The modem works ok, because I can connect via ethernet, and the PCs in the house can connect wirelessly. Also, my Airport card works, because it sees the list of available networks, and I could connect perfectly to a public wifi last Thursday. If I remember correctly, I've installed an automatic update from Apple exactly that day (I don't know which one), so that might be the problem. But the root of the problem seems to be the incompatibility problems that the Airport cards in the new Macbooks apparently have (considering the number of complaints).

In the modem's portal page, the macbook doesn't appear listed as active devices (it doesn't receive an IP via DHCP, even if I try pressing the "Renew DHCP lease" from System Preferences/Network).

If someone from Apple has an official view on this issue, I would like to hear about it. Or, better, if someone had a similar issue and has solved it, please share the solution.

thanks,

M

Was the tech you were speaking with from ATT/SBC or from Apple? Was the tech saying that 2wire has a product which IS compatible with our Intel Macs?



MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHZ Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Was the tech you were speaking with from ATT/SBC or
from Apple? Was the tech saying that 2wire has a
product which IS compatible with our Intel Macs?



MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.0
GHZ Mac OS X (10.4.8)

talked to a rep from ATT/SBC, however, I must say the way the guy spoke didn't fill me with confidence. The rep was talking about a software/firmware update for the 2wire wireless router. I got a bog standard reply from 2wire which didn't help much, ie use the network diagnostics panel. Looking at other threads on the forum, we are not alone. The ore noise people make with Apple AT&T and 2wire the greater the chance that we can get this resolved sooner rather than later.

After being the tennis ball with Apple and AT&T/2wire. 2wire Tech stated the OS 10.4.8 has a glitch in that switch from wep and WPA causing intermittent connection problems. Both had no clue on why the non-secure setting would not allow a connect.
What I have tried os changing the default IP address to others listed in the 2wire network settings. It worked for awhile and Know I am try to use WPA to see if it works. So back I go changing all my wireless devices to the new WPA mode. I have not try the Mac book yet, but it helps to reboot(power off for 1 min and power on) the devices and the 2wire. wait for the lights to be solid green and turn on the MAC. I have not tried the new setting on my MAC yet, Apple suggested to read all the discussions about 2wire problems. Apple tech did suggest to try Airport extreme Base. I will return my MAC before spending another dime

Changing to WPA appears to work. using default key(under the 2wire) and no $ added to it. it took a couple of tries...had to open network setup and connect from there. Well post When and IF I loose my connection.. Just remember to power off 2wire and MAC

After giving up on talking to a tech real time. I contacted 2wire email support and they have provided a firmware upgrade. They will give you the standard " try this" script. I informed them I was feed up with "try this" and asked if a firmware upgrade is available,(to make the story short). Took a while for them to reply with the upgrade.

Type http://192.168.1.254 or http://gateway.2wire.net in your internet browser, such as Internet Explorer
On the right hand side of the screen there will be a picture of a staircase. That says Upgrade your system above it.
To the right of it there will be a link that says view available upgrades and options, click on it. My current version is 4.21.9

If its not there than go to support.2wire.com. Below is from a 2wire Tech rep. :
The firmware upgrade is available to all of our 2wire clients. IF by any reason they have not obtained the firmware upgrade pushed to their 2wire homeportal. The can contact us with their serial number and we will manually force the download of the latest firmware upgrade if available. Thank you for your comments.
If this response has not answered your question or resolved your issue you may visit our support Website at http://support.2wire.com or reply to this email.



Mac OS X (10.4.8) AT&T ISP

2Wire rep told me today that Mac won't recognize a password that starts with zero. I changed mine and for the time being, at least, it's working. It's still WEP and still requires the $ before the passcode.

OK, my Mac repair guy says that it's not true that we can't recognize a passcode that starts with zero. They are replacing my airport card. I don't know if that will solve the issue and since it seems to be intermittent I'll have to wait a while to report back.