iMac Internet Connection Sharing with WEP Security

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Level 1

60 points

iMac Internet Connection Sharing with WEP Security

Background: I have a Apple iMac 24". I am connected to the internet via a 802.11x wireless. I have setup my iMac for Internet Connection Sharing using 128 bit WEP (Access Point).

Problem: I am not able to connect to my iMac with my Dell laptop running Windows Vista when I have 128 bit WEP security turned enabled. I am prompted to enter in the security code but it fails to connect. I've tried entering in the code in ASCII and HEX format but still no connection. I've even tried my desktop computer with Windows XP and I have the same problem.

Question: Has anyone successfully turned on Internet Connection Sharing with 128 bit WEP enabled and connected using Windows XP or Vista?

iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 2, 2007 10:22 AM

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Answer 1

iFelix

Level 8

35,167 points

Mar 2, 2007 12:24 PM in response to David Pope3

Question: Has anyone successfully turned on Internet
Connection Sharing with 128 bit WEP enabled and
connected using Windows XP or Vista?

No it is not possible.

A Mac sharing it's internet connection this way, if you use WEP, only other Macs will be able to connect.

The only real solution (avoid not using WEP) is to get a wireless router.

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Answer 2

Mar 2, 2007 5:10 PM in response to iFelix

Thanks iFelix. Cancel any further postings about this subject.

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Answer 3

May 11, 2007 3:43 AM in response to Rick Wilcosh

Rubbish, I'm using internet sharing and can quite happily connect with XP while using WEP with 128 bit key.

The secret is that OSX internet sharing only uses "shared key" authentication while the rest of the world does not tend to use it, they use "open system" authentication instead. That's why XP has difficulty and PSP's and PS3's can't connect at all unless WEP is switched off.

This didn't use to be the case, but somewhere between 10.4.0 and 10.4.9 Apple switched from open or from using both to just using shared key. I was miffed because I had to change the settings on a couple of laptops and it took me days to figure it out, and the PSP stopped connecting all together, and now my new PS3 has the same problem.

All may not be lost though check your wireless card properties on your XP box, if you're lucky you may be able to change the authentication it uses to shared key. It's usually on the advanced tab.

One other tip, you'll probably need to use the hex key rather than a pass phrase. The pass phrase conversion algorithm is only loosely standardised and frequently does not work between different makes of wireless cards. The hex key is the real password.

I use the WEP key maker from http://www.chally.net/ to generate a key from a phrase.

Remember to stick a $ in front of the hex key way typing it (or pasting it) into the Airport settings.

20 inch Intel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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