wrt54g has me confused
 

I am pretty stressed. Deadline looming on exciting project, PowerBook picks this week to act up, and finally require erase and install - got that done.

The strangest thing is happening though.

I've had this wrt54g for a long time and it has performed like a trooper. I'm using a WPA-pre-assigned key and that has worked well so far.

Suddenly, I couldn't connect to the router. Even when the PB was otherwise basically fubarred, I could connect to the neighbor's open, unprotected network, but not my own. I kept getting the "there was an error" error message.

I also have a PC laptop which is also connected wirelessly to this same router and it has had no problems.

If I remove the security, I can connect with the PB but not the PC (I need them both just now) I can connect with both computers hardwired.

This problem persists after I did an erase and install of the system the only difference now is that I'm getting an error that the password is wrong. I tried changing the password on the router and no matter what I change it too, I still get the same error.

Does anyone have any ideas?? I also tried resetting the router, no help.

Thanks, Margaret

You have a clean blank OS on your Mac? Or saved settings? If the latter, have you deleted the password from the Keychain?

Clean blank OS and when the OS was going through it's thing - like it was a brand new computer - and I put in the password for the router, it said it was the wrong password.

I've since tried to reset the router, but I'm not sure it reset and I can't find the instructions for resetting it - I pushed in the reset button but nothing on the web page seemed to change. I seem to recall there's a "trick" to resetting.

I'm not ashamed to admit this has be stressed way beyond stupid.

The router can wait till next week when things calm down because I can use the other computer to get on the net and so on or use the *free* networks that are floating around. I'm just worried that it might be a symptom of something more serious.

Take care, Margaret

No, I doubt it's anything more serious. Usually you have to press and HOLD the reset button for 10 seconds for it to work. And then the default user & passwords are: User = {leave empty} and Password = admin

By the way, in my experience Linksys routers are pretty bad with Macs and web browsers on Macs. I tried configuring my new Linksys router for my Vonage VoIP account and I couldn't get IE or Safari to properly work w/ the configuration. Had to download Firefox for OS X and that fortunately did the trick for configuring it and upgrading the firmware. But in Linksys' user guide it said that OS X was not supported and couldn't be guaranteed to work.

Thanks, I did upgrade the firmware today too - and I'm pretty sure it didn't reset. I'll give it a try again tomorrow and try setting it from the PC instead of from the Mac.

Take care, Margaret

I only use and support Linksys routers and APs, and have never seen any major issues or problems I can blame on the devices, out of dozens I use and support.

Margaret, to reset the router to factory defaults, the easiest way is to go to Status menu and use the "reset to factory defaults" option. This may not be available on some older routers.

I believe you can also do it manually by unplugging it, holding the reset button, plugging it in while continuing to hold reset, and then release reset 10 seconds later.

I had company over the weekend who where all able to use my wireless network - while I was not able to connect to it :confused: they've gone home now, so I was finally able to get down to seriously work with this gizmo.

I got it reset, but I still can't connect to it. I get the "there was an error joining the selected airport network" error.

I've seen this occasionally in the past and solved it by recycling the modem and/or router, but now nothing seems to work.

To add to the mystery is the fact that the router/modem combination seems to be working fine for any other computer that wants to connect to it.

Also, this started when I was having problems with the system and persists after a clean install of the system.

I remain befuddled, Margaret

When you reinstalled, did you do an Archive & Install (preserving Users/Network or not?), or was it an erase and re-clone, or a complete erase and reinstall from scratch?

Have you tried creating a new location?

Obviously your password settings are fine because your friends w/ PC's were able to log on over the weekend. But I'm wondering what your "network" settings inside the System Preferences are set to on your Powerbook ...

Have you deleted the password for this system in the Keychain?

Where all of your friends using Windows? I think there is something about needing to put a leading or trailing $ in the password field on the Mac, if you are using a Hex key.

Though I had a similar error message connecting to a Linksys wireless router that had no password enabled. I found that trying to connect 1 or 2 more times generally got me connected.

The weird thing is that it had always worked and nothing changed on the router and I didn't knowingly change anything on the Mac, it just stopped working and nothing I have tried so far has got it running again. I've turned off security for the time being and stopped broadcasting the ssid.

This big project will be wrapped up later this week and then I'll be able to fiddle with it again.

The other people were all using PCs and my own PC has had no problem.

I started having problems on my Mac when I downloaded some software to use on this project - it was well known commercial software which I paid for - but about that time, I started to notice that other things were going wrong and some files became inaccessible etc.

Those vendors will be getting a strongly worded message as soon as I have time to catch my breath.

Take care, Margaret

I think the most basic/transparent way of troubleshooting this would be to turn off the WEP encryption and broadcast the SSID and then create a "New Location" with the settings and name for that specific router. And check "By Default Join ... Automatic"

By the way, did you ever say what size/speed Powerbook this was and what kind of Airport card (extreme?)

I agree w/ sjhpix - but also, I use the same router, had a similar problem, can offer the following:

- power down ALL computers using the router (this is VERY important)
- press and hold the reset button on the router for 10 or more seconds
- if you are using a cable modem, it wouldn't hurt to power that down for at least 30 seconds, too.
- power up in the following order, 1) modem, 2) router, 3) computer you are having problems with. Do not turn on any other computers until you are certain you are able to get on the network with the problem computer.

Because you have reset the router, you are basically running in broadcast mode, with the "linksys" as your default network name and will need to adjust your wireless settings accordingly, and then verify it is reading the network (or set up a new location as sjh described).

The problem may have been that one of your visitor's computers was trying to use the same IP address as your problem computer. What happened in my case was my laptop had gone with me on location, I turned it on while away, left it on, came back to the office and everything started going fooey with my G4 (which was already on when I got back) because they were both trying to use the .102 IP. (or something like that. *grin*) Don't quote me on that because I'm not real good on the technical aspects of things - I just want it to work when I need it to work.

ALSO - if you get everything working again, don't forget to login to the router and reset all your security -- and set a password. When you reset it, you reset the password, too. I can't remember when it's reset it has no password as default, or uses "admin" as the password.

The method suggested by pattimc looks a lot like what you would do to flush the ARP cache of the router once you've had a pangalactic gargleblaster or two :D .

Turning off the offending AirPort-card long enough to have the router forget about it might be all it takes to produce a similar effect, at least I'd give it a try first...

or a margarita, or two. LOL :-D
Seriously - it's like I said, I don't understand *why* it works, it just does. ;-)

I have a system for cordless phone interference, too - but that requires a 3 drink minimum. heh.

Ok, it's several months after the latest post, but this was still the top Google hit for me now that I am having this same problem. I've narrowed down to WEP - enabling it on the WRT54G (I have version 5 BTW, what do you have?) causes the problem, and turning it off makes the problem go away. ("The problem" being the 'There was an error joining the AirPort network "whatever".' message.) Obviously being forced to live without WEP is less than desireable. Are there any other insights out there?

Well, I'm not using the same version as you... and the only thing ever worked for me was that convoluted mess I posted before.

Can suggest for security - turn on the wireless mac filter - enabling only those you need on your network. It's a hassle when you have to add a new computer. Have to turn it off, turn it off, back on, to grab the mac address from the generated list. Or manually add it to the list if you know where to find it.

That's the best I got. ;)

WEP errors
 

What type of security are you using, WEP or WPA?

If WEP, what type of key are you using? is it a Decimal, Hex, or ascii code word? IF you are using the code word (or "password) for WEP, it may NOT be CALCULATED the same way on the Linksys as it is on the Airport Extreme card. (In other words, if you are using a WEP password of "airportp@ssw0rd" it is calculated via an algorithm into a HEX WEP Key. The algorithims are not necc. the same, so the resultant WEP key created is actually different on your PB than the Linksys.)

You should select a HEX based key (26 Hex digits) and use that for your WEP key on the Mac. (Or look at the linksys admin page and write down the calculated HEX key value, and key that directly into your Mac.)

Alternatively, if you are using WPA with a Pre-Shared Key[PSK] (my personal preference) you should have no issues, as the PSK does not have the same calculation/translation issue.

I don't think you need to do any of the factory default resets the other posters suggested. Since your Windows friends/coworkers can access the unit, the challenge is something on your mac. My belief is that it is the key itself. Try WPA with the PSK. If you need more detailed instructions, let me know. I'd by happy to create some and post them here.

Good Luck!

I have just aquired a wrt54g v.4. I would very much appreciated seeing some detailed instructions as you offer.... thanks in advance....

I can confirm this was just an utterly bone-headed error. I was just moving too fast, didn't pay attention. When you go to type in your WEP key, you need to look at the dropdown. By default it says "WEP Password". This ain't the same thing as a WEP key. So click that dropdown, there's an option for a straight WEP key. I felt so dumb when I realized that mistake.

The following article explains the issue: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108058

Basically, if you are using WEP authentication, then for compatibility, use a password with 5 or 14 (ASCII) characters.