Getting WiFi running

[JohnJ80]

For Apple Airport follow directions below. Most other base stations should be similar.

The airport has the ability to support WEP and to limit access by allowing only predesignated MAC addresses to be connected to the Airport.

To make this all work you need the following information:

1. The MAC address of the wifi card: Look for the serial number on the card. This is also the MAC address.

2. The name of the network: Called this under the airport utility.

3. The password equivalency: The hexadecimal number under the Base Station->Equivalent Network Password menu.

On our Clie, go to Preferences->network. Select Service->Wireless Lan.

Touch the Details button.

Create a new profile

Under the Network ID (SSID) enter the name of the network from #2 above.

Before dealing with WEP, count the number of characters in the equivalent network password from #3. Select the WEP option that corresponds 5, 10, 13 or 26 characters.

In the pop up box, enter the number you wrote down from #3.

Go to advanced setup. If you IP is DHCP provided by Airport. Check that (auto). Same with DNS. Otherwise enter your IP address and subnet mask (get them from your network admin). Do the same for DNS if it is not automatically provided.

Click OK.

Click OK again.

Click OK again

Click Connect. You should see it connect and if done properly, you are on line!

Hope this helps.

Regards,
John

[Hong Kong Nick]

Call me a dumbass ... [DUMBASS! :D ] ... but the WEP options have 5, 10 or 13 character options ... (and 26 I think) ... the MAC address on my Wireless LAN thingy has 12 numbers and the MAC number on my Sony wi-fi card also has 12 numbers ...

What goes where?

A Dumbass ...

[n2ifp]

Why are you concerned about the MAC address?

A MAC address can be added later after you get your unit working, for better security.

26 characters equals a 128bit WEP/HEX Key.

If WEP Key is enabled on a Linksys unit, then it has to be in HEX format.

[JohnJ80]

You can set up an apple airport so that it only will accept connections from specific MAC addresses. If you have this turned on, it doesn't matter what password or how many bits of WEP, you won't be allowed to connect. I assume that some of the other routers have this capability as well (its a good thing to have).

we have ours on this way since there are several wifi networks in our office building - another level of security.

If you don't have this turned on on the base station, you don't need it. You should contact your network admin to see if it is set up this way. If it is, they will need to add your mac address to the list in the airport before you will be able to connect.

the hex key is the hex representation of your password - either before or after the munging the WEP thing does. In some places you enter the password, other things require the hex representation of the password. You might have to try both.

I think if you have the hex equivalent password and you count the characters, that will tell you the number of bits to select under the WEP size pulldown.

j

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by JohnJ80
You can set up an apple airport so that it only will accept connections from specific MAC addresses. If you have this turned on, it doesn't matter what password or how many bits of WEP, you won't be allowed to connect. I assume that some of the other routers have this capability as well (its a good thing to have).

we have ours on this way since there are several wifi networks in our office building - another level of security.

If you don't have this turned on on the base station, you don't need it. You should contact your network admin to see if it is set up this way. If it is, they will need to add your mac address to the list in the airport before you will be able to connect.

the hex key is the hex representation of your password - either before or after the munging the WEP thing does. In some places you enter the password, other things require the hex representation of the password. You might have to try both.

I think if you have the hex equivalent password and you count the characters, that will tell you the number of bits to select under the WEP size pulldown.

j

Very nice! I agree:)! For those who are struggling to get their WiFi to work, should keep things simple first, then progress to the enhanced security features. Otherwise it only adds to the confusion for newbie's.

[Hong Kong Nick]

Not like we / I aren't confused enough already ...

:rolleyes:

I'm thinking about using my Clie to hammer nails into the wall ...

Nick

[Babbaloo]

I have everything else possible connected to my UX-50 and it works great. Now my situation is that it is NOT connecting to my Airport Station. When it scans it reads the station name and all but when I try to connect it sits on CONNECTING then after a while I get a "Timeout Error" or it just doesn't give me a message at all and doesn't connect???

[n2ifp]

Please see my reply to your post in the UX forum.

Thanks!:)

[Unregistered]

I had to turn off the encryption to get my NX80 to work with my Airport Extreme. It wouldn't connect at all if the encryption was enabled.

[n2ifp]

One reason why I tell new WiFi users to save that for last.

The router needs a 13 character passphrase to convert to 26 HEX figures. This is for the 128Bit WEP. Then copy that from Key one over to the Clie.

Mine won't connect if the PowerSaveMode is checked on the Clie!