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Cannot connect wirelessly

C

Caezar

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 9, 2004
270
2
Between a rock and a hard place
I have been trying to connect wirelessly to the internet from my Powerbook, alas without success. I have to admit I am clueless about how to set up the router and the notebook, which is why I seek your help.

I normally connect to the ADSL modem through an Ethernet cable without problem and without having had to configure anything other than the name of the ISP and the password.

I plugged my old my NETGEAR Wireless Router MR814 (which I used successfully with Wintel laptops in the past) to the ADSL modem and I see in the Airport icon that the name of my router shows up, with a strong wireless signal.

Even so, I cannot connect to internet. I set up a new connection through Internet Connect, choosing Airport and picck the namee of my router (NETGEAR) and this is the result that I get.

What should I do now? I am lost.

Caezar
 
Caezar said:
I set up a new connection through Internet Connect, choosing Airport and picck the namee of my router (NETGEAR) and this is the result that I get.
Click to expand...
Is there a password on your wireless network? Probably not... I would look in System Preferences ->Network -> Airport -> TCPIP and see if it's set for DHCP and if you have an IP address.
 
Cooknn said:
Is there a password on your wireless network? Probably not... I would look in System Preferences ->Network -> Airport -> TCPIP and see if it's set for DHCP and if you have an IP address.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I did not set any password to my router. Is there one by default?

A for the TCP/IP configuration, it was set to "Using DHCP". The IP address, the subnet mask and the router are all defined automatically (meaning I did not define anything).

When I run the network diagnostics, I am told that:
Airport is ok
Airport settings are ok
Network settings are ok
ISP is ok
Internet failed
Server failed

"This computer appears to have a working internet connection, but cannot find "www.yahoo.com". You may have typed the address incorrectly."

Caezar
 
The Default password is probably ADMIN...

although many people know this so i would change to something else...

also set the security to WEP or WPA when you change it so it will be more secure....
 
Electro Funk said:
The Default password is probably ADMIN...

although many people know this so i would change to something else...

also set the security to WEP or WAP when you change it so it will be more secure....
Click to expand...

Aie. Now when I select the router NETGEAR from "Internet Connect", it does not ask me for any password.

I am still lost.

I think it will be easier if I explain the way I set up my Macs (iMac and Powerbook), router, ADSL modem, etc :
1. ADSL modem connected to the phone network
2. iMac connected to ADSL modem through Ethernet. I set up the Account Name and Password in the PPoE menu. No other manual set up. The iMac is connected to the internet. Therefore the ADSL modem works fine.
3. Netgear router (MR814) connected to the ADSL modem through Ethernet cable
4. I am trying to connect my Powerbook to the internet through the wireless router. I have not set up anything (no password, no DNS, no IP). I simply chose the airport as my primary connection and picked the network NETGEAR from the list of available signals. I was not given the possibility of entering a password (inputbox is not available).

Where should I go from there?

Caezar
 
Caezar said:
Aie. Now when I select the router NETGEAR from "Internet Connect", it does not ask me for any password.

I am still lost.

I think it will be easier if I explain the way I set up my Macs (iMac and Powerbook), router, ADSL modem, etc :
1. ADSL modem connected to the phone network
2. iMac connected to ADSL modem through Ethernet. I set up the Account Name and Password in the PPoE menu. No other manual set up. The iMac is connected to the internet. Therefore the ADSL modem works fine.
3. Netgear router (MR814) connected to the ADSL modem through Ethernet cable
4. I am trying to connect my Powerbook to the internet through the wireless router. I have not set up anything (no password, no DNS, no IP). I simply chose the airport as my primary connection and picked the network NETGEAR from the list of available signals. I was not given the possibility of entering a password (inputbox is not available).

Where should I go from there?

Caezar
Click to expand...

here is step by step instructions on how to Add/Change password and encryption on your particular router...

http://www.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/wireless/wirelessSecuritySteps.html
 
Did you reset your modem? (unplug it for a few a minute)
 
Electro Funk said:
here is step by step instructions on how to Add/Change password and encryption on your particular router...

http://www.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/wireless/wirelessSecuritySteps.html
Click to expand...

I just have one more detail I would like to change. I selected the two devices that can connect to my router (iMac and Powerbook). The "device name" attached to my Powerbook is "UNKNOWN NAME". I would like to change this to a more meaningful name. How to? I went to Systems Preferences / Network / Sharing and changed the name of my computer, but it did not work. Where else can I cahnge the name attached to a MAC address?

Caezar
 
Caezar said:
I just have one more detail I would like to change. I selected the two devices that can connect to my router (iMac and Powerbook). The "device name" attached to my Powerbook is "UNKNOWN NAME". I would like to change this to a more meaningful name. How to? I went to Systems Preferences / Network / Sharing and changed the name of my computer, but it did not work. Where else can I cahnge the name attached to a MAC address?

Caezar
Click to expand...

What is the name of your PBooks Hard Drive? If im not mistaken when i change the name of that, that is what my computer is recognized on the network as... someone correct me if im wrong...
 
Electro Funk said:
What is the name of your PBooks Hard Drive? If im not mistaken when i change the name of that, that is what my computer is recognized on the network as... someone correct me if im wrong...
Click to expand...

I renamed my Hard-Drive, but the name "UNKNOWN DEVICE" still appears on the router's management webpage.

Anyway, this is just a detail. I am glad I can finally surf the internet from the living room, which is the only room in my appartment that has aircon...

Caezar
 
Caezar said:
I renamed my Hard-Drive, but the name "UNKNOWN DEVICE" still appears on the router's management webpage.

Anyway, this is just a detail. I am glad I can finally surf the internet from the living room, which is the only room in my appartment that has aircon...

Caezar
Click to expand...

Excellent... glad you got it working :)
 
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