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PeanutPug

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 3, 2022
4
0
Yesterday my internet unfortunately died; Comcast coming out tomorrow to hopefully resolve the problem. To say connected temporarily, I ask my neighbor to join his network, which he did by providing his password to log in. The issue is that my work PC could see and join his network but none of my Mac products (i.e., MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad). I tried various solutions given on the web but none allowed me to connect. Any ideas on how to overcome this lack of connecting to a secure wifi?
 

Ruggy

macrumors 65816
Jan 11, 2017
1,024
665
Is it that it doesn't see it? If it is then you need to manually type in the name of his network then his password.
No idea why that would be the case though unless possibly it sees it as a security issue in which case check firewalls etc.
 

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
You do know through COMCAST now (XFinity) they have a system in place for those who allow it for you to connect to open hubs and you can log in using your user information. Do they have an open Wi-Fi connection?
 

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
Yesterday my internet unfortunately died; Comcast coming out tomorrow to hopefully resolve the problem. To say connected temporarily, I ask my neighbor to join his network, which he did by providing his password to log in. The issue is that my work PC could see and join his network but none of my Mac products (i.e., MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad). I tried various solutions given on the web but none allowed me to connect. Any ideas on how to overcome this lack of connecting to a secure wifi?
you do understand no Wi-Fi is ever secure unless you use additional software (VPN) software to create those encrypted channels for privacy. (NOT - a FREE VPN either) Something like NORDVPN or EXPRESSVPN.

If you believe you can do anything you want (downloading whatever) and you have a "secure" connection at home....... oh boy..........


Also when you click on your Wi-Fi do you see "other networks"?
 

PeanutPug

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 3, 2022
4
0
Is it that it doesn't see it? If it is then you need to manually type in the name of his network then his password.
No idea why that would be the case though unless possibly it sees it as a security issue in which case check firewalls etc.
Thanks for the reply. I can definitely see the network but when I enter the password, which does work on the PC, I am not allowed to connect.
 

PeanutPug

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 3, 2022
4
0
You do know through COMCAST now (XFinity) they have a system in place for those who allow it for you to connect to open hubs and you can log in using your user information. Do they have an open Wi-Fi connection?
Yes there are some Xfinity sites to connect but the signal is very weak, so normally doesn't work well
 

PeanutPug

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 3, 2022
4
0
Well that sucks,

As for his network, does he have a seperate 2.4 and 5g networks?
that's a good question and unfortunately I don't have the answer. And since he and his wife go to their lake house on the weekends, I won't know until later. Just find it very odd that a PC can connect while none of my Apple products can join, even though I see the network.
 

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
that's a good question and unfortunately I don't have the answer. And since he and his wife go to their lake house on the weekends, I won't know until later. Just find it very odd that a PC can connect while none of my Apple products can join, even though I see the network.
It should say his networkname2.4 or networkname5G you can try typing both out and see if it's hidden.

It probably has something to do with the router and frequencies it's on. Somewhere there is conflict.
 

Brian33

macrumors 65816
Apr 30, 2008
1,472
372
USA (Virginia)
The owner of the WiFi network sets the type of WiFi security used. The most usual nowadays for home routers is "WPA2 Personal". But there are older types, like "WPA" and even "WEP". The older types have security vulnerabilities, if I remember correctly. This setting is typically in the settings for his home wireless router. (So he might not even know what it's set to.)

It could be that he has the WiFi security set to one of the older (flawed) types, and the modern Apple products refuse to connect to it (because of the security issues). Perhaps your Windows box is older, or doesn't care, and connects anyway. But this is just a guess.

Since your Windows machine is connecting, there is likely somewhere in Windows that you can examine the WiFi security setting (but I don't know where -- maybe WiFI connection properties?). (On a Mac, you can see connected networks' security setting in SystemPrefs>Network, select WiFi, then click Advanced.. Then in WiFi tab, see the Network Name and Security columns -- but this won't help you until the Mac successfully connects.)

Anyway, if Windows says it's connecting with WPA2, then my guess is wrong. If it says WPA or WEP, I might be right. (?)
 
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