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#1 2006-08-08 7:59 am
- Apple1981
- Member
- Registered: 2006-08-08
- Posts: 2
MacBookPro/Wireless Network problems
My new MacBookPro can't get on the wireless network at my office. It does fine with other Airport networks but not this Netgear network. In the Netgear control panel that I use to administer the network, I can tell that Netgear sees my computer, and my computer sees the Netgear network but I always get an error message when trying to use the wireless (ethernet cable works fine but requires a 50-foot cable running across the main office lobby to my computer).
My G4 Powerbook running OS X did fine on the Netgear network, which is a couple of years old.
The Netgear requires a WEP password and is set to allow only "registered" computers -- those whose MAC address have been entered. I am the administrator for the network and have set up several other computers successfully, both Macs & Windows. Even when I removed the password, I couldn't get on. Of course I've unplugged and restarted everything several times.
Because we're in an office building with other networks, I need to keep my network limited to known computers. Is the MAC address registry the best way? Is the WEP needed? Are there better solutions? We are a small nonprofit without much money or know-how when it comes to technology. So far, the exclusive nature of the network seems to be working too well -- keeping me from connecting!
We have DSL and the Netgear router; 3 - 5 computers (two are laptops). Main office computers are Windows-based 
.
Thanks for any assistance.
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#2 2006-08-09 4:07 pm
- ElectricSheep
- Member
- Registered: 2003-07-20
- Posts: 109
Re: MacBookPro/Wireless Network problems
For wireless, the best way to secure your network from unauthorized clients is not with a MAC filter, not with WEP, but with WPA and a RADIUS server. WEP encryption can be cracked, WPA encryption can be broken if the password is weak or leaked, and MAC addresses can be spoofed. WPA with RADIUS will require someone to have a valid username/password pair before their machine is granted access to the network. Most off-the-shelf routers support 802.1X authentication (RADIUS), all you need to provide is a server (there are some free ones available for Linux or *BSD)
The second best way is to move to WPA with Preshared-Key and use a strong password.
FYI, the algorithm that Netgear uses to convert an alphanumeric WEP password to the equivilant hexadecimal key is different from the one used in Apple's Airport hardware. If you want to connect the Mac to the WEP-enabled Netgear network, you need to enter the hexadecimal key into the password field, not the alphanumeric.
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#3 2006-08-09 7:21 pm
- Apple1981
- Member
- Registered: 2006-08-08
- Posts: 2
Re: MacBookPro/Wireless Network problems
Thanks, ESheep, for your help. I don't quite know what you mean by the RADIUS server, but I'll keep looking at my options.
After more gnashing of teeth, I finally got "on" the wireless network. I had used my computer's MAC address, not the airport card's MAC address. Once I switched that in the router settings, I was allowed in. Maybe it (MAC address screening) isn't the most secure system, but it kept me out for quite awhile!
When I have more time I plan to try the switch to WPA. I'm not too concerned about maliciousness, just want a system that isn't open to the world.
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