Hello,
I could really use some help.... and I am hoping that someone out there has an answer for me.

I am trying to set up a wireless home network. It
looks like I will need two access points or a base and
an access point to cover my entire house. It really
does not matter to me because I can always use my
server as a gateway. All I really want is, the best
possible range/coverage in my house, and for
everything to be on the same subnet with the same
IP range...

Now here is my glitch I have a PowerBook G4 (12
inch) and I also have 2 IBM based computers running
Windows XP and I have tried everything that I can
think of to get it work right. I am in the process of
picking my hardware right now so I am playing with
a Linksys Wireless router, Linksys Wireless Access
Point, and an AirPort Extreme Base Station with the
range extender. However I cannot get the IBM based
computers to connect to the net using the AirPort
base or the Mac to connect using the Linksys router.

I need all the input that I can get I am willing to swap
out hardware and try other hardware. I already have
all the most current drivers and firmware. I just want
it to work.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Mark Feinstein

If you're looking at other hardware, check out
Netgear stuff. My setup shares broadband cable
internet and includes a Win98 desktop, iMac G3, and
an iBook. I get great range throughout my house
(3000 sq. ft), and I use only the MR314 wireless
router, with no additional access points.

Linksys is junk.
AirPort is great if you have a Mac-only network but admittedly has some issues otherwise, and is rather overpriced IMO if all you need is good 802.11b or g support.

I *really* like Netgear stuff, though Cisco (very pricey but great) and DLink also make good hardware.

p

Well I just got a Netgear MR814v2 and while my G4 can see it (judgeing by the fact that I can see it in my list of available networks) I can not connect to it. When I try to i get an error messages that says "There was an error joining the selected AirPort network" does anyone have any ideas about what I am doing wrong.

Are you using WAP?
If so, did you enter the proper access key?

p

Do you mean WEP? I have Authentication Type set to Automatic, and Encryption Strength set to Disable... should i set that to something different?

Yeah, that's what I meant ;)

Try setting it *on* - it shouldn't hurt anything - and then enter the access key that the router gives you (it's in the web-based config) on the 'Book. I don't think I ever used mine with WEP off, probably because I wanted it on and never could figure out how to turn it off ;)

p

What kind of seeting should I use? Open or Shared?
And 128 bit or 64 bit? Also what setting do i use
when i enter the password on my powerbook?
Password or 128 ASCII or 128 Hex or 64 ASCII or
Hex? Also do i enter the phrase or the key that gets
generated?

You enter the key, and you want 128-bit Hex. I have no idea what the "open" vs. "shared" setting is.

p

Mark, I am having the same exact problem. My PowerBook can see the router, but I get the same error message when trying to connect. I've fooled with the WEP settings and haven't gotten very far. If you have solved your problem please e-mail me how you did it! Thanks!

David

I'm assuming, since he didn't ask any more
questions, that the instructions above solved the
problem.

p

Actually, the aforementioned advice did not work for
me. Any other ideas?

You should try to simplify the network as much as possible while trouble shooting (i.e. turn off any encryption at both the AP and network cards). Get things connected before adding complexity like encryption.

Check the Channel settings used on the cards - Linksys uses Channel 6 by default, but I believe the Airport uses Channel 1. If they're different, you'll have connection trouble.

The Linksys router and the Airport are designed to be stand-alone network controller devices. If you can use your server as the gateway, do it, and just install access points since they won't interfere with DHCP, DNS, NAT, etc. Remember, these are consumer-oriented devices and may not provide the seemless roaming connection throughout your house like the business class (read more expensive) APs from 3Com and Cisco.

I successfully installed a combination Linksys/Airport system with a mix of Powerbooks and PC laptops; 802.11 doesn't care about OS. Start small (one AP, one workstation), and add more devices when the previous system works. Good luck.

Michael