[MikeStevens]

I have a new Macbook and want to connect it to my current home network. The network is listed when I go through the Connection procedure. However it asks for a "password" and when I enter my password, I get a message that the password is invalid. Should I enter my password or my WEP key and is there a special way of entering it? OR what should I enter.

I can connect to an unsecured WiFi.

Any help will be appreciated.

[tomdkat]

If you're connecting to a wireless network, you'll need to specify the WEP or WPA key for that network. Do you have the security key or passphrase for the wireless network?

Peace...

[bearone2]

key for wep/wpa, whatever you're using.

my son added a macbook and only had to enter the key.

[MikeStevens]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

If you're connecting to a wireless network, you'll need to specify the WEP or WPA key for that network. Do you have the security key or passphrase for the wireless network?

Peace...

Yes, I have a WEP key, entered that and still had an "invalid password" message, and no connection.

[tomdkat]

For a WEP key, I HIGHLY suggest entering the HEX key and not the ASCII passphrase. If you can, login to your wireless router and locate the HEX key for WEP and enter that when prompted on your Mac for the wireless security key. The WEP key will be a long series of letters and numbers and you will need to write it down carefully. If you were using WPA security, the key issue would be a little easier since you could use the same passphrase that was configured in the wireless router.

Peace...

[MikeStevens]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

For a WEP key, I HIGHLY suggest entering the HEX key and not the ASCII passphrase. If you can, login to your wireless router and locate the HEX key for WEP and enter that when prompted on your Mac for the wireless security key. The WEP key will be a long series of letters and numbers and you will need to write it down carefully. If you were using WPA security, the key issue would be a little easier since you could use the same passphrase that was configured in the wireless router.

Peace...

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. What's a HEX key and an ASCII passphrase?

I've entered the WEP quite accurately several times and I always get"Invalid Password". and why does it keep using the word "Password" not "key"?

Thanks for your help

[SoltoN]

It says password instead of key because wep is generally considered to be an outdated and insecure method of securing a wireless network. In fact, even the strongest 128 bit WEP keys can be cracked in less than 60 seconds.

http://www.shawnhogan.com/2006/08/ho...-networks.html

I suggest logging in to your router and changing the security type to WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK, as these are the only methods of securing a wireless router that are actually secure.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by MikeStevens

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. What's a HEX key and an ASCII passphrase?

Ok, when setting up a router to use WEP security you can sometimes enter the security code in plain text (ASCII), like this:

thisismypassword

That will then be converted into a hexidecimal string of letters and numbers based on if you're using 64-it or 128-bit WEP encryption, like this:

a723c34ba8d34ac91bf347e

as an example.

I've entered the WEP quite accurately several times and I always get"Invalid Password". and why does it keep using the word "Password" not "key"?

This means the WEP key you're entering doesn't match what the router wants. You're gonna have to look at your router's configuration to see what the correct WEP key actually is. Do you have another Mac that connects to the wireless network?

If you change the security from WEP to WPA, your security code can be easier for you to remember and thus enter as needed.

Peace...

[MikeStevens]

Thanks Tomdkat. But, I am entering a Hex key and it is correct. I've entered it numerous times, printed it, copied and pasted it. It is correct. I've read somewhere that you have to enter a $ sign or put the password in "" quotation marks before the password. However, I've tried all that.

Also I can get a wireless connection from my neighbour's system, no problem there, but his is not secure. But I can't access mine. Maybe the problem is due to something in my wireless / router setup?

My wireless / router system works fine for the 2 PCs and a printer that I have as a network, it's just the Macbook that can't connect wirelessly.

To repeat, it will connect when I use an Ethernet cable, but that's not what I need.

Thanks again for your assistance.

[SoltoN]

try switching your encryption to WPA instead of WEP. Its more secure, and its a word that you make up, so its easier to remember. I bet it will work after you change it.

[MikeStevens]

Sorry but I don't know how to change to WPA instead of WEP. Also at present everything on my networks works perfectly. I am very loathe to change things and then discover that my other computers and my printer do not connect.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by MikeStevens

Thanks Tomdkat. But, I am entering a Hex key and it is correct. I've entered it numerous times, printed it, copied and pasted it. It is correct.

Ok, from where did you print it or copy it to paste it?

My wireless / router system works fine for the 2 PCs and a printer that I have as a network, it's just the Macbook that can't connect wirelessly.

Are these PCs connected to the router using Ethernet cables or wirelessly? What make/model router are you using?

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by MikeStevens

Sorry but I don't know how to change to WPA instead of WEP. Also at present everything on my networks works perfectly. I am very loathe to change things and then discover that my other computers and my printer do not connect.

If the printer and other machines have wired connections to the router, changing the security type won't affect them at all.

Peace...

[MikeStevens]

I copied it from my Windows PC which is connected, pasted it to Notepad and printed it. Why is this important?

One PC is connected using a wired Ethernet and the other is wireless.

I have a Livebox which is supplied in Europe by Orange.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by MikeStevens

I copied it from my Windows PC which is connected, pasted it to Notepad and printed it. Why is this important?

Because getting the WEP key from a source that is known to work increases the chances of you entering the correct WEP key on your Mac. If you didn't have any other wireless connected computers, the next step would be to have you login to the router itself and get the WEP key.

How many characters is the WEP key you're entering into your Mac? If I was in front of your Mac, I would be counting the length of the WEP key to make sure I had the proper length, etc. If you do change from WEP to WPA, you WILL have to make sure your Windows machine supports WPA and you will have to enter the new security code.

So, short of changing the wireless security of your wireless network, we'll have to focus on the WEP key you're entering on the Mac.

Based on this article from the Apple website, you will need to prefix your WEP key with a dollar sign.

So, if your WEP key is this:

a723c34ba8d34ac91bf347e

you would enter it as this:

$a723c34ba8d34ac91bf347e

I know you said you tried this before but I don't know if you used both a dollar sign AND quotes or what you actually did.

This thread address a problem similar to yours and gives info on how to resolve the problem. Please post the exact make and model of your router and we can help you get your router config updated, if necessary.

Lastly, here is a page that shows how to configure a 64-bit WEP key. If your WEP key is 26 characters long, you have a 128-bit WEP key. A 64-bit WEP key will be shorter in length, I believe.

So, give the info above a try, post your router make/model, and let us know the length of your WEP key and we'll see if we can get this figured out.

Peace...