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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Airport Network problems

jimg_uk2000 - Apr 11, 2007 - 3:54 pm

Hi please can you help?

I have just purchased an iBook running Mac OSX 10.4.6.

I enabled the airport card and it automatically found and connected to my wireless router (not Airport). I got an IP address etc.

However, although I appear to be able to get mail (eratically) and ping www.yahoo.com, I cannot connect to any websites using Safari.

I have many other devices connected to the router wirelessly and all work well.

As soon as I put an ethernet connection in, everything works first time.

Can you advise please?

Thanks,

Jim

stottm - Apr 12, 2007 - 12:15 pm

This must be a "used" iBook? Did you get the original installation CD's? You might want to wipe it and reload everything to ensure it's all working properly and that everything is setup for you and not the previous owner. i.e. boot with the CD, perform a Wipe and Install to delete the entire disk and re-install from scratch. You should backup any data you care about before you do a re-installation of the operating system.

You can try the following before re-installing the operating system, save that as a last resort.

The OS release you have is 10.4.6 but the latest is 10.4.9. Connect it via Ethernet and then run the Software Update on the Apple pull down menu. Download all updates and install them. There were several wireless fixes the last few updates. There were also many airport updates. You should always make sure you are on the latest version update of Mac OS X. There are security fixes that close security loopholes along with bug fixes.

If that doesn't work, try downloading the 10.4.6 & 10.4.9 combo updates which will update more files then just the online updates. i.e. a combo update includes all the previous updates. Re-applying 10.4.6 will overwrite all the changed files then applying 10.4.9 will again overwrite the files. This will ensure that any damaged or out of date files are completely proper.

10.4.6 Combo Update
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...mboforppc.html

10.4.9 Combo Update
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...updateppc.html

One other thing, are you using MAC Hardware Address Filtering on the router? You might need to add the MAC address of the iBook Airport Card to to the router to allow it to connect fully to the wireless network. Also make sure your router's firmware is set to the latest version available from the manufacturer. Router's are notorious for having weird problems that get fixed by updating the firmware. The firmware is software on flash chip inside the router. There are bugs in this software and updating to the latest version will fix those bugs.

jimg_uk2000 - Apr 12, 2007 - 5:36 pm

Thanks for responding so promptly.
I haven't tried all the options above although I can confirm that this is a used laptop.
I ran the software updater to go from 10.4.6 to 10.4.9 - but haven't yet tried the combo updates on the basis that the man who sold it to uss confirmed that he had installed 10.4.6 from scratch.
I have noticed that mail does appear to work and that Safari can work but eratically. Could it be a header/packet problem?
It appears to reach sites easily but not to download the content (if that makes sense)?

Is there anything else you can think of I could try? One thing that I thought of trying was to setup an adhoc network to my windows laptop and use that as a bridge to the WAN (on the basis that the laptop works). However, I'm not sure how to do this, can you advise?

Thanks,

Jim

stottm - Apr 12, 2007 - 9:03 pm

Make sure you have the latest firmware in the router itself. Apply any Software Updates for Security or Airport updates.

What's the wireless strength meter show? You have more then one bar right? i.e. you are in range on the router and have a strong signal. Make sure you're connecting to your router and not someone else's.

Try running the Network Diagnostics under Apple Menu_System Preferences_Network_Assist Me.. button then Diagnostics button.

Safari might be having a problem. See if you can FTP to servers and that Mail is working both send and receive. Try the Reset Safari menu option as well. Do you use a Proxy server? You might have to configure one to allow web browsing to work properly. You can add a proxy server under the Network icon in System Preferences.

Try running the Network Utility under /Applications/Utilities to see if you can bounce packets off local network as well as Internet resources (PING). Use Lookup to make sure name resolution is working. You should be able to resolve network names like google.com, apple.com, etc.

It's much easier to have the iBook be the bridge then to get a Windows laptop to do it. The iBook can jack in with Ethernet and effectively become a wireless access point for multiple computers. I've done that with 15 Windows computers going through my PowerBook. You click the Sharing icon in System Preferences making sure the Personal Web Sharing is on then share the ethernet connection with the Airport connection.

Are you sure the network connection is up stable? i.e. the cable/DSL modem could be going up and down frequently. Make sure it's not going on and offline every few minutes.

I suspect it's the router firmware more then anything else. Double-check that you have the latest version of firmware by accessing the routers administrative screens and then checking the manufacturers website to see if there is a newer firmware for your router make and model. If it's Linksys, they are notorious for needing firmware updates to fix weird glitches like the problem you are having. There could be a bug in the firmware that's causing the airport card in the laptop to have a lot of trouble with packet loss or something like packet sizing, etc...

Really, it should just work as well as ethernet but wirelessly. Try finding another wireless network somewhere. McDonalds, StarBucks, your employer, etc. See if it works there but not at home this would prove that your router has some sort of issue and that the Apple iBook airport card is working normally.

jimg_uk2000 - Apr 14, 2007 - 5:51 am

I am currently trying to get a firmware update for my router, but I am having problems as the one I downloaded is reported as 'invalid' for my x-Micro router!
so in the meantime I am looking at adhoc networking to my windows box (sticking to what I know ).
I will send an update sunday or monday.

thanks

jim

jimg_uk2000 - Apr 14, 2007 - 3:30 pm

jist to let you know it was the firmware for my router. In case you get another x-micro router user having problems, tell the to upgrade their firmware to version 1.6.x (can't remember the actual number at the moment).
Thanks very much for all your help.
Please close the ticket.

stottm - Apr 14, 2007 - 3:33 pm

Ah the firmware, it's always the firmware. Doesn't matter what brand of router, they all need firmware updates for both security and bug fixes. Have a good one!