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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point Network
Summary: With a Apple brand access point, it's easy, but with non-Apple access points it's hard to enter the WEP key. The menu-bar drop-down seems to be broken. Use Internet Connect instead; here's how to do it:
  1. Set up the router. You'll want a WEP key. Turn on WEP... 128bit... Generate a key which will be 26 hex digits. Select and copy it to a safe place; you don't want to have to type this. Don't forget to change the router password! Also, I recommend giving the router a name (SSID or "Wireless network name") which doesn't identify the brand. I name mine SeaTac, Heathrow, Kennedy, OHare, etc.
  2. Now try to connect wirelessly... I could select the acces point in the menu-bar drop down, but I could not enter the 26 hex characters for the WEP key. In particular, I could not paste! I think the drop-down menu is broken, so we'll have to do it another way. With Internet Connect.
  3. In the Airport dropdown, select "Open Internet Connect"... Then select the access point from the list. You'll get a "requires password" dialogue... Pick "WEP 40/128-bit hex"... Paste the 26 char key in the "Password" block... Click OK. Now you should be connected.
  4. The next time, do the same thing, but check the box "Add to Keychain"
  5. Save the SSID and 26 character WEP key in a text file somewhere so you can find it. Also, don't lose the router password you've set.
I did this with Apple's Airport Software 3.3 in an Aluminum 15 PowerBook with Airport Extreme card, a Netgear 814v2 router, Panther 10.3.2, with all updates.
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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point | 8 comments | Create New Account
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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: ctbeers on Feb 25, '04 11:40:24AM

A little trick I learned a while back about this. Although you cannot copy and paste the key if you open it in Textedit, select it, and then drag it to the WEP key field in the menu-bar drag down menu it will insert it there.

---
Christopher T. Beers
UNIX System Engineer - Syracuse Univeristy



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: mikego on Feb 25, '04 12:09:11PM

One thing that may not be evident is that you have to click on or tab to the Password box to "activate" it. Once you see a blinking cursor, you can drag the password string from TextEdit.



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: vikrum on Feb 25, '04 04:37:55PM

my only issue with this WEP setup....the Hex key will be list in the keychain every now and again.
I ran into issues with this about a year ago.
Unless with 10.3 this has been fixed.
But I do not believe so.
So users are then forced to enter the WEP code almost everytime to get on the wireless.



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: isd_glory on Feb 25, '04 01:02:35PM

http://xwepgen.sourceforge.net/

They provide a nifty little tool that will translate passphrases used in non-Apple hardware to a WEP key that your Apple computer will use. I've always found it easier to remember the passphrase I used instead of remembering an actual key looking like 2504c57f21a3721ca1bbf82538.

It's definately a lot more useful when you are away from "home." This way, you only have to ask someone for the passphrase.



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: JohnnyMnemonic on Feb 25, '04 03:32:21PM

I have been cut-n-pasting from TextEdit to the System Preference/Airport pane, which seems to work without issue. btw: it apparently no longer requires the "$" preceding the string, which was once true.



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: mudpup on Feb 26, '04 01:50:00PM

On my powerbook Panther OS X 10.3.2
Airport Card Firmware Version: 3.3b1 (3.30.15.p8)
AirPort Setup Assistant Version: 3.3
AirPort Admin Utility Version: 3.3
Internet Connect Version: 1.3

I had to insert a $ before the key string

connecting to
linksys befw11s4 ver4 firmware ver 1.50.10 Jan 16, 2004



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: drbadass on Feb 25, '04 08:03:41PM

My experience with WEP, in Panther at least, was easier than described. Go into the Airport tab in System Preferences>Network. Select the network you're attempting to connect to from the pull down. After a second or two, it will detect the WEP and ask for a password. Just paste in the WEP key, I used a $ but maybe you don't need that anymore, and then Apply changes. Sometimes, it struggles on the first connect and eventually connects, but from then on it is automatic.



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How to enter a WEP key with a non-Apple access point
Authored by: Jamie23 on Feb 25, '04 11:02:30PM

Has anyone had any luck connecting to Cisco AP's? Particularly the 1200 series? I can't for the life of me get it to connect. I have the SSID (which isn't broadcast) as well as the wep key for it but it won't connect. I slap a Cisco card into the PC card slot and using the same SSID and WEB, voila connected. I want to get it to work with the built in Airport Ext. Card. I'm sure Cisco has probably done something propietary here but figured I would ask anyway



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