Can't get ethernet bridge to connect to network

Question

Hi
I am trying to connect my old iMac G3 (10.2) to my airport express network with an Aeropad Mini (an ethernet bridge powered by USB hub on my mac - made by Macsense).
The network is seen successfully by an iMac G5, an Intel Macbook and a PC. The connection occasionally works but more often than not it does not see my airport express - instead it connects to a self-assigned IP. Sometimes it connects then drops off halfway through. Other times it just will not connect at all.
There are no drivers and you set it up via your browser. I can connect to the status and set-up page (192.168.1.50), after entering all the Aeropad info manually, and most times it can see my Airport Express (via the Site Survey on the set-up pages). but sometimes it does not even get that far. I reset the aeropad and restart the mac many times, and sometimes it works but mostly it doesn't.
I'm using channel 11 and it's WAP-encrypted.
Things I've tried:
updating the firmware from the macsense website
checking it's on client mode
manually entering the DNS address of my router - 10.0.1.1.
Trashing the internetconfig preferences from the library
making sure that ethernet is at the top of my network port configurations
Plugging it into a powered USB hub
Trying it on my MacBook (running Leopard).
Still can't connect - just a self-assigned IP - even on on the new macbook.
Any help would be appreciated as I really can't get this to work and it's beginning to take over my life!. I thought it was working after I entered the DNS address but it just went down again the next day.
Thanks.
Message was edited by: Joanna Leapman

Answer 1

This is probably repeating the steps which you have taken already, but I thought I'd put them in one place just in case.
Problem:
If you're able to see other wireless networks but not your own. (And it works with AppleTV version 1.x)
It can be any of the following:
1. No wireless signal/out of range (check your multicast setting and put this as low as possible, check the range with other wireless devices/moving your appletv closer)
2. The wireless SSID is set to invisible/private (use "Other" on AppleTV and enter the SSID manually.)
3. The AppleTV doesn't support the channel used. (Tune the wireless to use a lower channel such as those under 10.)
4. The AppleTV is not supporting the security of your encryption.
Troubleshooting:
1. First try setting up a basic wireless network with no security, no frills such as a high multicast rate or high channel number and as a basic wireless b or g network. Position the AppleTV next to the basestation and then attempt to make the appletv connect to it. (Do not use an AdHoc network with your mac, as the AppleTV doesn't see these.) At this stage you're just trying to see if the AppleTV is even able to connect to your hardware. If this doesn't work there is possibly a larger problem at hand.
2. If this works, then move the devices to their desired locations. (This checks that it's not a range/interference issue.)
3. If this is still working, then the problem lays in a configuration setting. Firstly enable a security protocol, avoid WEP. Keep adding settings, keeping changes from the default to a minimum.
If you can't get past step 1, then it could be an issue with your wifi base station. Try getting the AppleTV to connect to a different wireless basestation (perhaps borrow one from a friend or a neighbour's unsecured network.)