Firewire HD knocks me off Airport network

Hi everyone. I have what I think is a rather strange problem. I have an iBook G4 with built-in airport card that I have been using with an airport express for over 1 year for wireless internet access, airtunes and printing. I bought a SmartDisk FireLite firewire hard drive to move my iTunes library off the iBook and to back up some photos. Whenever I plug in the HD, I get kicked off the airport network. If I try to reconnect, I get an error message stating there was an error when trying to connect to the network. This happens whenever the HD is plugged in whether it is mounted or not. When I unplug the HD, I am able to connect to the airport network without difficulty. When the hard drive is plugged in, I can still connect my wireless Palm device to the network, so I'm pretty sure it is a problem with the firewire drive somehow messing up my airport connection on the iBook. Also, if I connect my iBook directly to the internet via wired ethernet, there is no problem with having the HD plugged in.
I called SmartDisk's support and they have never encountered anything like this before.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Roberta
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9) Airport Express; SmartDisk FIreLite FW Hard Drive

Roberta L-
Greetings and welcome to the Apple boards.
Does that drive use an external power supply?
If not (or even if so and it is malfunctioning) it is possible that when the drive draws power from the FW port on the iBook it then cannot supply enough to the Airport card and then knocks you off line.
Luck-
-DaddyPaycheck

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Our airport extreme network works fine with our 6 devices. But when someone comes over and tries to log on, they can't until we restart the airport. Then they can get on, but it knocks one of our devices off the network. Any ideas?

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I have not done a factory reset, I was trying to find out if I had some setting configured wrong first. I figured I'd just make things worse if went through a reset!
Here is a couple of screen shots:

RE: Getting Kicked off my network

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Airport network problem

I have the following set up in a WDS network at home:
Airport Extreme (main base station)
Airport Express1 (Relay)
Airport Experss2 (Remote)
we have 3 mac in the house (1 PB and 2 iBooks).
The system seems to work fine and we can connect to the internet etc
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1) Randomly one or other of the computers gets knocked off the network and the network message reads Airport has self assinged IP and may not be able to connect to the internet. Machine IP goes to 169.254.xxx.xxx. Interestingly in Airport Admin Utility all the airports still show 14.1.132.xx IP addresses.
This is the main issue
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Most likely problem is radio frequency interference. Try using channel 1 or 11 and see if this helps.
Unfortunately, a WDS (especially one with a relay and a remote) is going to be far more prone to problems with getting reliable data transmission than a non-WDS network. It is a known contributing cause to the Airtunes dropout problem (which you are also experiencing).

XP Pro on MacBook Pro Cannot Connect to AirPort Network

I just installed Windows XP using the Boot Camp set up utility. After I installed Windows, I went to set up a wireless network and went through the full process of setting it up. Since I've done that several times, XP Pro on my MacBook will not connect to my AirPort network. I have an airport network on one end of the house and on the other end, I have an airport express to increase the signal.
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I feel your pain! I can tell you how to get into a protected net ... just not how to STAY connected for any appreciable time! Haven't figured that one out!
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Slow file open and save across airport network

Hello -
I just purchased an Airport Extreme base station and am having some problems. I could not seem to find an answer to this issue in the archives.
I have a small architecture firm and have 3 computers networked together (iBook G4, mac-mini, and Powermac G5). The G5 is our file server. A typical CAD file size is on the order of 10 mb. Since going wireless with the Airport Extreme, opening these files has become painfully slow - 2 minutes for a 11 mb file, for example.
All computers have a strong airport signal (four bars), and internet connection on all machines is fast.
Security: WPA2
Robustness: ON
Thanks for any help you may have to offer.

(I posted this elsewhere, hope this helps you as you did not have any responses. )
Big horrible slowdowns in file transfer over wireless have me pulling my (remaining) hair out.
I had given my Apple Airport base station (b) to my brother in Pakistan after I found a Belkin (g) at Staples for free (after rebates) and have been using it for a while. Not a pretty box but the price is beautiful and it works OK.
My real use for it is for my eMac and a couple of older PowerBooks I keep downstaors as a "music studio" for my music and podcast recording (and transferring upstairs to my server folder over wireless) and web browsing.
All worked OK as I would transfer the files to my PowerBook upstairs (connected Ethernet to a router connected to the wireless router or sometimes directly via Airport connection if laptop was not at my desk). Both configurations worked fine (only limitation being my eMac's (b) speed older Airport speed).
Since 10.4.5 (as that is the last "change" I can see made on my system overall, I have discpovered I cannot even transfer a 3.5 MB file from the eMac to ANY of the other machines. After reading several threads here it seems several people have noticed the HORRIBLE SLOWDOWN if not complete death of Airport usability for file transfer. People are being made to go around changing router settings, channel IDs etc.
That sounds like typical tech support bunk to me. After all, if the channel ID on the wireless router is a problem why is my web browing going on at normal speed but a 120 MB file transfer just told me it will take 2023642128 hours. No, I am not kidding. That is the time it would take to get man to Mars. Someone else was told to hook up the machines over Ethernet. Sure, that works for machines in the same room - and is a bearable temporary solution in that case - but not in an upstairs/downstairs situation. Burning CD-Rs to transfer 120 MB files every time is also not a good way to show off Apple technology.
So, in my humble opinion, some recent update from Apple just broke something in Airport networking or Appleshare. (Much like I have found out that DiskWarrior, a hard disk repair utility will crash after completing a current task unless you downgrade QuickTime from 7.0.4 or something to a lower version. Go figure.)
I love Apple, getting friends to switch all the time, but annoyed at these bugs that basically render standard applications unusable. So far I have not been able to figure out what the problem is.
I already deleted all the network port configurations on the eMac except wireless. Activity Monitor shows 0.1 to 11 kbps speed (yes, that is 0.1 to 11 Kbps not Mbps). No other apps are running, Tried connecting to different machines. All machines can transfer data at high speed except over Airport/wireless.
Hope you can suggest a solution when you find one.
Imran

Add a pc to my Airport network

I have my Airport Extreme set-up with my Powerbook. I have an IBM Thinkpad for work and would like to set it up on my Airport. The computer detects my network, I enter my password but then it says that it cannot connect to the network, it might be out of range, etc. Any thoughts? Please help. Thanks.

The reason for turning off WEP was to confirm it is a WEP issue, you should turn it back on.
One of the problems with WEP is that the actual standard relies on a 10 character HEX key for 40bit WEP and a 26 character HEX key for 128bit WEP.
In order to make things easier for people, vendors use certain algorithms to convert simple alphanumeric passwords (or passphrases) into HEX keys, thus enabling people to use simple memorable WEP password rather than lengthy HEX keys.
The problem is that different vendors use different algorithms to generate the HEX key and therefore a ASCII password on an AEBS will be hashed differently on a Netgear client and vice versa.
One thing is a 13 character 128 bit WEP password will be hashed by all vendors in the same way (if you use 40bit WEP then a 5 character password is required).
Having said that, this will only work if they use an algorithm, some don't and in these cases you must use the HEX key regardless of the length of the plain text password.
AirPort: Joining an encrypted wireless network
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106424
Choosing a password for networks that use Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108058
Accessing a Airport Network with a Windows XP PC or laptop (with XP SP2)
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1011.html
Accessing a Airport Network with a Windows XP PC or laptop (with XP SP1)
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1010.html
Also confirm that you are not using MAC Address access control.

'No Airport Networks in Range' on OS 10.1 PowerBook G4 550MHz

Hi there, I have searched these forums and checked the FAQs without any luck finding this problem. I am working on a PowerBook G4 550MHz that used to have OS 10.4.8 and when you would click on the wireless icon it would report 'No Airport Networks in Range' and it was greyed out. You could select 'Other' and try and manually enter the wireless settings with no luck. It doesn't matter how close you are to the base station, either, it will not pick up that there is a wireless network available. I have checked that the hardware is seated properly and it is. We even have a different Powerbook G4 800MHz that has the same airport card that works fine. I swapped the airport cards and still have the same problem. We have taken it to other wireless networks with the same problem. It will get on hard-wired networks fine.
Now, we threw in a new hard drive and loaded the original MAC OS 10.1 and got it updated to 10.1.5 but we still have the same problem, no wifi, it recognizes the hardware, it just won't see a wifi network and it will not connect manually, either, it's like the range is just terrible or something. Anyone have a clue what could be going on here? I didn't see any firmware updates though I could have missed something with that. Either way, it is very frustrating. Thanks.
BTW, The router works fine as you can get other PCs and Macs hooked directly to it without issue.

Most likely, the issue is the AirPort card or it's configuration on the G4.
To setup AirPort for High-Speed Cable Internet connectivity:
System Preferences > Network > Show > Network Port Configurations
- Verify that an AirPort option exists. If it does not, click "New" to create one. (Note: If you are unable to create an AirPort configuration, the AirPort card in your computer either doesn't exist or it is not recognized.)
- Verify that AirPort is "On" (checked)
- Verify that AirPort is at the top of the list. If it isn't, you can drag it to the top.
Systems Preferences > Network > Show > AirPort
AirPort tab
- By default, join: Automatic
TCP/IP tab
- Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
- Configure IPv6: Automatically or Off
Proxies tab
- Configure Proxies: Manually
- Select a proxy server to configure: <All proxies should be unchecked unless you specifically require a proxy for Internet access.>
- Exclude simple hostnames (unchecked)
- Bypass proxy settings for these Hosts & Domains: <leave blank>
- Use Passive FTP Mode (PASV) (checked)

Is my airport network secure with Personal File Sharing on?

I have my Airport Extreme connected to a cable modem. I have a G4 tower w/external hard drive connected by ethernet cable to the airport base station. I use a MacBook laptop wirelessly around the house to access the internet.
Each computer is set up for multiple users but we don't use passwords with any of our user accounts. I have Personal File Sharing turned on in both computers and am able to access accounts and drives from the other computer in the house.
I do have password protection (WPA/WPA2 personal) set up on the Airport network itself.
Does the fact that I don't have passwords on the user accounts mean someone outside of my home could get into my home network and access my files?
Does the afp address I use to access the other computer in the house afp://10.0.XXX mean it is restricted to people outside of my home?
Any guidance someone could provide is appreciated.

Does the fact that I don't have passwords on the user accounts mean someone outside of my home could get into my home network and access my files?
No.
WPA (with a strong non-dictionary password) is going to keep everyone off you network.
If they could get on your network, then they would be able to access your files.

1 of 3 macs in home keep droping off AE network

Have had my 3 macs and airport extreme network working fine for 2 years. Now one of the 3 is starting to drop off the network and does not always respond to my password to re-access. Very slow internet when it is on the network. Works fine off my neighbors unprotected network.
No change in range and my macbook works fine sitting next to the troubled imac so no range problem. Also, iPad wifi is fine throughout the house
Any ideas??

That's plenty strong enough. Another explanation for what you're experiencing is noise. To see the noise level that Mac is experiencing, nn your Mac pull down the Apple menu and select "About This Mac". In the resulting window click on "More Info". In the resulting window select "AirPort" under the "Network" category. On the right under the name of your wireless network you'll see to the values to the right of "Signal / Noise"? In a "quiet" environment a typical noise level is in the -90s.
To compare the signal and noise on that Mac with what the other Macs are seeing, you can use the advice in the second message of this thread.
There's one other thing you can try. It might help to reset the connection settings on your Mac using these steps one at a time until the problem is resolved, recognizing that, depending on your problem, not all of these steps will make sense:
1) Use the AirPort menu bar item to turn AirPort off, then on again.
2) Try to select your Wi-Fi network from the AirPort menu.
3) In the Network panel of System Preferences delete the AirPort item from the left column, then add it back.
4) In the same panel as (3), define a new location and see if you can make that work.
5) In the same panel, select the AirPort connection item, click the "Advanced" button, select the "TCP/IP" tab, then click "Renew DHCP Lease". Note that the fix this step implements may be temporary.
6) In the folder /Library/Preferences ( _not_ <yourhomefolder>/Library/Preferences), move the folder SystemConfiguration onto the Desktop, then restart your computer. See if you can now make your AirPort connection work.
These steps may not help, but they'll only take a couple of minutes to try. Before you try these, if you have any special network settings on your Mac for things like DSL credentials, note all your network settings, because the latter steps will destroy them. If you got all the way to the last step, if things don't work any worse than before, you can trash the saved SystemConfiguration folder.

New iMac wifi slow on Airport network, not on Fastweb

I just replaced our old iMac (Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.33 GHz, Airport Extreme Card 802.11 a/b/g/n - OS 10.6.8) a new refurbished iMac 27-inch (late 2012) (OS 10.8.4). The new computer works great, except with wifi - it is painfully slow on our Airport network, even though the old iMac still runs perfectly fast on that network.
We have two wifi networks in our house (in Rome, Italy). Our internet comes in through the Italian company Fastweb, and its wireless router limits us to only 3 devices. Both computers have fast internet connectivity when we hook up one (or both) to our Fastweb network (802.11g). But that's not a good long-term solution because we need our main computer to talk wirelessly with other devices (like our printer and speakers running off an Airport Express booster).
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Could the problem lie with the Airport Extreme card in the new iMac? It is a refurbished machine, not new. Should I just be taking the machine into the nearest Apple Store? We did buy AppleCare . . . .
Thanks very much for any ideas!
--Bill

Hi RomeBill,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The article below may be able to help you with this issue.
Click on the link to see more details and screenshots.
Resetting an AirPort Base Station or AirPort Time Capsule FAQ
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3728
iOS and OS X: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199
Cheers,
- Judy

Higher End Usage for Airport Network

Greetings...
I am creating a wireless network for my company of which there are roughly 40 users who will be using it intermittently. In order to cover the area I have, I installed 3 Airport Extreme (new ones), gave them all the same wireless network name, and the exact same authentication method & password. This does allow any given person to roam around the office without losing their wireless connection, however some iBook G4's are having problems switching to a base station with a stronger signal and are instead insisting upon using one further away with a far less stable connection... I can force it to use a closer one by signing off the network completely and signing back on, but if you restart, it picks the further away base station once again. Anyone have any ideas on this? My logic for not using WDS is for more bandwidth as each base station has access to an ethernet drop. It is still better to use WDS instead of each base station having a dedicated LAN connection?

I had the same problem. So, I named each airport with a unique name and now have 5 different signons possible (5 airports). It did not fix the problem, but as I use it more and more, I am able to figure out which airport should be used for what area. Also, I use iStumbler to see the signal/noise levels in different locations. That has helped some. Still, this is a problem that Apple needs to look into. OSX just doesn't switch to the highest level airport connection when it should.
iStumbler will give you a lot of data about your wifi network and I highly recommend it. You can get it here for free, http://www.istumbler.net/ If you like it, I suggest giving the author a donation.

Front Row Movie Trailers don't work on Airport Network

I can't view Front Row movie trailers when using an airport network. However, I can see the movies if I bypass the Airport Base Station and connect my iMac straight to my DSL modem via ethernet.
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Anybody able else able to see movie trailers on an Airport network?
Andrew Montague
Intel iMac dual 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.5)
Intel iMac dual 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

There is a large discussion of this problem here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=3605
21&tstart=15
Some people have reported that removing their router
and connecting directly to the ADSL modem fixes the
problem (similar to your experience) while others
(myself included) have found that removing the router
has no effect. I suppose there is a possibilty that
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" I have got it working!
Try the following:
1 - Go to "Sharing" on the System Preferences and
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Change your Airport settings.
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If that doesn't solve it.
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Hal,
There have been a number of reports about OS X 10.4.x and Airport connections being lost and/or difficult to reestablish after waking from system sleep, often fixable by turning Airport off and then back on via the menubar icon, but I don't recall any noting loss of connection during normal use. A few possibilities come to mind as starting points for further investigation. What is the WiFi signal strength at the eMac when it does establish a connection? Are there any devices like microwave ovens or 2.4GHz cordless phones located near the eMac? What is the DHCP lease time? When all computers are online, what IP numbers as assigned by the Belkin router do they show?

Firewire HD knocks me off Airport network

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