Graphite ABS - no wireless signal

I have been using an Airport graphite base station, circa 2000 or so, and yesterday it stopped appearing in any of the Airport menus (menu bar, Network prefs, Admin Utility).
I have connected it via ethernet and done a hard reset, and everything seems to go according to the instructions -- I can see the base station in the admin utility, change settings, update -- but once the ethernet cable is disconnected, it is invisible again.
It seems to me that for some reason, the base station has stopped putting out a wireless signal. Does that sound right, and if so, does anybody know of any way to fix it? Or has this base station just run its course (it is old)?
Thanks.

Macsdaddy, if the graphite ABS does everything except appear to broadcast a wireless signal, then yes, I'd suspect it's age-related failure.
Somewhere back in my distant memory I seem to recall the original Airport used a conventional 802.11b wireless card inside; the same type Apple sold to plug into its iMac desktops. If you aren't averse to opening the ABS you might find you can remove the card and replace it with one known to be good.
Here is an original ABS for sale on Ebay for $25, guaranteed with free shipping, from a seller with 100% feedback rating (note to moderators, no, it's not mine).
Original Airport cards sell for about as much. With brand new Airport Express base stations selling for not much more, trying to breath more life into your original ABS might be more trouble than it's worth.

Similar Messages

Snow ABS - Isn't transmitting a wireless signal?

I've done everything to try and get other (not-wired) machines to see the ABS to no avail.
I've:
Soft Reset
Hard Reset
Power Cycled Cable Modem
I can administer the ABS through Airport Admin but Airport Setup doesn't even SEE the base station (either through the wired machine OR the wireless machine).
The ABS still works as a router (the cable modem and the G4 desktop are connected through it) but it doesn't seem to be sending any wireless signal.
Does anyone have any idea of what I can do? It worked fine until last night when it was unplugged for about 15 minutes.
Thanks in advance.

The version of the Airport Setup Assistant provided with MacOS 10.4 will not work with Snow and Graphite Base Stations - which explains that particular problem you are having. You need to configure the device manually using the Airport Admin Utility provided with MacOS 10.4.
After you did a hard reset of the Snow Base Station - did you follow the mandatory "software reload" of the Base Station to get it back into a fully operational state? See:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106602
If a software reload of the Snow Base Station has been done, and if none of your computers is able to "see" the Base Station's wireless network - ie its wireless network name is not listed when you click on the MacOS Airport menu item - then it is possible the wireless transmitter in the Airport Base Station has failed.

Graphite ABS cannot connect with DHCP

I'm trying (and failing) to set up an (ancient) Graphite Airport Base Station (with latest firmware) in my boss' office.
We get our net feed through a DSL modem using DHCP, and this wired configuration works fine:
DSL modem --- (cat5 cable) ---> Mac
With this setup the mac gets an IP around 208.xxx
What I want to get working is
DSL modem --- (cat5 cable) ---> Airport Base Station
I use the Airport Setup Assistant (For Graphite), set it for DHCP, it resets the Base Station and seemingly finishes without error. I get a nice strong signal from the base station, but the base station does not connect to the outside world. Web pages will not load, ping does not work through console.
Running the Airport Admin Util, I have
Connect using: Ethernet
Configure: Using DHCP
IP address: 192.42.249.12
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Router Address (blank, ***?)
DNS: 10.0.1.1 (err...?)
The IP# looks odd, not having a router address looks odd, DNS looks odd.
I see the ABS Graphite is on the list of products that require a crossover cable if connected to a few other Apple products, but it is ambiguous if it needs one when connected to a DSL modem. I take this to mean I might need to buy a crossover cable instead of the patch cables I have been trying to use?
FWIW, I took the Airport Base Station home and set it up fine using a static IP number, but I can't seem to get set up with DHCP.
Thanks in advance
Mac OS X (10.4.7)

So it isn't odd that I would need a crossover cable to use it with DHCP, but a non-crossover cable worked fine when I set it up with a static IP?
If I'm reading your post above, you got it to work at home with a static IP address but can't get it to work in the boss's office with DHCP. It is entirely possible that the device that you connected the graphite AirPort base station (ABS) to at home has an auto-sensing Ethernet port and therefore you didn't need the crossover cable.
Using static vs DHCP IP addresses has absolutely nothing to do with the physical Ethernet connection requirements.
Also... be aware that the graphite AirPort base station (ABS) can not communicate with some cable or DSL modems. Back when the graphite ABS was the only game in town, we frequently had to recommend connecting a different router to the modem and then connecting the graphite ABS to the router.

Cannot connect to Graphite ABS with 10.4.7

I recently was given an Graphite Airport Base Station and wireless card. I inserted the card into my iBook G3 800mgz. I reset the ABS using my crossover cable anduploaded the proper software. I then configured the ABS to my ISP's require settings.
However, I attempted to select my network from the drop down menu and it does not appear. Other networks are available so I know that my card it functioning properly but no ABS. I am lost. I am unsure if my Graphite ABs will work with 10.4.7. I thought it would but now I just don't know. BTW I have reset the station several times and still nothing. Why won't my ABS show up as a selection?
Thanks for any help you can give.

erik2000, Welcome to the discussion area!
More than likely the graphite ABS doesn't work. These old base stations were prone to failure.

Graphite ABS, PowerBook and an Enet XP PC not playing together

Hi
The following configuration is giving me problems and I could use some insight. I have a cable modem connected to a hub (not a router). The hub hosts both the Graphite ABS and an XP laptop (not mine) via Enet. My PowerBook (and other Mac laptops) connect just fine with the ABS, but ONLY when the XP PC is disconnected. Plug the XP machine in the hub, and we loose use of the ABS. I am guessing that the XP machine is taking over TCP communications or the DHCP. Anyone with more insight? I don't want to "muck" around in the PC until I know for sure what I am looking for.
Thanks, Ed

Hi Ed
I would say you've hit the nail on the head. Using a hub means that both the Graphite & the XP are "visible" to the ISP through the Cable Modem. Assuming that your ISP connection is assigning IP address dynamically using DHCP (as you mention) then unless you are allowed more than one ip address you will have the problem you describe.
Most likely what happens is that the ABS has an ip address assigned by DHCP but when you plug the XP into the hub is starts casting out for an address using DHCP and the ISP DHCP server assigns a new one and invalidates the address the Graphite has. Would be instructive to have the Graphite connected, use the Airport Admin utility to find the ip address that has been assigned to it, then plug in the XP and when it is connected look in the network settings to find what ip address it has been given. It's just possible the address might be the same but the address will now be associated with the Ethernet MAC address of the XP rather than the Graphite.
Unfortunately, if you want to keep the Graphite there's not much you can do to fix this other than either get a router in place of the hub or get a wireless dongle of some sort for the XP machine to connect to the Graphite (I'm assuming it doesn't have WiFi built-in - obviously if it does then you can set that up.)
Whether you get a simple router or a wireless router is your choice. I operate a network with a basic Netgear router and use a Graphite simply as a wireless access point, i.e., not sharing ip address or providing addresses using DHCP, I leave that to the Netgear, works just fine. However, a wireless router is probably easier to configure if you don't like playing around with bits of kit Something like a Snow or an Extreme would also do the job as they have a Local Lan port (as well as the Wan port) into which you can plug the XP, either direct or using the hub if you have other bits you need to connect by wire also.
Regards...jeremy

Graphite ABS Ethernet hub LAN internet connection Problems

I have a first generation graphite ABS connected to my 5 port 10 base-T hub. My cable modem also connects to the hub as does my B&W G3.
My powerbook Titanium 867 connects to the ABS. Everything is set to DHCP. The problem is, I cannot connect to the internet with both Macs at the same time. It's like one connection is blocking the other.
What settings should I use on the ABS to enable both Macs to connect to the internet?

Using a hub in this way is incorrect. The DHCP server provided by the graphite ABS would conflict with your ISP's DHCP server and they don't like that.
Your options:
Replace the graphite ABS with a wireless base station that has one or more LAN ports (in addition to the WAN port).
Place a wired router between the cable modem and the graphite ABS. Configure the graphite ABS so that the option to distribute IP addresses is DISABLED. In this configuration the graphite ABS will act only as a wireless access point. The wired and wireless clients will all get IP addresses from the wired router.

Graphite ABS seems to be the culprit.

I was about to post this story on the iChat AV board, but thinking more and more about the problem seems to point me to the Graphite ABS. Here's a synopsis:
Since 10.4.9, I have been largely handicapped using iChat AV: I can certainly connect to my buddies, the images appear (including mine) but after a few seconds, the fps drop as if I was using an old phone line modem: choppy. I've tried to quit the audio part and restart the conversation using audio signal only, with the same results.
This is annoying in itself, and as I've pointed above, I thought it was iChat's "fault". But now, I see the same results using Skype in bith audio only and AV. And to make the story more interesting yet, everything and anything connected to the net seems sluggish: in both Firefox and Safari, pages take a long time to load. Often times I'll see "loading 12 of 15 elements" in the lower part of a Safari page, and Safari hangs for several seconds before ultimately showing the entire page.
All of the above occurs on both the MacBook and the MacBook pro in the house.
There is one common element to this story: anytime I connect to the net from home or try to chat with 'current wife', one of us is on the Graphite ABS. One would argue that the ISP may have something to do with it, but I vferified with them and they ran a few tests: their system is good.
So that leaves the Graphite ABS and 10.4.9 as possible culprits. For what it's worth, I haven't done anything to the ABS since at least last year.
If someone can direct me to possible tests to find more about this problem, I'd appreciate.
* Guy

Tesserax.
Your answer is not entirely false, but it doesn't explain why everything was operating smoothly pre-10.4.9. Under 10.4.8, there were no difficulties using the net. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that Apple advertised improvements to Airport networks with 10.4.9. Or was that something else altogether?

Can't connect to internet w/ Graphite ABS via ADSL modem

Hi,
I'm trying to get my parents set up with a wireless net connection using my old graphite ABS & airport card with his G3 iMac (I'm not sure of the precise model, it's a graphite case and I think it was the last one before the flat panels were introduced) and a new ADSL modem (D-Link DSL-300T).
- The ADSL modem is working and can get a working internet connection (verified by connecting it directly to the Mac via Ethernet).
- The ABS seems to be working, and can "talk" to the modem because it is possible to navigate into the modem's setup screens in Safari via the Airport connection.
- All Airport and network status screens/messages say the Airport is working and connected to the internet via Ethernet.
- I have checked all the modem and ABS settings with the ISP, modem manufacturer, and against my own working setup (using the same model of modem, an Airport Express, a G4 iBook and G5 iMac).
- I have tentatively ruled out a DNS problem by trying to navigate to web pages using the "numbers" (with help from the ISP) but still had the same problems.
- In every case when trying to navigate to any internet page (using its domain name or "numbers") Safari says it can't find the server.
- We've tried the old switch everything off and then back on again in the order modem -> ABS -> iMac with no success (waiting for each component to fully start up before switching on the next).
What am I doing wrong? And/or what else can I try?
I'd be extremely grateful for any help, as at the moment I feel like I've let my parents down by failing to get this working for them.
Thanks in advance,
Darren

Hi,
The connection to the ISP is fine as when a Mac (his iMac or my iBook) is connected directly to the modem via Ethernet we can connect to the internet.
So the modem seems to be working fine, the problem seems to be the ABS sitting in the middle.
(The ISP requires PPPoA but this is all correctly set up in the modem).
I'd be grateful for any further advice.
Thanks, Darren

Extending Graphite ABS range w/ Airport Express'

I'd like to use my Graphite ABS as a Primary Base Station, then add two more AEBS as a Relay and Remote Base Station. Total distance between Primary Base Station and Remote Base Station: 130 ~ 150 meters. Is this possible?

The graphite ABS can not be used to wirelessly extend a network.
You can only do this with AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) and AirPort Express units.

Graphite ABS + Windows XP Home

Hi all,
I have had no luck in connecting two Win XP Home laptops to the graphite ABS in this network. Before I go into more detail, I will describe the layout at the moment:
DSL -> D-Link 4-port router -> Linksys 8-port hub
1) DSL
This is a single-port ADSL modem connected to the WAN port of the D-Link router.
2) Router
Three of the four ports run to 3 other Win XP Home desktop machines, the last port is connected to the hub.
3) Hub
One port is attached to the hub, while the ABS is connected here.
Now, the desktop machines are running perfectly, while a G3 Powerbook has no problem connecting to the ABS. However, the problem has arisen from the two laptops with 3-Com PCMCIA cards (http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku =3CRSHPW196). I have attempted to follow instructions on http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/index.html to no avail.
Neither laptop has ever had the SSID of the ABS listed on the available wireless networks list even though the ABS is set to broadcast. However, if I enter the network manually under preferred networks with WEP/Shared mode on and the appropriate network key, the icon for the ABS network changes from to a broadcast tower icon with a red cross to a broadcast tower icon with a blue wave. I make sure that it is the only preferred network, that "Enable network access control using IEEE 802.1X" is disabled, click OK and wait around 30 seconds or so but still no connection. In addition to the blue wave icon above, Windows sometimes reports that it has found multiple networks. However, once I click on the balloon to bring up the list, it only shows the neighbour's wifi network SSID.
Trying to troubleshoot, I have disabled all wireless security on both the ABS and laptops but I still have had no luck in connecting to the ABS.
Just a query, what IP should the ABS be configured as? The router and desktops are currently using the IP set 192.168.0.X. Meanwhile the ABS is configured as 192.168.0.114 but is set to distribute IP addresses from 10.0.1.1 to 10.0.1.100. Can this pose a problem?
Many many thanks in advance!
Danny

Hi all, I managed to solve this using a Java-based application to configure the Airport from the PC. All's now well and running fine except for the low range of the Graphite.
Danny

Graphite ABS, DSL and a hub

I have an original graphite ABS (only 1 ethernet port) connected to a 5-port ethernet hub serving 1 wireless iBook and 2 wired Macs. I currently am using dial-up internet but am considering the upgrade to SBC DSL. Aside from the DSL modem, do I need to buy another piece of equipment (such as a separate router) or can I make this setup work with what I have?
Sawtooth G4 400 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Jeff, Welcome to the discussion area!
Since the graphite ABS only has a single Ethernet port, you can not connect it to the DSL modem AND support wired clients.
Your options are in order of preference:
Get an inexpensive wireless base station and retire the graphite ABS. Most of these devices typically have 4 or more Ethernet ports for wired clients. [NOTE: The AirPort Express would not work for you since it also only has a single Ethernet port.]
Get an inexpensive wired router. Configure the graphite ABS so that it (a) does not distribute IP addresses and (b) bridges to Ethernet. In this configuration, the graphite ABS will act only as a wireless bridge.

NEED HELP TO SET UP SMALL NETWORK - WIRELESS SIGNAL FROM NOVATEL U760 USB

Hello -
I need help setting up a small network in my new home in Florida, which has no wired broadband capability - not cable, not dsl. My options are satellite (which I'd like to avoid) or wireless broadband via Millenicom (or now Virgin Mobile) using their Novatel U760 USB stick.
Here are the network components - someone please tell me how to set this up:
PC #1 (has wireless card, but I've connected it by ethernet to the router)
PC #2 (no wireless card; connected via ethernet to router)
MACBOOK, 1 1/2 years old (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 gigs RAM), running OS 10.58, connected wirelessly to router.
AIRPORT EXTREME BASE STATION, Model A1143.
I'm not thrilled about using a wireless 3G signal as my primary one, (sprint network, claims 600 - 1400 kbps speed), but it costs 1/2 to 1/3 of what a slightly faster satellite signal would.
I have not ordered this service yet. Before I do, I'd like a clear understanding that I can, in fact, set up my simple network, which I'd probably do the same as it's now configured with cable broadband - both PC's plug via
ethernet into the Airport Extreme router, the MacBook connects wirelessly - AND,
my question is this:
Can I plug the wireless card - a Novatel U760 USB-stick device - straight into that USB slot in the Airport Extreme base station and will it automatically recognize that device?
Or, do I have to plug it into the MacBook and somehow share that wireless signal between the 2 PC's (only 1 of which has a wireless card, so I'd have to get a card for PC #2)?
And help anyone can provide will be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Em

from the Airport FAQ #14:
"Question: Can I connect my Soundsticks or other USB speakers to AirPort Express?
Answer: No. The USB port is for connecting a printer, not for other devices."
Im assuming other devices include USB modems.
So, I would say your cheaper route would be to get a second wireless card and just share your internet connection from one of your PC.

I just got my cable company to switch my wireless router to a wired one considering now I have the wireless airport device (the newest one) but now I can't get a wireless signal. The router works when directlyplugged in,the aiport wireless device is green

I just got my cable company to switch my wireless router to a wired one considering now I have the wireless airport device (the newest one) but now I can't get a wireless signal. The router works when directlyplugged in,the aiport wireless device is green. I've tried going through my new MacBook Pro settings and it the diagnostics check, it says network changes detected, I tell it that it "yes" does connect to a cable modem, it tells me to restart it, after I do it asks if there are any other devices hooked up ( firewall) and when I say no it tells me that it can't fix the problem.
Now I know that I probably have a new IP address because of the cable company switching the boxes but it was working fine with the other box, now there isn't a signal to be had on it!
Please anybody out there that can help!!!??

Any time you change networking hardware it is always a good idea to perform a complete power recycle with the new equipment. Check out the following AirPort User Tip. Please post back your results.

Powerbook G4 Can't See Wireless Signal

My brother gave me his old Powerbook G4 which has Airport installed (10.4.x). It picked up a neighbor's unprotected wireless signal in his apartment, then picked up the wireless signal in the Atlanta airport -- no problem.
But when I returned home the G4's Airport won't pick up the wireless router's signal in my house (with the router just a few feet away).
I have Time Warner's Wideband service and the cable modem that comes with the service is both a modem and a router with dual antennas. My Mac Mini picks up the wireless signal from that router with no problem.
But the G4 doesn't "see" the signal. The Airport wireless icon in the menu bar is grayed out when the G4 is running. But the network name shows up in the Airport icon's drop down menu. But when I try to connect to the wireless network -- nothing, in spite of it having connected on two different networks as I mentioned above.
Question: Is this G4 too old to connect to a "newer" wireless router like the one Time Warner installed? Any other ideas what the connection problem could be?
Thanks,
WK

CRMDVM -- Thanks for the helpful info -- you are probably right on both counts:
The apartments where I picked up a signal is in an "old folks" apt. complex, meaning the router I was picking up was probably old -- compatible with the G4 lineage. And the Atlanta airport probably has a wireless system to allow the vast number of old and new computers that people carry to connect.
My Mac Mini connects via WPA2 Personal security code, and I set the G4 to the same security (in the Network preference pane) but still nothing. The Airport wireless icon in the menu bar is still grayed out -- it isn't the "blank" icon as when Airport is turned off. It has the wireless wave lines in the icon, but just grayed out.
Maybe the G4 is just too old to "see" the newer wireless signal from the new modem/router.
Thanks again for your help -- you definitely provided more than I knew. (btw, I'm just above you in Union County in Stallings).
WK

Powerbook G4 Can't "See" Wireless Signal from Ubee Modem/Router

I was given a G4 Powerbook while out of town and it found the wireless signal in an apartment complex and a major airport just fine. But upon returning home it can't "see" the signal from my (Time Warner, Road Runner Extreme) Ubee modem/router. My Mac Mini's Airport sees the Ubee wireless signal fine, but the older Powerbook G4 can't. (The Airport signal in the menu bar has "bars" but they are grayed out.
Can an older G4 connect with the newer Ubee modem/router? Are there security settings that will allow this?
Tx,
WK

CRMDVM -- Thanks for the helpful info -- you are probably right on both counts:
The apartments where I picked up a signal is in an "old folks" apt. complex, meaning the router I was picking up was probably old -- compatible with the G4 lineage. And the Atlanta airport probably has a wireless system to allow the vast number of old and new computers that people carry to connect.
My Mac Mini connects via WPA2 Personal security code, and I set the G4 to the same security (in the Network preference pane) but still nothing. The Airport wireless icon in the menu bar is still grayed out -- it isn't the "blank" icon as when Airport is turned off. It has the wireless wave lines in the icon, but just grayed out.
Maybe the G4 is just too old to "see" the newer wireless signal from the new modem/router.
Thanks again for your help -- you definitely provided more than I knew. (btw, I'm just above you in Union County in Stallings).
WK

Graphite ABS - no wireless signal

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