Graphite base station reverted to 40 bit WEP

My Graphite base station somehow reverted autonomously to 40 bit WEP. It had been set up for 128 bit WEP with a 13 ASCII character password that yielded a 26 character Hex Equivalent WEP key when queried. (And the 26 character key was necessary for PCs to join the network.) In the process of adding a wireless multifunction printer to the network, I opened Airport Admin Utility to double check the settings, and found that it was showing 40 bit WEP, and now indicated a 10 character Hex Equivalent WEP key, apparently derived from the same 13 character ASCII password, since my MacBook Pro had no problem joining the network. I then tried to reapply the original WEP settings, but found that 40 bit WEP and None are now the only available security choices. I am running Mac OS X 10.4.11, though the base station was originally set up under Mac OS 9.2 running on an iBook G3. On the MBP I had Airport Admin Utility 4.2.3, which I updated to Airport Admin Utility for Graphite and Snow v.4.2.5. However, there was no difference in the available security choices. Any suggestions on how to recover?

Yes, it's definitely a Graphite base station. I bought it not long after AirPort was introduced, initially using it at my primary home with dial up internet on a wireless/wired network. I replaced it with an AirPort Dual Ethernet when I upgraded to cable modem internet. Later I installed the Graphite in my vacation home with dial up internet, then upgraded to DSL, on a totally wireless network, where it is adequate, if antiquated. So I have set it up three times, though the last time was several years ago. Each time, there was a choice of two WEP levels, maybe 64 and 40 bits rather than 128 and 40, but each time I chose the higher level. That was borne out by interrogating the base station for its Hex Equivalent WEP Key in order to get a PC access to the network, since the response was a 26 character Hex Key. More than one PC used that 26 character key to join the network. Now that 40 bit WEP is the only choice available in AirPort Admin Utility, when queried, the base station returns a 10 character Hex Equivalent WEP Key, though the 13 ASCII character network password has not been changed, and I have done nothing to change its configuration.

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    Message was edited by: Soriano

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