MacOSX 10.3.8 system with original Airport card can't connect via WPA/WPA2

Hi all,
My WiFi network consists of an Airport Express running a WPA/WPA2 Personal network and 802.11b/g compatibility, upon which 3 Macs (all with Airport Extreme/G or /Draft-N cards) and 2 PCs (both G compatible) merrily connect to.
I have an old PowerMac G4 which I've just fitted with an original non-Extreme Airport card, and having updated MacOSX 10.3.8 with Airport 4.2 to enable WPA access, it still refuses to connect to the network; I get the "There was an error joining the Airport network ..." when the correct password is entered.
My understanding is that while the old Airport cards don't support WPA2, they do support WPA and thus if the Airport Express network is set to WPA/WPA2 and b/g compatibility (which I'm assuming is some kind of all encompassing compatibility mode, given there's also sole WPA2 options) then it shouldn't have any problems connecting to the network. What am I missing here?
Cheers, Ben.

I am having the exact same problem. Powerbook G4; original factory installed airport card; with Panther 10.3.9 OS plus updated 4.2 Airport Admin. Utility. It will NOT connect to my Airport Express set to the WPA/WPA2, which is working fine with my iPod touch.
When I get to the screen requesting password for my chosen airport network ("Wireless Security: WPA Personal), the "OK" button is grayed out and it will not even let me submit a password to connect. Can somebody help?

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I suspect you are probably entering the WPA password into the old WEP password field on your Powerbook. If you are, that will never work. You need to have the system asking you for a WPA password not a WEP one, and if you're software isn't current you won't be given the option.
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If you are as unlucky as me you may find that even this doesn't fix your problem. I'm now getting the message that my password is not accepted - a step forward but not a cure.
If you do manage to get it going (and all advice is that the OSX upgrade and new drivers usually do the trick), let me know what your fix was!
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JanSo wrote:
My problem is, that my PowerMac G5 with an Airport Card can not find the Airport Network from the Expreme Station. But I can see all other wlan-networks.
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
In AirPort Utility how is your AirPort Extreme configured in the AirPort panel, Wireless tab, Radio Mode list? If it's set to 802.11n only the AirPort card in your G5 probably doesn't support that.

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Hi,
I recently just purchased a used Powerbook G4 867 512M and installed an original airport card. The signal strength indicator seems to flicker in and out from no strength to highest but mainly resting at the "second" bar strength. This laptop is sitting next to a G4 tower which is getting full strength. Is there a possible issue with my laptops connectivity? Should I re-seat the airport card? What could be the issue?
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Hi,
Duane. Althoughity, I didn't verify whether the card had any physical connectivity issues, I don't think that is the problem. I made the simple move in location and that seem to have change the "bar" strength. I guess where I was was not a good area for network connectivity. Thanks for possible solutions and causes.

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Replacing the antenna might be an option; on the other hand, the PCMCIA cards didn't use the Airport antenna and they didn't work either...
Right — so it definitely isn't an antenna issue.
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Temporarily turn off the wireless security on the 1st Gen AirPort Extreme, then see if the iBook can connect to the wireless network that way.
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