Please Help, Can't Connect

Question

Help!
I purchased 2 MacBooks for my daughters for Christmas. We were not able to connect via wireless to our WEP secured network. That day we spent endless hours talking to our DSL provider SBC and Apple both pointing the finger at each other regarding this matter. Eventually SBC recommended inserting a "$" sign before the password to connect. Unfortunately that did work for 1 of the 2 computers for about 1 hour. BTW, my wireless PCs work fine. Eventually I removed the WEP code requirements and made the network nonsecured. That actually worked for 1 week. Both New MacBooks connected instantly and the speed seemed comparable to the PCs. Although I'm not happy about having a nonsecure network, I was willing to make the change to support our new Apples. FYI, my Modem/Router is a 2Wire HomePortal 1000HG and it is running the latest update. Last Sunday, we brought the new computers to my office and both computers connected after inserting the password with the "$" preceding the password. Wow! Not a perfect scenario but OK to my standards. Last night, 1 of the 2 computers will not connect to my home non secured network. Again, we called both SBC and Apple to solve this problem and both are playing the blame game and I'm still not connected. Should I spend more money and time and buy a different modem/router? It seems like others have tried new devices and ended up with thinner wallets and still no connection.
After reading this discussion board I'm now confident that this is an Apple issue and not SBC. I'm disgusted that Apple Support Tech's are making me feel like I'm an idiot and blaming SBC. How can Apple put out a computer in 2007 that does not connect to the internet, don't they test these products? Finally, why is apple ignoring this problem? And, why are the Apple Support Tech's not admitting to this problem?
Apple needs to do the right thing. This is my first Apple purchase and I'm ready to Heave Ho both of these MacBooks into the Pacific.
APPLE, is there a fix? When will it be available?
CONSUMBERS, can we do something about this as a group?
I'm not a happy customer,
Joe
Not Connected

Answer 1

My MacBook connects to my 2Wire Router/Modem and SBC Yahoo DSL connection just fine as do all my other computers (iBook via Ethernet and 3 Windows PCs, 2 desktops with Ethernet and one laptop with Wireless and Ethernet sometimes) as well as our NAS and our Tivo on our home network.
We have a slighly newer/more expensive version of the router than you, its something like the 1701HG with the 4 ethernet ports, wireless and 1 USB port on it. We use the WPA-PSK Authentication type with TKIP encryption and that is more secure than WEP is, and like the other person said, WEP can have some problems of its own so if you can use WPA instead, I would try for that... Also, check what channel you have your Router running on as default (11 works best in my experience, but if you have neighbors that use 11 as well, then going with another channel # away from theirs will give you a better signal usually).
Also, check your power settings for the router (I put mine on 10 -the highest- to give me the best signal strength), and watch out for any possible interference (cordless phones that are on the same or nearby channel can do this, put your phone on a lower # instead) and things like using you microwave can cause interference as well.
Having a non secure (non-encrypted) network is not good to have obviously, and not just because of the way it leaves your computers open to others as in hackers etc, but just for the fact that it means anyone that can see your SSID being broadcast can then join your network and use your internet bandwidth (taking away possible speed from your usage as well as anything else they do, having it go through your broadband account).