PowerBook G3 wifi connection problem

[RushLakeGuy]

Self-isolating at home so I was cleaning up the home office and found my old PowerBook G3 Pismo laptop OSX 10.2.8. Charged and booted just fine (surprised after at least five years in a box). I am trying to connect to the internet Turned Airport on...my network showed up in the menu...however, it will not recognize my wifi password. Thoughts?

 

[eyoungren]

Thoughts?

You are running either OS9 or have not fully updated OS X 10.4.

I say that because OS9 and early versions of 10.4 cannot use WPA, let alone WPA2. And if using WPA you need to use TKIP security and not AES.

For OS9 you're going to need to use WEP.

 

[1042686]

Are you sure your pismo supports your network encryption?

edit: Doh! Erik beat me to it

 

[RushLakeGuy]

Thanks very much for the replies. I admit that my tech knowledge is sorely lacking so the acronyms float over my 75 year old head. So, is the bottom line basically this laptop is incompatible with my current wifi router?

 

[Hughmac]

You are running either OS9 or have not fully updated OS X 10.4.

I say that because OS9 and early versions of 10.4 cannot use WPA, let alone WPA2. And if using WPA you need to use TKIP security and not AES.

For OS9 you're going to need to use WEP.

The OP is running Jaguar

Self-isolating at home so I was cleaning up the home office and found my old PowerBook G3 Pismo laptop OSX 10.2.8. Charged and booted just fine (surprised after at least five years in a box). I am trying to connect to the internet Turned Airport on...my network showed up in the menu...however, it will not recognize my wifi password. Thoughts?

As above, the internal Airport card cannot handle modern encryption, and you will need to drop your security to WPA with TKIP or go down to WEP.
The other solution is to use a compatible PCMCIA wi-fi card such as the Buffalo Air Station WLI-CB-G54A, which is what I have in my Pismo.
It is Airport native, 54G speeds and connects to more secure encryption such as WPA2.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[RushLakeGuy]

The OP is running Jaguar

As above, the internal Airport card cannot handle modern encryption, and you will need to drop your security to WPA with TKIP or go down to WEP.
The other solution is to use a compatible PCMCIA wi-fi card such as the Buffalo Air Station WLI-CB-G54A, which is what I have in my Pismo.
It is Airport native, 54G speeds and connects to more secure encryption such as WPA2.

Cheers

Hugh

Thanks for that info. I wouldn’t want to reduce my wifi security so I will look into your wifi card suggestion.

 

[Hughmac]

There's a list somewhere of compatible cards but I can't find it.
However, the Linksys WPC54G also works as Airport native and is cheaper than the Buffalo card - see https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/g4-upgrades.2216067/post-28076273.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[AL1630]

Here's a list of cards that should work:

WiFi Cards for PowerBooks with PC Card Slots - Low End Mac

Getting your PowerBook online wirelessly can be tricky. I take a look at which cards work. This quest started when I first bought my Lombard PowerBook G3. It was the last PowerBook not have an internal AirPort Card slot. The Pismo – the model after the Lombard – was the first PowerBook to have...

lowendmac.com

As these cards are old tech at this point, they can be found really cheap on ebay. I have a Motorola WN825G in my PBG4, it works well and I paid $6 or 7 USD for it.

 

[eyoungren]

The OP is running Jaguar

Uh…yeah. I missed that part. Ha. Ha…uhhhhhh…

 

[1042686]

This is a perfect example of how awesome & helpful this forum community is.

 

[AphoticD]

A simple solution for the OP:

1. Connect another WiFi capable Mac to your Ethernet network or plug this Mac straight into your modem’s Ethernet port
2. Enable Ethernet->WiFi Internet Sharing in System Prefs > Sharing - choose the No password or WEP options
3. Connect your Pismo to the network and you’re online.

Treat it as a temporary solution you can enable/disable as needed.

The Mac hosting the (open) hotspot is the only other device on the unsecured network, so make sure your admin password is strong (and unique to your other devices) and disable guest access.

Depending on the hardware, the signal range will not be as strong as your modem/router, which is a good thing if you’re concerned about the openness of the network.

I often use this technique to get my Airport capable G3 portables online and for file sharing. My host Mac is normally a PowerBook G4 12”, but have had success using more recent Macs running High Sierra as a host for the G3s. I haven’t tested Mojave or Catalina for this.

 

[RushLakeGuy]

Thanks to everyone. You all have been very helpful. Much appreciation.