Problem connecting to Wifi with G5

[Camille froger daniel]

Good afternoon.
I have just purchased a iMac G5 that is all working fine however I can not connect to my wifi.
I have the wifi airport card inside the G5 as I can see the list of all the wifi networks showing nearby, including the one of my flat, however when I enter the password, it says an error message: "there was an error joining the airport network xxxx".
I'd like to precise that:
1) I have changed the password of my network few times, and checked with other computers that are more recent at home, plus some iPhones, and the password is really correct, it is not a password error.
2) we live in Switzerland and use fibre, 10Mb speed. So it is a good one.

I am wondering if maybe it's not working because the encoding of the password in the router is unknown by the rather old wifi card that Is inside the g5?

My config:
Mac OS X Tiger 10.4
Power PC g5
512 MB DDR SD RAM

Thank you for your help!

Camille

 

[DJLC]

Under 10.4, I think you can support WEP, WPA, or WPA2 authentication. If you've got WPA3 enabled, that definitely won't work.

If you still have trouble, you may need to explicitly set your router to support 802.11b/802.11g clients only (disable 802.11n / 802.11ac).

I agree the issue likely has to do with the authentication protocols selected — the "password encoding" as you put it. That, or your router supporting newer wireless protocols (n / ac) may be throwing it off.

 

[eyoungren]

To add to what @DJLC has stated, if your network is WPA2 you need to have TKIP encryption on. You cannot connect if you are using AES encryption.

And your Airport Express card is limited to 802.11g speeds. Apple made no faster card for PowerPC Macs.

 

[Amethyst1]

If you haven't already, you may also need to update to Tiger 10.4.11 first (combo update) before you can join a WPA2-encrypted WiFi. Forget about WPA3.

 

[Tratkazir_the_1st]

Cable (RJ45) always better!

 

[DearthnVader]

Under 10.4, I think you can support WEP, WPA, or WPA2 authentication. If you've got WPA3 enabled, that definitely won't work.

If you still have trouble, you may need to explicitly set your router to support 802.11b/802.11g clients only (disable 802.11n / 802.11ac).

I agree the issue likely has to do with the authentication protocols selected — the "password encoding" as you put it. That, or your router supporting newer wireless protocols (n / ac) may be throwing it off.

This is likely the issue, the router using WPA3, check the router settings to see if a WPA2 connection can be enabled.

 

[Camille froger daniel]

Dear All
Thank you for your replies, it's so nice to see so many people trying to help.

I have checked with a more recent computer and our wifi is using WPA2. I think it is using AES encryption but I am not sure where I can find that... Therefore, how can I change it to TKIP ? Am not sure our network provider will allow me to change this config.

I therefore think that I only have two options:
1) I buy an old Airport Extreme base from ebay then I connect it with a RJ 45 to my network, then I set up a WEP wifi connection and then the G5 should be able to retreive it?
2) Or Could I simply find a newer Airport Express Card that understands WPA2 and instal it inside the g5?

--> Tratkazir: I need to use the wifi a we can't use a rj45 cable in our home.

Thank you everyone

 

[Amethyst1]

1) I buy an old Airport Extreme base from ebay then I connect it with a RJ 45 to my network, then I set up a WEP wifi connection and then the G5 should be able to retreive it?

WEP can be cracked in seconds so that would nullify the security of your home network.

2) Or Could I simply find a newer Airport Express Card that understands WPA2 and instal it inside the g5?

If the G5 has the optional AirPort Extreme card, it should be able to handle WPA2.

Back to troubleshooting:

• Are you on Tiger 10.4.11?
• Do you have a smartphone that can act as a WiFi hotspot you could try connecting the iMac G5 to?

 

[eyoungren]

If the G5 has the optional AirPort Extreme card, it should be able to handle WPA2.

Is the Airport Extreme card in the G5 different than those included in the Aluminum PowerBooks?

The AE card in the PowerBooks can handle WPA2, but it cannot handle AES encryption. So if the card in the G5 is the same, then the G5 cannot handle AES encryption and OP is back to square one.