Hello all. I'm after some advice please. I was given an imac the other day, which was very lovely. However, I can't use the Internet on it. It can find the signal from my wireless box, but won't connect to it (although my iPhone connects just fine). The iMac appears to want to find an airport base station, which I don't have, and don't especially want to buy. I'm wondering if the iMac has previously had an airport card installed. If so can I remove this (and how?) and would this solve the problem? Or any other ideas very welcome!!! Many thanks julia
Hooking up iMac with wifi without an airport
- Thread starter Julia0000
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- Your Mac's Specs
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The iMac (unless you have the latest version of OSX Lion) uses the term Airport to describe it's wifi hardware.
In practice it's the same wifi capable equipment you'd find in most laptops, wireless adaptors etc.
You don't need an Apple Airport Extreme, Express etc to connect. You can use your existing router setup.
However, your router may not be configuredcorrectly for a reliable connection.
Can you click on the Apple symbol top-left and choose "About This Mac".
Please post back with the "Version", "processor" and "Memory" info from the pop-up that appears. This will let use know which iMac you have and which version of OSX you have.
As far as the wifi goes. Click the Airport/wifi icon once then click on your network. Does it fail to connect at all or does it prompt for the password?
Do you know if the router uses WEP or WPA security?
The make and model of your router will help too.
In practice it's the same wifi capable equipment you'd find in most laptops, wireless adaptors etc.
You don't need an Apple Airport Extreme, Express etc to connect. You can use your existing router setup.
However, your router may not be configuredcorrectly for a reliable connection.
Can you click on the Apple symbol top-left and choose "About This Mac".
Please post back with the "Version", "processor" and "Memory" info from the pop-up that appears. This will let use know which iMac you have and which version of OSX you have.
As far as the wifi goes. Click the Airport/wifi icon once then click on your network. Does it fail to connect at all or does it prompt for the password?
Do you know if the router uses WEP or WPA security?
The make and model of your router will help too.
Hello mr plow (like the star wars pic!) Thank you for taking the time to help me out. So this is a Mac OS X Version 10.4.11 / Processor:800 MHz PowerPC G4 / Memory: 256 MD SDRAM / Startup Disk: Macintosh HD. Thank you first for helping me find this info as I had no idea!!!!
When I select my network from the list it asks for a password, then after I enter it (I've checked it's correct password by logging out and back in from my iPhone) a pop up appears saying "there was an error joining the airport network [my network name]".
I'm afraid I have no idea which type of security my router uses. However, it is made by netgear and there are three codes on the back (I don't know if any of these mean anything to you!!) 272-10398-01, also under a barcode labelled MAC is 00146EE8CBE, and under a barcode labelled SERIAL is 1J3265B312E85.
Many thanks again for your help Julia
When I select my network from the list it asks for a password, then after I enter it (I've checked it's correct password by logging out and back in from my iPhone) a pop up appears saying "there was an error joining the airport network [my network name]".
I'm afraid I have no idea which type of security my router uses. However, it is made by netgear and there are three codes on the back (I don't know if any of these mean anything to you!!) 272-10398-01, also under a barcode labelled MAC is 00146EE8CBE, and under a barcode labelled SERIAL is 1J3265B312E85.
Many thanks again for your help Julia
Oh and I don't know if this is relevant but the router has an aerial sticking out the back, and there is a matching one sticking out the back of my old pc, which connected ok, although there is nothing sticking out of the iPhone which also connects ok!!!!
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Ok, it sounds as though the type of wireless network your Netgear Router is creating isn't compatible with your Mac.
The simplest fix is to connect the iMac to your router by cable. All the wireless connection issues will just go away. If that's not a oractical locution I can help you configure your router correctly for all your devices.
Please use the link below to identify your router and I'll be able to give you specific instructions to solve your problem.
Where is my Model Number?
Just as a note the aerials on your iMac and your iPhone are internal which is why they aren't obvious as on your pc and the router itself.
The simplest fix is to connect the iMac to your router by cable. All the wireless connection issues will just go away. If that's not a oractical locution I can help you configure your router correctly for all your devices.
Please use the link below to identify your router and I'll be able to give you specific instructions to solve your problem.
Where is my Model Number?
Just as a note the aerials on your iMac and your iPhone are internal which is why they aren't obvious as on your pc and the router itself.
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Check for software updates through Ethernet because my macs are known to do that when they are not up to date.
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