Connecting a "foreign" MacBook
SiKing
I was told something today, that I find difficult to believe, but unfortunately
I do know enough about this myself. Perhaps someone here can enlighten me.
I purchased a brand new MacBook in another country (Czech Republic in this
case), and brought it over to Ireland. I made the (apparently wrong) assumption
that I will be able to travel with the _portable_ MacBook anywhere in the world,
and connect it anywhere to a _standard_ WiFi network. After a few hours with
Eircom last night, I was told that they haven't got a clue. This morning I
called up Apple, and they told me that different countries have different
channels they are _allowed_ to broadcast on. Apparently I cannot change this
channel on the MacBook I will need to change it on the modem. So, anywhere in
the world I travel and any Internet cafe that I go to, I will need to convince
the admin there to kick everyone off, and to change the channel for me so that I
can surf for a while? Further, if it is even possible to change the channel on
my modem, am I going to be (theoretically) breaking any laws if I change it? If
I am broadcasting on my MacBook using the channel that it is set to, is that
breaking any local laws?
Does any of this even sound plausible?
TIA for any insight.
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James
> I was told something today, that I find difficult to believe, but
> unfortunately I do know enough about this myself. Perhaps someone here can
> enlighten me.
> I purchased a brand new MacBook in another country (Czech Republic in this
> case), and brought it over to Ireland. I made the (apparently wrong)
> assumption that I will be able to travel with the _portable_ MacBook
> anywhere in the world, and connect it anywhere to a _standard_ WiFi
> network. After a few hours with Eircom last night, I was told that they
> haven't got a clue. This morning I called up Apple, and they told me that
> different countries have different channels they are _allowed_ to
> broadcast on. Apparently I cannot change this channel on the MacBook I
> will need to change it on the modem. So, anywhere in the world I travel
> and any Internet cafe that I go to, I will need to convince the admin
> there to kick everyone off, and to change the channel for me so that I can
> surf for a while? Further, if it is even possible to change the channel on
> my modem, am I going to be (theoretically) breaking any laws if I change
> it? If I am broadcasting on my MacBook using the channel that it is set
> to, is that breaking any local laws?
> Does any of this even sound plausible?
WiFi uses 13 channels in Europe but only 11 of these channels are used in
the USA. However the channel in use is determined by the fixed Wireless
Access Point at any geographic location and not by the PC/MacBook. When
you power up your laptop it should scan for a wireless network and (if one
exists) it will automatically determine the channel in use and use it to
communicate. In other words, the laptop does not decide what channel to
use, the fixed wireless Access Point in eg an Internet cafe will determine
the channel in use. I carry my laptop to different European countries and
to the USA and it automatically determines the channel in use and uses it.
I'm not familiar with the MacBook settings but you should make sure the
TCP/IP network properties associated with the WiFi device are set to obtain
an IP address and DNS server address automatically. Also if you are trying
or testing your MacBook on a WiFi network with encryption you will have to
make sure the WiFi encryption settings on the MacBook match the network you
are using. This is likely on a home or business network but public
locations like Internet cafe's normally don't use WiFi encryption.
Eamon Skelton
> I purchased a brand new MacBook in another country (Czech Republic in
> this case), and brought it over to Ireland. I made the (apparently
> wrong) assumption that I will be able to travel with the _portable_
> MacBook anywhere in the world, and connect it anywhere to a _standard_
> WiFi network. After a few hours with Eircom last night, I was told that
> they haven't got a clue. This morning I called up Apple, and they told
> me that different countries have different channels they are _allowed_
> to broadcast on. Apparently I cannot change this channel on the MacBook
This all sounds very unlikely! AFAIK Apple AirPort is 802.11g compatible
and should be able to connect to a standard wireless AP.
> I will need to change it on the modem. So, anywhere in the world I
> travel and any Internet cafe that I go to, I will need to convince the
> admin there to kick everyone off, and to change the channel for me so
> that I can surf for a while?
What channel is your MacBook on? What happens if you try to change it?
> Further, if it
> is even possible to change the channel on my modem, am I going to be
> (theoretically) breaking any laws if I change it? If I am broadcasting
> on my MacBook using the channel that it is set to, is that breaking any
> local laws?
Low power, short range devices operating between 2400MHz and 2483.5MHz are
licence exempt. This covers all the standard wi-fi channels.
http://www.comreg.ie/sector/default.asp?S=4&NavID=139&M=#100145
http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47284
> Does any of this even sound plausible?
Not very. I doubt that the Czech Republic would use a different wi-fi
system to the rest of Europe.
It is more likely that you have a configuration problem or you are trying
to connect to an encrypted network.
HTH.
E.S.
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SiKing
> On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:09:52 +0100, SiKing wrote:
>> Does any of this even sound plausible?
>
> Not very. I doubt that the Czech Republic would use a different wi-fi
> system to the rest of Europe.
That is what I assumed. So at least I'm not, contradictory to Eircom.ie and
Apple.ie tech support, stupid. :)
> It is more likely that you have a configuration problem or you are trying
> to connect to an encrypted network.
It is, or should be, an encrypted network. It's my modem a home. I also have a
mobile phone that connects with no problems.
I guess tonight I will try it again with all encryption off, at least to prove a
point that the thing connects. Don't know where to go after that ...
Thanx.
Eamon Skelton
> That is what I assumed. So at least I'm not, contradictory to Eircom.ie
> and Apple.ie tech support, stupid. :)
Don't be so mean, there are some very nice people in Bangalore :-)
> I guess tonight I will try it again with all encryption off, at least to
> prove a point that the thing connects. Don't know where to go after that
> ...
>
> Thanx.
Thats the best way to test it. You could also try some wireless monitoring
software like Kismet: http://www.kismetwireless.net/
I run it on Linux. I think the Mac version is called Kismac.
Good Luck.
SiKing
> I was told something today, that I find difficult to believe, but
> unfortunately I do know enough about this myself. Perhaps someone here
> can enlighten me.
> I purchased a brand new MacBook in another country (Czech Republic in
> this case), and brought it over to Ireland. I made the (apparently
> wrong) assumption that I will be able to travel with the _portable_
> MacBook anywhere in the world, and connect it anywhere to a _standard_
> WiFi network. After a few hours with Eircom last night, I was told that
> they haven't got a clue. This morning I called up Apple, and they told
> me that different countries have different channels they are _allowed_
> to broadcast on. Apparently I cannot change this channel on the MacBook
> I will need to change it on the modem. So, anywhere in the world I
> travel and any Internet cafe that I go to, I will need to convince the
> admin there to kick everyone off, and to change the channel for me so
> that I can surf for a while? Further, if it is even possible to change
> the channel on my modem, am I going to be (theoretically) breaking any
> laws if I change it? If I am broadcasting on my MacBook using the
> channel that it is set to, is that breaking any local laws?
> Does any of this even sound plausible?
I just noticed a typo up above. The second part of the first sentence should
have read: "... I do _not_ know enough about this myself."
OK, so according to Apple's own website
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58567>, all of Europe is on the
same channel.
Yesterday I turned off the WEP encryption on the modem, and the MacBook connects
fine - although it has an issue accepting something like that as a _preferred_
connection. I have another wireless device, which connects to this modem with or
without WEP encryption just fine. So just to prove that I did not make a typo
when entering the WEP key, I connected to the modem with the MacBook through
ether, and copy-pasted the key rather than typed it out. Still nothing. So I
think the problem is obviously with the WEP key in the MacBook. But what is the
problem?
TIA, SK.
Eamon Skelton
> Yesterday I turned off the WEP encryption on the modem, and the MacBook connects
> fine
That is a good start.
> I connected to the
> modem with the MacBook through ether, and copy-pasted the key rather
> than typed it out. Still nothing. So I think the problem is obviously
> with the WEP key in the MacBook. But what is the problem?
It is probably something silly. Are you using a HEX string for
the key or a pass-phrase? I don't think there is an accepted
standard for generating keys from a pass-phrase. The same phrase
might might not produce the same key on two different devices.
It is better to use a HEX key. When you copy and paste the key,
make sure you don't paste any spaces before or after the key.
How many HEX characters are in the key? Most wireless devices
will work with 128 bit WEP keys. You should have 26 characters
in the key. Something like this:
"f6de48b6ac27fe3b60117ccab1"
If this fails, try using a 64 bit key with 10 HEX characters.
If all else fails, you could try WPA. It is a lot more secure
than WEP.
SiKing
> On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:52:57 +0100, SiKing wrote:
>> I connected to the
>> modem with the MacBook through ether, and copy-pasted the key rather
>> than typed it out. Still nothing. So I think the problem is obviously
>> with the WEP key in the MacBook. But what is the problem?
>
> It is probably something silly. Are you using a HEX string for
> the key or a pass-phrase? I don't think there is an accepted
> standard for generating keys from a pass-phrase. The same phrase
> might might not produce the same key on two different devices.
> It is better to use a HEX key. When you copy and paste the key,
> make sure you don't paste any spaces before or after the key.
Hex, 'cause there is no way to convince the modem to take a passphrase. It will
only take a phrase to "randomize" the hex key.
> How many HEX characters are in the key? Most wireless devices
> will work with 128 bit WEP keys. You should have 26 characters
> in the key. Something like this:
> "f6de48b6ac27fe3b60117ccab1"
The input UI on the MacBook actually checks for the correct length, so if enter
any more/less it will not allow it.
> If this fails, try using a 64 bit key with 10 HEX characters.
The MacBook will take _only_ 128-bit WEP key.
Although now that I think about it, that might not be so true. The prompt for
the field says "128-bit", but as you type the digits in, the Accept button keeps
greying out/in depending on the number of digits you have inputed. It was in
(meaning I was able to push on it) when I got up to 64-bits...
> If all else fails, you could try WPA. It is a lot more secure
> than WEP.
Will have to try this tonight.
<sigh>