Netgear WPN824 MIMO: Problems connecting, configuring with Macs
We recently published a series of articles [Guide to Mac-friendly wireless routers; Mac-friendly wireless routers (#2): Which units support AppleTalk devices and work well with AirPort hardware?] discussing Mac support, documentation and compatibility concerns regarding various third-party wireless routers. The reports spurred considerable feedback from readers, indicating individual experience with routers from prominent manufacturers.
One salient point from the article series is that virtually all wireless routers are natively compatible with Macs. While many do not offer Mac-specific documentation/support, nor AppleTalk compatibility, nor support for WDS capabilities when used in conjunction with AirPort Base stations, most can at least be configured by Macs through a Web browser and deliver wireless network throughput. We did, however, note that a handful of routers actually fail to receive connections from Macs with AirPort-branded wireless cards.
MacFixIt reader Ron Eve reports that, with the Netgear WPN824 MIMO is one of those routers:
"I've just spent a considerable amount of time trying to get a brand new MacBook Pro to connect to a Netgear WPN824 MIMO wireless router with no success. Each time I get the dreaded 'An error occurred while trying to connect...' The router was set up with WPA security.
"I accessed the router via Ethernet and tried all security combinations, including no security, plus changing the type of wireless (a, b, g etc) to no avail. The only thing I couldn't change was the Channel which was set on ch 6. I even updated the firmware which added some extra WPA security options, but made no difference. The router worked fine with the previous G4 PowerBook and works fine with an iMac (PPC). I even booted up with an external Firewire drive with a clean install of the Intel 10.4.8 thinking there may be a bad file. Nope." Finally I set up a spare Airport Extreme Base station as a test, which worked perfectly."
It should be noted that different AirPort-enabled Macs use different wireless chipsets. The MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo mentioned by Ron, for instance, uses an 802.11 b g n-capable chipset that differs significantly from previous AirPort Extreme and AirPort cards. Hence the issue with this router may only exist with Macs that contain this chipset.
If you are having similar issues with this or another third-party wireless router, please let us know.
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I'd been using that RangeMax for almost year and haven't had any connection problems other than needing to reset the router every couple of weeks (for some reason it just stops transmitting a signal every so often).
I check my signal using APGrapher on my MacBook Pro and it show a very strong signal with very low noise. Using Internet Connect the signal shows full bars at all times in the house.
I'd heard that connection widgets can cause wireless connection problems, so check that out.
So I'm verifying that it is not the MacBook Pro Atheros wireless chip that is at fault since mine works flawlessly with the RangeMax MIMO.
I'm having a terrible time trying to make a connection between my cable modem, my new netgear wpn824 v2 and my macbook.
can anyone give me some help?
I've tried the set up wizard many times.
I have no problem with wired connection to my modem...and have no problem with other wireless areas. just this new netgear.
thanks,
G.
- by oxygeon January 18, 2007 6:01 PM PST
- After many of the same problems experienced here it is clear there is some incompatibility with the new version of hardware introduced with MacBookPro Duo Core 802.11 b+g+n-capable chipset and specifically any sort of WPA. If I turn off all encryption on my router I have no problems connecting to the internet. It would be interesting if the poster above also had no problem when they turned WPA on [they state they are not using encryption].
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(4 Comments)In any case, my MacBookPro 2.33Ghz Duo-Core plays just fine now with my WPN824 Netgear router. In order to get it functional [after an hour or so of frustration] seems to be to use old WEP encryption. None of the other modes seem to work at this point. Just as an added "safety" for my network I also restrict based on mac address so this is enabled on my router setup page as well.
Anyone else want to try method above [basically just use WEP or nothing at all] and confirm it works/doesnt with this router/wireless card pair? Funny that WPA still isnt really standardized between platforms or perhaps it is just apple's implementation on this new hardware for now. Hopefully a firmware fix can correct this so we can use our WPA / WPA2 again as WEP is crap.