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Unable to log into WNDR3400v2
My router has been set up and functioning for years, and I can connect with my older MacBook Pro and older Mac desktop. No problem there. However, two newer Mac computers are unable to connect. E...
Hi,
Just to finish the story:
I performed a factory reset today, then restored everything to my preferred settings, and all machines are now able to successfully log into both channels.
> [...] my older MacBook Pro and older Mac desktop [...]
> [...] two newer Mac computers are unable to connect. [...]
Actual models and macOS (Mac OS X) version numbers might be more
interesting than vague descriptions ("older", "newer").
> [...] the password (which we've entered carefully and repeatedly, and
> we're sure it's right), [...]
That is still the best explanation. One way to make sure would be to
change the wireless settings in the router to some different SSID and
passphrase, and then try these new credentials with the problem
computers. If that works, then change the router settings back to what
(you believe that) they were, and see which computers can connect and
which can't.
Most of my stuff is wired, but I can get a "Man mini (Mid 2010)"
running 10.12.6 and a MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) running
10.11.6 to connect to my D7000 with no trouble.
Do you have different credentials set for the 2.4GHz radio and the
5GHz radio? Than might explain why an older (2.4GHz-only) system might
behave differently from a newer (5GHz-preferring) system. As usual,
watch for (near-)invisible passphrase characters, like leading or
trailing spaces, and so on.
Hold the "option" key while you click on the wireless (fan) icon to
see more detailed information than you want. Channel numbers up through
11 are 2.4GHz; higher are 5GHz.
Thank you, antinode.
>Which Macs?
I've experimented with four MacBooks and one Mac desktop. For sake of brevity, MacBook Air (MBAir henceforth) running OS 10.12.6 Sierra can never connect. MacBook Pro (MBPro hereafter) running OS 10.7.5 has always been able to connect. (But see below.)
>That [password error] is still the best explanation.
Very unlikely in this case, because on the router the passphrase is visible in plain text, and I have changed and re-entered it on multiple occasions, and have been extremely careful about entering it accurately after checking the "show password" box while typing on all the Macs.
>One way to make sure would be to
change the wireless settings in the router to some different SSID and
passphrase, and then try these new credentials with the problem
computers. If that works, then change the router settings back to what
(you believe that) they were, and see which computers can connect and
which can't.I changed SSID and passphrase for 2.4GHz. At that point nothing could connect, not even the MBPro, which has never had a problem in that regard. Apparently the password was not accepted, although I was very meticulous. Changed back to original SSID and passphrase but still unable to log in with MBPro, even after I removed the network record from the Advanced WiFi panel of system preferences on the MBPro. So now no computer -- not even the MBPro -- can reach the 2.4GHz network. The MBPro (but nothing else) can still reach the 5GHz network (and at this point I don't plan to screw around with its SSID or passphrase).
>Do you have different credentials set for the 2.4GHz radio and the
5GHz radio? Than might explain why an older (2.4GHz-only) system might
behave differently from a newer (5GHz-preferring) system. As usual,
watch for (near-)invisible passphrase characters, like leading or
trailing spaces, and so on.Both had same passphrase, until I tried changing SSID and passphrase for 2.4GHz, which brough me no joy (and worse because MBPro couldn't connect to the changed SSID and passphrase, and now can't connect after I put the 2.4GHz settings back to original).
>Hold the "option" key while you click on the wireless (fan) icon to
see more detailed information than you want. Channel numbers up through
11 are 2.4GHz; higher are 5GHz.Not sure which wireless icon you're referring to. I tried that on the MBPro (option-clicking on the icon in the upper right of the computer screen) while selecting the 5GHz network in the drop-down list of networks. On the MBPro that brought up an altered log-in dialog that wanted a WPA password in a larger box with the caption "enter exactly 64 hexadecimal characters." Never have I seen that before. In any event, that was a no go.
If you are referring to a different wifi icon, please clarify.
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately, despite some interesting experimental results about what doesn't work, I'm not making any forward progress and in fact have now lost access to my 2.4GHz network on all computers, including the trusty MBPro.
> I changed SSID and passphrase for 2.4GHz. At that point nothing could
> connect, not even the MBPro, which has never had a problem in that
> regard.
That suggests that there's some dispute about the credentials (SSID,
passphrase).
> Changed back to original SSID and passphrase but still unable to log in
> with MBPro, [...]
So does that.
> Not sure which wireless icon you're referring to. I tried that on the
> MBPro (option-clicking on the icon in the upper right of the computer
> screen) while selecting the 5GHz network in the drop-down list of
> networks.
That's it.
> On the MBPro that brought up an altered log-in dialog that
> wanted a WPA password in a larger box with the caption "enter exactly 64
> hexadecimal characters." Never have I seen that before. In any event,
> that was a no go.
I was thinking of a network where you're connected. I may never have
tried it when there was no connection. The "64 hexadecimal characters"
thing is what the software normally smooshes ("hashes") your passphrase
into. You'd typically never see it.
If you meticulously feed the same credentials into the router and the
client, and the connection fails, then something is not using the
credentials which you think it's using. If you have different SSID
values for the two radio bands, then it should be clear which band
you're using. If the must-match passphrase is failing, then I'd try
again with some extremely simple one: short (near-minimum character
count), and without any special characters (spaces, non-alphabetic,
...). (There are documented cases of Netgear firmware getting confused
by special characters in DSL credentials. I've never seen a problem
with a WPA passphrase, but I haven't tried anything exotic in mine.)
If such a trivial passphrase still fails, then perhaps the router is
lying to you, and not using the passphrase which you specified. If you
get desperate, a full ("factory") reset and reconfiguration might be the
next step. (Note your custom settings before wrecking everything.)
A simple power-cycle reboot might also be a good idea after a major
change to these settings. (And recheck them after it comes back up.)
> [...] (and at this point I don't plan to screw around with its SSID or
> passphrase).
A reset would, of course, require you to alter that plan.Thanks, antinode.
Password is very simple 8-char alpha string -- same for both networks -- clearly visible in plain text in the router genie and in the Mac log-in dialog box, so not likely it is repetitively being entered incorrectly.
At this point I think I've tinkered repeatedly with all the settings, so probably not much left to do but factory reset. I'll need to save that for a propitious moment, in case I can never get connectivity back. In the meantime, I can survive with my MBPro on 5GHz network while other family members are temporarily out of luck.
Thanks again for your advice and assistance.