WiFi problems on my apple

May 9, 2005 9:42 AM

My iBook AirPort card connects to WiFi ports, but won't successfully connect to any sites. What might be the cause? Any settings to fool around with? Thanks!
posted by inksyndicate to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

When you say you connect to WiFi ports, are these ones you are authorized to be on? Does it work on your own wireless network (if you have one)? If you are just opening up your iBook and see there are networks in your list, it doesn't mean that they are public. Sometimes they are, you never know.

Can you give some specific info on where you are finding these open networks (which is what I assume you mean when you say "WiFi ports")? Are you ever able to get onto a network wirelessly?
posted by qwip at 10:13 AM on May 9, 2005

Not nearly enough detail. Could you post the output of the following, run from the terminal? (Terminal is located under Applications, Utilities, if you haven't found it before.)

ifconfig en1

cat /var/run/resolv.conf
posted by eriko at 10:54 AM on May 9, 2005

When you say "WiFi ports" how many have you tried really?

The reason I ask is that its possible to connect to a wireless network but if that network is not connected to the Internet then you will see the situation you describe.
posted by vacapinta at 10:54 AM on May 9, 2005

I've often seen a problem, where you have to specify a DNS for your computer. Ussually you can get one dynamically, but, this doesn't always seem to work with Macs. Try finding a DNS IP and punching that in there and see if it works.
posted by trbrts at 9:35 PM on May 9, 2005