My Computer related stuff...

Airport Express client in hidden WEP protected web

Summary
Tips on how to connect an Aiport Express within an WEP-encrypted hidden-SSID wireless network using a MSWindows PC.

The Introduction
I recently bought an Airport Express. Cool device to allow (apple) Itunes to output audio over wifi-network through a 3mm jack.
Now I already *have* a non-published (hidden SSID) WEP128 "protected" WIFI-web. And I wanted this Airport Express to join this network. (Unfortunately one WIFI device can only be connected to one Wireless Network at a time (or so I believe), otherwise I would have separated the Audio-web from the file-web).
Running Windows 2000 and WinXP Pro

The fast tips:

1. Connect to your Airport Express through the web it offers (easiest through Wireless (Airport Express runs dhcp deamon on its wireless network named LIKE "Apple Network bdf213")
   
2. password of a non-configured Airport Express is "public" [1]
   
3. configure your WEP using hex-string but PRECEDE IT by "$".
   like: "$ab12f42042c41314243212aadd"
   The configuration utility will discover if NO Hex-string is put, (like it contains a "t"), but apparently without the "$" character in front of the WEP-key, it doesn't connect. [2]
   

The (unfullfilled?) desires:

• allow iTunes to simultaneously play different songs on different Airport Express connected speakers (currently is possible using VMWare so running two instances of iTunes, but seems a huge overkill).
• Join the airport express with an existing WIFI network, AND let it function as switch(router) for a new (evt. DHCP-fed) network through the ethernet port
• Attach an iPod to the USB-connector of the Airport Express (downstairs) and thus read/connect it to iTunes on the machine upstairs (over airport)
  

The Long way:
I installed the Apple Software to configure the Airport Express device. During installation, the Windows 2000 system complained (actually the installation routine complained on the Windows 2000 installation) and refused to install. The website of apple gave another copy of the software (select on apple.com the "Support" tab and then search for "Airport Express" will return amongst others a link "airport 4.2 for Windows" (version as of this writing)).
This newly downloaded software installed in Win2KPro, and only complained about the "Airport Setup Assistant" Wizard that won't be installed, but at least the installation procedure continues.

The Admin utility found the Wireless network "Apple Network aabbcc" with aabbcc the last 6 hex-digits of the WIFI-MAC address (which can be found on the label on the device next to "Airport ID" indication).

Configuring machine (my PC) apparently should be connected and configured on the network that's created by the Airport Express (running a DHCP-server), otherwise the device doesn't seem to respond. It is detected but when the Apple-program (admin) tries to read the current settings, it asks a password and fails with an error-code like "-7635").

Then Finaly I found the step by step instruction on Apples website [3], with the most important link to "joining a third-party WEP-protected network" [2].

Links:
[1] "public" password http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107454
[2] "$" in front of Hex-WEP pwd http://searchdocs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300153&coll=cp
[3] how to join an existing... http://searchdocs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302153&coll=cp

Labels: airport express, apple, wep, wifi

posted by Dieter @ 13:37