My mac laptop won't connect to my wireless router!!!?

Question

Please help me. I'm running on a mac os x with Leopard. I do not know what to do and I need it to be up before school starts! Please help!

Answer 1

Connecting to a Wireless Network Using AirPort

1) Open Internet Connect

Open Internet Connect in the Applications folder and click AirPort in the toolbar. If you don't see the AirPort icon in the toolbar, you either don't have an AirPort card installed or it hasn't been installed correctly—for instructions on installing an AirPort card,

2) Make Your Connection

If AirPort is turned off, click Turn AirPort On. Then choose your network from the Network pop-up menu. If you're prompted for a password, enter it. If the network you want to join is not in the list, choose Other and then enter the network name and password. Then click Connect.

Tip: For faster access, select the "Show AirPort status in menu bar" checkbox in the AirPort pane of Internet Connect, which will allow you to select networks and turn AirPort on and off from an AirPort menu (the icon looks like a slice of circular pie).

Additional AirPort Information

For help setting up an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express base station, use the AirPort Setup Assistant or the AirPort Utility (you can find it in /Applications/Utilities). For more information on using AirPort, choose Mac Help from the Help menu in the Finder and enter AirPort in the search field.

Top 10 Troubleshooting Tips

1) Make Sure That AirPort is On

If you can't make a connection, open Internet Connect in the Applications folder, click AirPort, and make sure that the dialog shows that AirPort is on. If it's off, click Turn AirPort On. Alternatively, if you've opted to display the AirPort menu in your menu bar, click the AirPort menu icon and be sure that AirPort: On is displayed in the menu. If not, choose Turn AirPort On.

2) Check Your Physical Location

Being free from wires doesn't mean that you can go anywhere and still get a connection. The maximum theoretical range of a wireless network is 150 feet, but range can vary based on your environment. If your connection seems spotty, make sure that there are no metal objects in the path between your computer and your base station or wireless access point. Try moving closer to your base station. Be aware that certain electrical items such as power lines, railroad tracks, and power stations, can cause communication interference—and try to avoid life situations that have you working behind concrete barriers or bullet-proof glass, both of which can impede your reception.

3) Check Your Access Privileges

If you enabled encryption on your network, make sure that you set up your base station or router properly, consult the documentation that came with your product, and that you're using the correct settings and password. If you're trying to connect to a wireless network that you didn't set up and are having difficulty, the network may require a password to access it, it will ask for one if required. If you're joining a closed network, a network with its name hidden, make sure that you've entered the network name and password correctly. If the network is secured by access control, make sure that your MAC address is registered with the network administrator—consult the network administrator for assistance.

4) Make Sure That the AirPort Port Is On

If you can't make a connection, make sure that your computer's AirPort port is active. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences, then click Network. From the Show pop-up menu, choose Network Port Configurations (or Active Network Ports) and make sure that the AirPort checkbox is selected.

5) Restart Your Base Station or Wireless Router

Try restarting your base station or router by turning it off, waiting a few seconds, and then turning it back on. Or unplug the power cord, wait a few seconds, and then plug the cord back in. Then try connecting again.

6) Make Sure That Your AirPort Card Is Installed Correctly

If you installed an AirPort card into your computer but don't see AirPort in the Network pane of System Preferences or in Internet Connect, you may not have installed it properly, although this doesn't apply to computers that came with AirPort preinstalled. See the installation instructions that came with your card. To verify that your computer recognizes the card, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu and then click More Info to open System Profiler. You should see “AirPort Card” listed in the Contents list, either under Hardware or Network. If you don't, shut down your computer and reinstall the card. If that doesn't work, try installing another card.

7) Check for Other 2.4 GHz or 5.0 Ghz Electronics

If your wireless connection is intermittent, for example it works but may sometimes drop out, make sure that you're not using other devices that use the same 2.4 or 5.0 GHz frequency ranges as AirPort technology. 2.4 GHz cordless phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and even some digital cameras can interrupt your connection, decrease performance, or decrease your AirPort signal range. Avoid using these types of devices when

Answer 2

Thats because you need to stop using the $60 Linksys and buy iRouter from Apple for $6,000.  Stop being such a cheapskate!!

Seriously, make sure your computer is set to use DHCP and auto configure all the settings.  I hate using Macs so I don't really have all the settings memorized for them.