Symptom
When you try to connect to (or "associate with") a third-party wireless access point, the password or WEP key does not appear to work.
Solution
Many third-party wireless access points use a WEP key or a password entered either as a string of hexadecimal numbers or as five ASCII characters.
To connect Mac OS X to a third-party wireless access point that is configured to use WEP, format your password one of these two ways:
1. Hexadecimal - precede the string with a dollar sign ($). For example: $123456789a
2. ASCII - enclose the characters in double quotes ("). For example: "magic"
Notes: 1. This is similar to the situation in which a third-party wireless client attempts to connect to an AirPort Base Station. But in this case, the WEP key or password must be obtained from the network administrator. It cannot be obtained using the Network Equivalent Password algorithm found in the AirPort Admin Utility.
2. Some third-party base stations offer features for supporting up to four WEP keys. On these systems, make sure that the AirPort password is entered in the primary password field (first). Other settings may be required so refer to the manufacturer's instructions for additional information.
Note: Wireless Internet access requires an AirPort Card, AirPort Base Station, and an Internet service provider, for which fees may apply. Some ISPs are not compatible with AirPort. America Online (AOL) works with AirPort software version 2.0 or later. For more information on AOL compatibility, see technical document 106591: "AirPort: How to Use with AOL." Range may vary with site conditions.