MAC wireless question?
Discussion
magic torch said:
There are people selling 54mbps USB ones on ebay.
Think you need 10.3 or higher. Never tried them, but they'll be much cheaper.
Think you need 10.3 or higher. Never tried them, but they'll be much cheaper.
Snag a copy of the service guide or google for "disassemble <your make of iBook>". See if it has a mini-PCI slot sat waiting.
Ebay, will sell the part that goes in that slot, however unlike a Windows machine where you can throw anything in and get away with it you'll need to specifically search for an iBook AirportExpress card.
Often these are ripped out of scrapper machines but work A-OK. Fork over the cash, postie will deliver, follow the stripping guide, insert card and connect the antenna that will be inside, rebuild laptop, turn it on. Should be golden.
If for some really odd reason it doesn't have a mini-PCI (even through it was an optional extra for WiFi) then go with the compatible USB stick idea above, keep in mind though that the agro of field stripping the machine and doing the PCI card routine will result in better signal due to the antenna in the machines screen.
ThePassenger said:
magic torch said:
There are people selling 54mbps USB ones on ebay.
Think you need 10.3 or higher. Never tried them, but they'll be much cheaper.
Think you need 10.3 or higher. Never tried them, but they'll be much cheaper.
Snag a copy of the service guide or google for "disassemble <your make of iBook>". See if it has a mini-PCI slot sat waiting.
Ebay, will sell the part that goes in that slot, however unlike a Windows machine where you can throw anything in and get away with it you'll need to specifically search for an iBook AirportExpress card.
Often these are ripped out of scrapper machines but work A-OK. Fork over the cash, postie will deliver, follow the stripping guide, insert card and connect the antenna that will be inside, rebuild laptop, turn it on. Should be golden.
If for some really odd reason it doesn't have a mini-PCI (even through it was an optional extra for WiFi) then go with the compatible USB stick idea above, keep in mind though that the agro of field stripping the machine and doing the PCI card routine will result in better signal due to the antenna in the machines screen.
That's interesting, thanks ThePassenger.
The G3 iBook has a slot for an AirPort card, and the G4 iBook has a slot for an AirPort Extreme card.
My understanding is the Extreme slot is based on a mini-PCI slot, and the original AirPort slot is PCMCIA based.
You can use a Lucent card http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/6 but it's still a hassle. I can also provide the actual Apple take-apart guide.
I've taken 1000s of iBook apart, but can't say I've ever noticed a hidden mini-PCI slot. I'll have a Google, see which iBooks have them.
pjskel said:
PCMCIA (CardBus) slot was in the G3 PowerBook, G4 Titaniums, and G4 Aluminiums (15&17 only).
Airport on iBook was under the keyboard - so possibly mini-PCI based.
Airport on iBook was under the keyboard - so possibly mini-PCI based.
Unlikley to be PCMCIA if its internal, hence I suggested looking for a disassembly or service guide to see if a mini-PCI is available.
pjskel said:
Are you sure?
As per above - 4 yo iBook makes it '02 - that was the 16 MB VRAM ones, although given the P92 and 94 were discontinued mid '02, it could be they were internal CardBus based.
Spec sheets don't specify though.
As per above - 4 yo iBook makes it '02 - that was the 16 MB VRAM ones, although given the P92 and 94 were discontinued mid '02, it could be they were internal CardBus based.
Spec sheets don't specify though.
Fairly sure, seem to remember it being mentioned during one of the annual Apple accreditations. Was a while ago now.
Would explain why you can alter PCMCIA wireless cards to work in it.
They didn't move to AirPort Extreme until the iBook G4 IIRC.
I had to over-come this issue very recently with my G3 iBook - when i originally ordered the system, i didn't think i'd ever want airport/wireless networking, but now we have wireless broadband, so want to make the best use of it. After much digging around, I found out there was a usb solution - you need to look out for a d-link DWL-G122 revision B1 then go to http://discussions.apple.com/thread.j
the link on the apple support forum doesn't seem to work, so i've looked, and it seems to be here - www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Macintosh.html
this then links you through to a site that gives you a download in order to use the device as a wireless adapter on your mac. It works really well, and is reasonably priced - unlike the internal airport adapters when i was looking - which were selling for about £80! compared to £20 for the usb adapter.
the link on the apple support forum doesn't seem to work, so i've looked, and it seems to be here - www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Macintosh.html
this then links you through to a site that gives you a download in order to use the device as a wireless adapter on your mac. It works really well, and is reasonably priced - unlike the internal airport adapters when i was looking - which were selling for about £80! compared to £20 for the usb adapter.
Edited by whittaker52 on Wednesday 3rd January 12:12
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