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Q: Power Mac G4 10.2.7

My husband was recently given an older model Power Mac G4 with OS X 10.2.7.

How can we set this up to wireless internet?

I've read so much about Airport Extreme, Airport base, etc. etc. that I've become totally confused.

 

Thanks.

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 1:08 PM

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Q: Power Mac G4 10.2.7

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Oct 22, 2013 1:12 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 10 (312,625 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2013 1:12 PM in response to Puppro

    You need to add an 802.11 card or component. These include the AirPort card and third-party 802.11 cards.

     

    (91365)

  • by Puppro,

    Puppro Puppro Oct 22, 2013 1:18 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 1:18 PM in response to Niel

    Would this be the item? http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/251320031211?lpid=82

     

    And do you know of instructions online of how to install?

  • by Puppro,

    Puppro Puppro Oct 22, 2013 1:23 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 1:23 PM in response to Puppro

    This is the sphere mac - don't know if that makes a difference.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Oct 22, 2013 2:56 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 2:56 PM in response to Puppro

    Hello, I think that is also called the G4 iMac Flat Panel, or Lampshade iMac!?

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2256

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 22, 2013 3:49 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 6 (13,762 points)
    iPad
    Oct 22, 2013 3:49 PM in response to Puppro

    Can you look for a plate a sticker on the outside of the iMac that will give us more info about this G4 iMac?

    If this is a newer iMac G4 model, there are a few USB connection solutions that might work, also.

  • by Puppro,

    Puppro Puppro Oct 22, 2013 4:26 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 4:26 PM in response to MichelPM

    Imac G4 PowerMac4.5, OS X 10.2.7,
    Model no. M6498. 800 MHz, with flat panel LCD 17", AGP x2 x1 expansion slot.
    80GB, 5400 RPM.

    Also our connection is WPA2. Not sure if that impacts anything or not.


    Thanks!

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 22, 2013 6:34 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 6 (13,762 points)
    iPad
    Oct 22, 2013 6:34 PM in response to Puppro

    Your only option is the Airport card you found on eBay.

    This is the correct card you need.

    As far as a wireless router or router/modem, you can use any of Apple's Airport products or any other third party hardware from Belkin, Netgear, Motorola, etc.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Oct 22, 2013 6:48 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 6 (13,762 points)
    iPad
    Oct 22, 2013 6:48 PM in response to Puppro

    I would consider upgrading the OS to OS X 10.4 Tiger for decent performance.

    You need a full retail OS disc with a black background with a silver "X" on this disc/s.

    You can try and find these on Amazon or eBay. The disc/s maybe expensive.

    You're going to need either a full retail OS X install disc or a set of system restore discs.

    For the restore discs, You need to contact Apple in order to get OS X 10.4 Tiger  from Apple, assuming they still have copies.

    Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775

    These discs will be replacement OS install discs.  You will need to give the rep your Mac model and serial number and you'll, also, need a credit card as there is a nominal fee of around $18 for processing and shipping of the disc/s.

    The serial number should be on the plate or sticker you found all of the other info.

    Assuming the optical drive still works in this Mac, those replacement system restore discs should boot up the Mac.

  • by Glen Doggett,

    Glen Doggett Glen Doggett Oct 22, 2013 10:57 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 4 (1,875 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2013 10:57 PM in response to Puppro

    Puppro wrote:


    Also our connection is WPA2. Not sure if that impacts anything or not.

    that old AirPort card supports 802.11b (the slower 10 Mbps speed rating) and I am not sure if this supports WPA2, a standard which came out later.  You may have to change your WiFi router to the older  compatible settings for 802.11 b and unsecure WEP.  (not sure if the router can operate at both 802.11 b slow speeds and 802.11 n 130 Mbps faster speeds, so this may slow down all your other devices.)

     

    If you are not moving the iMac around often, and have an open wired port on your router, then just run a long Ethernet cable, those can run very long distances with little  signal loss, go around the room under the carpet, through closet, out the window, whatever, once it's in place the speed would be much faster than that old Airport Card. 

     

    Another option might be an Ethernet to WiFi adapter, this basically plugs into the Ethernet port, but you might have trouble finding one that is compatible with the older Mac OS X 10.2.  You might be able to connect it to another machine running like 10.4 or higher to configure it to connect to your router, then plug it into the iMac, not sure.  like this one for example:

    http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Universal-Ethernet-Adapter-GWU627/dp/B004UAKCS6/ref =cm_cr_pr_product_top

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Oct 23, 2013 12:36 PM in response to Puppro
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 23, 2013 12:36 PM in response to Puppro

    Also our connection is WPA2. Not sure if that impacts anything or not.

     

    With 10.2 and the Airport card, you are only able to run the old and unsecure WEP protocol. To run WPA with the airport card, you will need to upgrade to 10.3 or 10.4. 

     

    For the best web experience, update to 10.4.11.  Use the tenfourfox web browser.  Max out your ram memory.

     

    To get WPA on your current configuration, use:

     

    Ethernet Bridge Solutions

     

    1. Please note these require or allow mac os x 10.5 or greater to configure or windows xp to configure. Please verify requirements before buying.  Once configured, you can use it on any ethernet port.
    2. Ethernet Bridge
      "The versatile Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge can make any wired Ethernet-equipped device a part of your wireless network."  from linksys example:
      http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-RE1000-Wireless-N-Range-Extender/dp/B005FDXMJS/ref =sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314563758&sr=8-1
      has optional browser based solution.
    3. Airport Express
      Airport Express is an external unit and you can configure it as a bridge.  802.11n ( You will need a more modern version of Mac OS X to configure.  Sadly, Apple uses a configuration program to configure, not a web browser. )
      https://www.apple.com/airportexpress/