Airport Card alternatives

Question

Level 1

0 points

Airport Card alternatives

Perhaps anyone can help me.

Within the past 3 years two Airport Cards have broken down. At first there is erratic connection behaviour with the antenna signal in de menu bar flickering. Later on, no accesspoint is found anymore, even within 1 mtr. from my own router. So, no connection is possible anymore. The Airport Card is properly recognized by the PC.

Before going to another Airport Card, which is increasingly difficult to find, i wonder why two Airports cards have broken down. Running too hot for some reason? Weak part? Or maybe just bad luck.

Anyway, because i didn't trust the router at first i bought a new 802.11n class router (Sitecom 300N) with a matching USB dongle suitable for Mac. I installed the USB dongle firmware (driver and utility for OS X 10.4) and all seemed to work again. Then, after computer standbye (either forced or by time out), the PC did not recognize the USB dongle anymore. Each time, a complete restart was neccessary. When contacting Sitecom customer support, they suggested a firmware upgrade for the USB dongle driver and software utility. This resolved the USB driver issue but now ethernet function became unstable and gets lost without an apparent reason during internet browsing sessions.

I discarded of the USB dongle and installed so called Powerline Home Plugs through the ethernet port of the PC. This works. However, my REL Quake subwoofer which is "on standbye" makes a clicking sound every second or so as a result of these plugs. I disconnected the subwoofer, but evidently this is also not the perfect solution.

Therefore, i would prefer another Airport Card. Or something comparable.

*My question is :* since the Airport Card fits in the PCMCIA slot (PC-card) of my notebook (however, it is not recognized bij Windows XP, code MTD 0002), and an airport card is nothing more than a wireless ethernet adapter 802.11b class, *will another brand of PCMCIA card format ethernet adapter (perhaps 802.11g class) function in an iMac G4?* With or without additional software installation (driver).

Message was edited by: Anton_Dutch

Message was edited by: Anton_Dutch

iMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 20, 2009 2:42 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

May 20, 2009 8:15 AM in response to Anton_Dutch

Hi,

Has the antenna been properly connected to the AirPort card?

Although AirPort and PCMCIA card connectors appear to be similar, it is not as easy as that. Pro primo, the dimensions: a normal PC Card has a built in antenna. Then the chipset; without the correct chipset, the card will not work in the Mac. So, I would not even consider any modifications. Either use an original card from Apple or a totally different solution.

Another alternative could be a wireless Ethernet bridge (also known as a gaming adapter) connected to the Ethernet port. There are 802.11g models from several manufacturers (and at least one 802.11n draft type, Linksys WGA600N). These devices do not require special drivers.

Jan

Reply

Answer 2

Anton_Dutch Author

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2009 9:19 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Thanks for you reply, Jan.

I did check the antenna connection, it was not loose.

A wireless ethernet bridge is an alternative i did not consider but it sounds useful. I will explore this option.

On this forum there is talk about certain PCMCIA card connectors that go in to the airport slot of e.g. G4 notebooks. And that is supposed to work, even without a new driver.

So, to rephrase my question : has anyone tried this in an iMac G4?

Message was edited by: Anton_Dutch

Reply

Answer 3

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

May 20, 2009 10:54 AM in response to Anton_Dutch

On this forum there is talk about certain PCMCIA card connectors that go in to the airport slot of e.g. G4 notebooks. And that is supposed to work, even without a new driver.

Some PowerBooks have a normal (external) PC Card slot, in addition to the internal AirPort connector. A PCMCIA card could, of course, be used in that PC Card slot. With the proper card chipset, I guess that it would be possible to use AirPort software in such a case. Otherwise, third-party drivers will be needed. This is not what you are thinking about?

I have heard about people experimenting with modified PCMCIA cards (such as older Orinoco models with the appropriate chipset), where the antenna portion somehow has been removed, for internal AirPort connectors. I do not know whether this has been successful; but even if it would work, I cannot see a real reason for it, since original AirPort cards can be found (albeit with some difficulty).

Jan

Reply

Answer 4

Anton_Dutch Author

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

As i understand it, an Airport Card consists of a Broadcom chipset. Number unknown to me.

And yes, i am thinking of third party software in combination with an Airport Card alternative. For instance : <http://download.cnet.com/Mac-OS-X-Wireless-Driver/3000-2112_4-10259478.html?ta g=mncol> The reason is the breakdown of two consecutive Airport Cards.

I also came across the name Orinico. Removing the (usually) plastic antenna cover of such a card will reveal the actual antenna. It should not be to difficult to connect it to the internal antenna wire of an iMac G4.

But, you are correct, why bother and not buy another Airport Card? This remains an option as long as no one comes up with a positive experience using a PCMCIA card (Orinoco?)in the Airport Card slot of an iMac G4. The wireless ethernet bridge you suggested might also be the way to go.

Reply

Answer 5

May 21, 2009 8:06 AM in response to Anton_Dutch

Hi, which G4 PowerBook have you got? As Jan mentioned the airport slot in our PowerBooks is not a PCMCIA slot so you can't just install any card in there.

Have you tried these 'bad' Airport cards in another PowerBook or iMac just to rule out that it isn't your PowerBook that is the problem. Just seems odd to me that you have had multiple card failures.

Overheating could be an issue, does your G4's internal fan come on at all?

If your PowerBook has a PCMCIA slot on the side you can use the Microsoft MN-720 wireless card through OSX without any special drivers. The Orinoco cards you mention would probably be the Wavelan series. I use these on OS 9 PowerBooks but I find the Microsoft card plug and play on OSX.

Reply

Answer 6

Anton_Dutch Author

Level 1

0 points

May 21, 2009 11:12 AM in response to Niteshooter

{quote:title=Niteshooter wrote:}...which G4 PowerBook have you got?{quote}Thanks for the reply. Not a PowerBook, my question concerns an iMac G4 desktop computer (the half-a-ball).

{quote:title=Niteshooter wrote:}Have you tried these 'bad' Airport cards in another PowerBook or iMac...?{quote}Yes. They don´t function anymore.

{quote:title=Niteshooter wrote:}...does your G4's internal fan come on at all?{quote}Yes. It blows all the time. And the base unit doesn't run hot.

These Orinoco cards with a Wavelan chipset should be interchangeable with an Airport Card i understand. However, Orinoco cards are not readily available to me... Should Mac OS X 10.4 not be able to recognize some other cards as well since it contains several card drivers? As i hear this works for the G4 PowerBooks so why not for an iMac G4 desktop PC in the Airport slot?

Have you ever tried to put another wireless internet PC-card (PCMCIA format)in the Airport Card slot of an iMac G4 (which you will possess without a doubt 🙂 )

Reply

Answer 7

May 22, 2009 11:50 AM in response to Anton_Dutch

Ah, ok NOT a PowerBook. In that case you are finished as the slot in your iMac G4 is NOT a PCMCIA slot and therefore will not accept any PCMCIA wireless network cards.

There are reports that the Orinoco Wavelan cards will work in the airport slot, I don't know as I have not tried one. My main comment would be that it won't fit because of it's built in antenna. The other problem I do have with this is that these cards did not work out of the box in OSX. I've tried it and decided that the MN-720 was a better route to go as it does work. But again this card has a built in antenna so it probably won't fit.

Finally, if your iMac has fried two wireless cards what are the odds it will fry a third???? I check the service source on this and airport failures are catagorized as,
-replace the airport card
-replace the airport antenna
-replace the motherboard...... <ouch

So my comment would be run ethernet to her.

Kevin

Reply

Answer 8

Anton_Dutch Author

Level 1

0 points

May 23, 2009 11:58 AM in response to Niteshooter

Thanks for the input. I am now searching for a wireless ("gaming")ethernet bridge. And indeed, replacing the motherboard is not an option. I will check the antenna though.

Reply

Answer 9

JGC8483

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2009 7:49 PM in response to Anton_Dutch

I'm having a similar issue... I an iBook (With airport card), a windows pc, and a dell laptop. I've never had any problems with the mac's connection until recently. It doesn't seem to pick up my home router/internet, but everything else does. It will pick up other hot spots though... Thoughts?

Reply

Answer 10

Anton_Dutch Author

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2009 11:09 PM in response to JGC8483

Airport card (relative) insensitivity could be an issue. Also, when you live in a populated area, interference with another wireless router (newly) broadcasting is an option. Using the same or adjacent channels is the cause. Many don't change the default channel 11 in the router. So, go to another channel. It is convenient to use specific software displaying the different WIFI spots with broadcast channel so you can make the best choice. That was channel 3 in my case (practically everyone uses a high channel number).

To be clear, this is something else than my airport breakdown issue.

Message was edited by: Anton_Dutch

Reply

Answer 11

May 26, 2009 8:17 PM in response to JGC8483

Another source of interference could be cordless phones especially one's operating in the 2.4GHz spectrum.

It's funny I still use the old Pismo PowerBooks and find they have better range with the built in antenna than the Lombard with a PCMCIA card. But it could be something specific to your setup and iBook.

I guess in the mean time check and make sure it is actually turned on and working, can it see any other local signals? Check the antenna connection if it is an internal card just in case it has worked itself loose.

K

Reply

Answer 12

Anton_Dutch Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2009 4:26 AM in response to Niteshooter

In the mean time, i acquired another Airport Card that was used by the previous owner in an iBook Bleuberry (clamshell). And it works! So far, so good...

It functions with WEP encryption. However, I seem not to be able to get WPA (or WPA2) encryption working. Mac OS X 10.4 supports WPA encryption formats, but could it be that the wireless ethernet adapter itself, in this case the Airport Card (802.11b), must also support WPA encryption? Or is this an OS dependent function?

Reply