Powerbook G3 Series - What PC Card can I use? 11b or 11g

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Level 1

19 points

Powerbook G3 Series - What PC Card can I use? 11b or 11g

I recently dusted off my Powerbook G3 Series (233 MHz - 160 MB RAM) so I can have internet access in yet another room in my house. I'm trying to find a wireless PC card but not sure which one to use.

I have read that I should use a 11b PC card because I'm running 9.2. I'm considering updating the OS to 10.2.8, which is the highest I can go with this model and amount of ram. That would mean getting a 11g PC card instead of the 11b.

I have also read that the 11g PC card requires at least OS 10.3 to run.

Is this accurate? Do I need to keep my Powerbook G3 running on 9.2 and use the 11b card just to connect to my wireless network?

Thanks!

15" Macbook Pro 2.2 GHz; G4 AGP with 1GHz (upgrade), Mac OS X (10.5.7), 17" G4 Powerbook 1.67 GHz; Powerbook G3 Series; 8600 (9.2.x) Still goin'

Posted on May 28, 2009 5:15 PM

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Answer 1

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

May 28, 2009 7:58 PM in response to Itraveler

Itraveler,

You can use an 802.11b PC card with both OS9.2 and 10.2.8. I wouldn't worry at this point about the speed difference between a 'b' (11Mbps) and a 'g' (54Mbps) unless you plan on downloading large files, speed is important, and you have a high-speed cable ISP.

In OS9.2, just install AirPort 2.0.4...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120120

...then add the 802.11b Lucent WaveLAN or 802.11b Orinoco PC Card.

In OSX 10.2.x, download the freeware utility WirelessDriver and use the same PC card.
http://wirelessdriver.sourceforge.net/

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Answer 2

Itraveler Author

Level 1

19 points

May 29, 2009 5:00 PM in response to jpl

Thanks for clarifying, JPL. No sense in letting a working Mac go to waste, even if it is 11 years old.

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