PCMCIA Wireless Card?

Question

Level 1

5 points

PCMCIA Wireless Card?

I've recently upgraded to a 15" Powerbook 1.67 from an older model, and have found that my airport reception is far lower than my old one. I've read a couple other threads here on this subject but have not found a solution. I have taken my Powerbook back to the place I bought it and the techs there say the reception matches other units of the same model and so there is no problem.

My wireless more or less works at home, though my signal strength sitting right next to my router is around the 50 range, and if I leave the room it averages about 30 anywhere else in the house (according to the MacStumbler program). The big problem I have is that i'm on the road a lot, and at hotels that offer "hotspot" services in their rooms I find that my powerbook can barely even detect the network, while my colleague who owns an iBook get at least 3 bars of airport reception.

If anybody has any suggestions, i'm all ears, but i've pretty much given up hope with the airport issue. I was thinking about buying a PCMCIA Wireless card and attaching it to my computer when i'm on trips or at any areas where my airport can't get a strong enough signal. Does anybody know if this would work at all, and perhaps recommend a good card to go with? Any help would be great!

Posted on May 27, 2005 12:11 AM

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Answer 1

Thorongil

Level 3

510 points

May 27, 2005 4:45 PM in response to Matthew Fung

I noticed that with the Tiger upgrade, Airport reception strength significantly increased...

At any rate, if you need to use a card, I suggest the Orinoco cards. They have an external antenna jack to boot...

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Answer 2

May 27, 2005 6:46 PM in response to Matthew Fung

Unfortunately you can't use a wireless PC Card (which is based on the Broadcom chipset) in additional to an Airport card. The problem is that both the Airport card and the PC Card appears to the system as the same thing of which you can only have one. What you need to do is to take out your Airport card to allow a PC Card wireless network adapter to work. I personally get kernel panics if I start my PowerBook with one (Linksys 11g PC Card) inserted. I can insert it once the PowerBook is started but it will do nothing.

One possible work around would be to use a PC Card that isn't based on the Broadcom chipset which uses it's own software to create a network port separate from the Airport network port.

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Answer 3

May 28, 2005 2:37 AM in response to Matthew Fung

See my thread here.

Kavan Sidhu, "Airport Card?", 02:50am May 21, 2005 CDT

Dell TrueMobile 1150 card works also I've heard.

But just for reference my Orinoco Classic Gold works fine on my PB G4. It detects without any software. I don't know if it overwrites the built-in or not but I still get online. No freezes.

Thanks,
ivnj

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Answer 4

Jul 22, 2005 3:11 AM in response to Kavan Sidhu

I'm also about to go wireless with my older Powerbook. Is it really as simple as buying a pcmcia card and sticking it in the slot?? do I need a special mac compatible card or will any one do?

One more thing; are there any other options that don't have an antenna or can go internally (like the airport card).

Thank you

P

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Answer 5

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Jul 22, 2005 8:45 AM in response to Philip Martin3

The only internal wireless card available is Apple's own Airport card.

If you have an older Powerbook that requires the original Airport card - get one! They are still readily availble new and used on Ebay and from web retailers like this one. Average cost these days is $75-80.

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Answer 6

Jul 25, 2005 4:34 AM in response to Henry B.

Thanks. Bought a buffalo card in the end. It's v good and fast. Thanks for your advice

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Answer 7

c{rey}c

Level 1

25 points

Sep 17, 2005 3:59 AM in response to Philip Martin3

I just bought a Buffalo WLI-CB-G54A pcmcia card for the exact purpose. I also have a 1.67GHz powerbook however I'm struggling to get the card to work at all. How did you make yours work?

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Answer 8

Sep 17, 2005 6:23 AM in response to c{rey}c

Hi Corey,

I literally just pushed the card into the slot and turned Airport on. That was it; it just worked. Sorry I can't be more help. Are you sure it's pushed in all the way? Maybe your card id a dud? Let me know how you get on.

Philip

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Answer 9

Sep 17, 2005 1:04 PM in response to Philip Martin3

Does your PowerBook have an internal Airport card Philip? The reason I ask is that, as far as I recall, the 867MHz Titanium PowerBook did not come with Airport as standard.

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Answer 10

Sep 17, 2005 1:16 PM in response to infinite vortex

No, it doesn't have an airport card. That's why I bought the Buffalo card. Philip

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Answer 11

Sep 17, 2005 3:48 PM in response to Philip Martin3

Ok that explains your lack of a problem.

A Buffalo card, nor any other Broadcom based card for that matter, is not able to operate while an internal Airport card is installed. All SuperDrive Aluminium PowerBooks as well as all current models come with an internal Airport card as standard equipment so this problem is far more prevalent than with the Titanium PowerBooks.

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Answer 12

Sep 18, 2005 3:30 AM in response to infinite vortex

Thanks for that. Hopefully Corey, earlier in this thread, will take note, as that may be his problem.

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Answer 13

c{rey}c

Level 1

25 points

Sep 19, 2005 12:47 PM in response to Philip Martin3

I have. I'm seeking advice to remove my internal AirPort card right now. It would be nice if I could do it with software. Thanks for clearing this up for me.

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Answer 14

Sep 20, 2005 3:28 AM in response to c{rey}c

I use a Verizon KPC650 Broadband card. I didn't not have to remove or uninstall anything and it works great. I did how evry have to download the software for it from a link it the verizon web site. And it took Verizon 3 days to activate the card after i Purchased it.

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Answer 15

Sep 28, 2005 12:59 PM in response to iDisciple

I just bought a LG Wireless Card for my Titanium. Airport is a bit too expensive and hard to find here in Brazil. Since my notebook has "lost" its original card, I will try working from the PCMCIA.
Model number is LWG 5410N, by the way. Any tips on how should I proceed?

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