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Mac Mini core duo upgraded with Atheros Airport Extreme

An update for those interested - In a posting Nov 12, 2010,

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2645856

Al Cellier said : Earlier this year I upgraded my mid-2006 Mac Mini (Core Duo) with an (Macbook Original Wireless WIFI Card 802.11n AR5BXB72 - Atheros) Airport Extreme Card to get N-WiFi. That works fine in Leopard 10.5.8; but in 10.6.4 & 10.6.5, I can't get connected to my router. Is a new driver needed for 10.6 ? Network Utility / Info Tab / Network Interface (en1) reports "Model: Wireless Network Adapter," as (802.11a/b/g/n). As an aside, the Bluetooth seems much flakier now than with the original card.


The update, as of July 21, 2011 has that now that I have installed 3 antennas onto the WiFi card instead of just one, and now the Mini works great in Snow Leopard 10.6.8 !!!

We are getting full 300Mbps status on the n protocol.


No added drivers or tweaking, just the antennas and the system update (system update alone was not enough).


Mac user since 1984, and an optimist ...

iMac 2.8GHz 2008; Tiger on G4/1.25DP FW800; Mini-1.66GHz; PwrBk G4-12, Mac OS X (10.6.8), and new MBP13

Posted on Jul 21, 2011 9:33 PM

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3 replies

Aug 6, 2011 9:46 AM in response to cadillacjoe69

I purchased 2 extra antennas (I found the seller on ebay; they are small circuit boards with attached cable and tiny connector). They sit just outside the box at each rear corner, and are taped to the housing; the cables were fed into the unit thru the ventilation slots, carefully routed to the wifi board where they snap into place. Unfortunately I didn't take photos inside; I could photograph the antennas sticking out, if you want.

Mac Mini core duo upgraded with Atheros Airport Extreme

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