JenW

Q: iBook & Wifi Basics...Help Please!

We have an iBook PPC G3 that has been a real workhorse over the years. It has never been connected to the internet. The iBook has Airport Admin Utility and Airport Setup Assistant installed. It has OS X 10.2.8 installed. (We are not planning to update the OS)

 

1.) Can we connect to the internet wirelessly with this computer? How? (I need details...I am unskilled/not very knowledgeable in this area!)

2.) Do we need AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme to connect?

3.) Will our other devices (PC, Wii, XBox, iPad, etc.) be able to connect thru this as well?

 

Please help me with understanding this. We mostly use the computer for writing Word docs, but would love to be able to access the internet sometimes if possible.

 

Thanks!

iBook, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Mar 20, 2013 8:27 AM

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Q: iBook & Wifi Basics...Help Please!

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  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Mar 20, 2013 8:48 AM in response to JenW
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Mar 20, 2013 8:48 AM in response to JenW

    Hello and welcome to the support community.

     

    First of all a iBook G3 comes with an Airport card.

    These Airport cards are restricted and will not connect to any wireless network with an encryption type of WPA2. If your wireless router is set to WPA2 then you would need to change that to either WEP or WPA. Now you wont be able to connect to a WPA encrypted network while you have Mac OS X 10.2 installed. I'd welcome your suggestion to upgrade to Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

     

    My advise would be to do so first before trying to connect, as the Airport firmware is better supported for Mac OS X 10.4.

     

    To connect to a wireless network, make sure your Airport card is installed (You can see it active by going to System Preferences and then Network.) If it's not active switch it on and then look on your Menu Bar at the top right in finder to see a signal icon. (Near the clock) Click that and a list of available wireless networks should show. Click your wireless network and enter the pass code when promoted. If all seems okay, you should be connected.

     

    You don't need a Airport or Airport Exterme base station to connect. Just a wireless router.

    Can other devices connect thought your iBook? Nope, but you can connect your devices like Xbox's, iPad's to your wireless router in the same way as your iBook.

     

    Here is a guide that could help you further:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1145

     

    Hope this helps