Depending on what build model/year iMac G5 you have, the 20-inch included a
wireless card; you could look into the System Profiler (see icon in Finder, click
to see drop-down menu, choose About this Mac... click "More info" and that will
launch System Profiler. Otherwise, find the Profiler in the Utilities folder, from Go
in the Finder menu)
If the hardware is included in the computer, either by default (shipped) or added
at a later time, and installed now, it would appear in the Profiler's hardware list.
The part would be called an "AirPort Extreme card" with specs like 802.11b/g.
•iMac G5 + iMac G5 iSight - Support:
http://www.apple.com/support/imac/g5/
•AirPort + Wi-Fi -- General Wi-Fi -- Support:
http://www.apple.com/support/airport/wifi/
In any event, to use a wireless product, either the built-in card or a USB external
device, part of the setup does include opening the System Preferences (see Dock
or see menu again to choose it there) and using the settings to access Network.
You can see if there is a wi-fi option here, if hardware is present & seen by System.
The antenna icon can be dragged the top of the item list on the left side of the panel.
Other settings may be required. I'm a bit rusty at this because mine are set-up and
use an AirPort express, though I have several AirPort Extremes, put away in boxes.
When they fail, I deny any of them power and then after some time, restore power +
they just work. For the most part. The original equipment, for the vintage, is best.
There is a specific way to set up the System Preferences> Network to use wi-fi; &
the AirPort has its own setting apart from Ethernet, among choices to connect.
Choose the Advanced button in the Network screen of System Preferences to
see what kinds of options; if using an Ethernet cable, then choose it; move it up
to the top of the list in the rightside of the preference panel, so it'd be looked for
as a first priority. It is possible to have to items 'connected' with a green dot, but
usually the top-most in the list is First choice & would work. (Other options aside.)
example: about $10 on ebay...http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/261370793950?lpid=82
•Mac OS X, AirPort: Compatible third-party wireless cards
•Solutions for connecting to the Internet, setting up a small network, and troubleshooting
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=imac+g5+using+usb+wireless+adapter
There are several images that may be helpful but they don't seem to be coming up
that show what the System Preference panel options are. If you have a wireless
base station and it has been set up by another computer, it has to be of a protocol
that can be seen by the wireless card you have, if not an original Apple AE A1026;
so it can be used with a later wi-fi base station. The most recent may be a problem
in the settings. Sometimes google and other searches can be helpful. Also Apple
Support has some resources, but has been harder to use the last three years.
Hopefully during the half hour this has taken me to scrape together some old links
someone else may have replied. BDAqua, may have iMac G5 experience, & others.
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
