owenmayle

Q: Advice or Help on how to get this iMac wireless?

I was recently given a iMac Gen5 20 inch and I was given a Newertechnology MAXPower 802.11n/g/b Wireless USB2.0 Stick Adapter & Extension Cradle to go with and I have installed the drivers etc but when I go to open up "WirelessUtility" as told to in the manual it automatically crashes within seconds of it opening. I'm extremely confused on what to do from here and I have little to no experience with computers as my only other computer would be a Macbook 13 inch from 2 year ago. I also was not completely sure which category to put this in I am very sorry.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 14, 2014 10:39 AM

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Q: Advice or Help on how to get this iMac wireless?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Sep 14, 2014 6:01 PM in response to owenmayle
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 14, 2014 6:01 PM in response to owenmayle

    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.

     

    Picture 1.jpg

     

    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.)

     

    Apple AirPort Extreme Card A1026

    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!

  • by owenmayle,

    owenmayle owenmayle Sep 14, 2014 6:11 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 6:11 PM in response to K Shaffer

    I opened up the about this mac and The model is "Power Mac G5" I also found no airport card installed. And also Im not sure that it's the mac's fault I was asking more along the lines of what USB wifi connecter thing I am using, The program that I am meant to use to connect to the wifi crashes itself within seconds of startup..

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Sep 14, 2014 9:45 PM in response to owenmayle
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 14, 2014 9:45 PM in response to owenmayle

    There is a possibility the software for the adapter may not

    be correct for use in the OS X version the computer has.

     

    And since it's a third party (not Apple, software or hardware)

    there would be some issues I'd be unable to address...

    So, that brings up the possibility the product maker may have

    a support site of their own; as part of their official web presence.

     

    Some USB products do not require drivers or extra software,

    however there should be a manual or instructions for the

    USB wi-fi adapter, perhaps in .PDF you could download, from

    the maker. However older hardware may have no support now.

     

    A way around problems with third party products and extra installs

    of software not part of the original OS X, would be to find a good

    deal on one of those Apple Extreme wi-fi cards like the one linked

    to above; they should be available and sometimes as cheap as

    the one shown on ebay. I was given one of them, they fit a variety

    of certain vintage Apple products; iMac G5, iMac G4 (USB 2.0),

    iBook G4 (2004; or prior to mid-2005 that has wi-fi built-in) + other.

     

    I've had no experience with the wi-fi dongle or wireless USB adapter;

    but do know there are instances where they are harder to set up than

    one would expect...

     

    Since OWC (macsales.com) handles the NewerTech - brand

    you may have to try your luck with their customer service; check with

    their web site.

     

    Is this the product you have? If so, look to see contact info on OWC site:

     

    NewerTech MAXPower 802.11n/g/b Wireless Network USB Adapter

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXP3802NU2CO/

     

    If the above (see info at page) is correct, you can get a manual

    from them as a download in PDF here, to print or read offline:

    •Printed Quick Start Guide (PDF 4.9MB)

     

    Hopefully you can talk to someone at OWC about this product, tell them

    it was gifted to you and you need to see if they can help set it up with

    your iMac G5 (specify the OS X version) and what's been happening.

     

    Sorry to not be of much help in sorting this out.

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 14, 2014 10:24 PM in response to owenmayle
    Level 6 (13,653 points)
    iPad
    Sep 14, 2014 10:24 PM in response to owenmayle

    That NewerTechnologies USB Wireless cradle and card needs OS X 10.5 Leopard or greater as the minimum OS X version to operate this USB device

    If this is what you have, then you need to have OS 10.5 or greater install on your iMac G5

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXP3802NU2C/


    Make sure you have the proper, updated drivers installed for this NewerTech device.


    http://www.newertech.com/support

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Sep 14, 2014 10:51 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 14, 2014 10:51 PM in response to MichelPM

    Appears there are two similar products, slightly different part number and price:

    One is clearance priced... I posted the cheaper one, above. Appears identical.

     

    Picture 3.jpg

     

    {The downloadable .PDF manual is the same, per my earlier post.}

     

    Mfr P/N: MXP3802NU2C ( * )

    $14.00 (4 in stock)

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXP3802NU2CO/

     

    Mfr P/N: MXP3802NU2C

    $21.79

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXP3802NU2C/

     

    Oh well... One is 'garage sale' priced.

    Knowing this may help someone!