How to go wireless with Powerbook G3? confused!

Hi Shannon7,

I think you've been had by BestBuy - while you may be able to get the USB2.0 card working, I don't think the Belkin USB2.0 adaptor will work - the Belkin site mentions nothing about it being supported by OSX.

The router will work with any 802.11 wireless equipment, so it's worth keeping that.. but I'd return the rest

At 7 years old, you might want to consider a slightly newer laptop with a real Apple wireless card built in... it's tricky to get anything working in these system, and you'll need to go through quite a learning curve.

Shannon,

I agree with Alex...keep the Belkin router but return all that other "stuff". The sales person obviously had no idea how to setup an 8 year old Mac.

But going wireless on the Wallstreet could not be easier. If you are running 10.3.x on the Wallstreet, I am assuming you also are using XPostFacto since the Wallstreet does not support 10.3 or 10.4 natively...this should be no problem.

I am currently running 10.3.9 on my Wallstreet with a wireless connection to my neighbors router (don't do this without the "host's permission"). All you need on the Wallstreet-side is a wireless PC card that is compatible with the built-in AirPort software. These two cards will work just fine: Buffalo WLI-CB-AG54 AirStation or the Sonnet Aria Extreme 54G Wireless CardBus Card (STIG54CB).
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/wireless/

I use the Buffalo card with not problems. I have read reports (and the description so states) that 10.3.0 or higher is required for this card while the Sonnet can run 10.2.6 or higher with the AirPort 3.1.1 software installed. If running 10.3.x, be sure to update your AirPort software to the latest version for your OS via Software Update. I like to download-only the updates, quit all apps, then run each update individually followed with a restart. As you know, the Wallstreet can be extremely slow installing OSX software.

I made a mistake, I thought we had 10.3 installed,
but I was wrong we have 10.1.2. Are there any
notebook cards that will work with 10.1.2?

I don't know, it's might be much harder to find anything that works before 10.2. The biggest jump in OS X was probably between 10.1 and 10.2, and many companies don't want to write for an OS that's lacking a lot of the frameworks that have been standard for the last few years.

Shannon,

It looks like the AeroCard Universal Mac Driver from Macsense supports 10.1.2:
-----------------------
System Requirements

* Compatible PowerBook
* PCMCIA Type II Card Slot
* Mac OS 8.x, 9.x, 10.1.x
* Macsense AeroCard or other supported PCMCIA Card
* Apple AirPort Base Station or any 802.11b-compliant Access Point

http://www.macsense.com/product/networking/aerouni.html
-----------------------

You will be limited to the slower 802.11b 11Mbps PC cards.

Message was edited by: jpl

shannon,

You should have the correct hardware/software to go wireless with the Sonnet wireless card and Jaguar/10.2.6 and AirPort 3.1.1.

A few suggestions...

- Start with a fresh install of 10.2, meaning erase your internal HD before installing Jaguar...do not try to update 10.1.x nor is there any reason to have 10.1.x on the HD. You will have better results with a fresh install of just 10.2. When you boot to the Jag CD, wait until it finishes loading, then immediately go up to the menu bar without clicking any buttons and select Disk Utilities. Highlight the topmost name of the HD in the left window (not the second name down, your personal name), then select Erase; choose MacOS Extended Journaled and check the box to install the MacOS 9 HD Driver even if you are presently not going to use 9.x.

- If your HD is larger than 8GB:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106235

- When installing Jaguar, select the 'Options' button in one of the installer windows and deselect the installation of the foreign language translators and printer drivers; you can save approx. 1.5GB of HD space. You can just download/install the specific driver for the printer she will be using.

- After installing 10.2, open Utilities folder > Disk Utilities and run Repair Disk Permissions.

- Now manually download and run the MacOS X Update Combo 10.2.8; I get better results following this method. Do not run any other processes while the Update is running.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxupdatecombo10_28.html

- After installing 10.2.8, run Repair Disk Permissions again.

- Follow the same procedure with AirPort 3.1.1.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=70176

Please be aware that the Wallstreet is particularly slow when it comes to installing and optimizing software, so don't be surprised to see a very slow progress bar.

I have also found that my Wallstreet will not restart or cold start with my wireless PC card in the PCMCIA card slot, but does work just fine when the 'book is powered up. Now I am running 10.3.9 via XPostFacto plus a later version of AirPort software on my Wallstreet plus the Buffalo wireless card. I don't know whether you will have the same restriction/limitation...too may hardware and software differences.

Also, you may find that after running the 10.2 installer and the 'book restarts, the 'book may restart to the Jaguar CD again; at least this was the behavior of my Wallstreet. A simple way to extract yourself from this dilemma is to again restart but as the 'book temporarily powers off (or at the startup chime), just push an opened paperclip into the little hole next to the button on the CD-ROM tray...this will pop open the tray and allow the 'book to start to the HD.

Shannon,

Ask away...this is how you will be able to help your daughter when problems arise.

- The Netgear WG511T wireless card will NOT work with AirPort software since it uses the Atheros chipset but will work with the third-party driver from Orangeware. All of the AirPort-compatible wireless cards use the Broadcom chipset. I cannot answer which wireless card will not present a startup/restart problem when the PC card is present. You may want to contact Orangeware or read their FAQ to see if this issue is addressed. I will also try a little investigating.

http://www.orangeware.com/endusers/wirelessformac.html

- The link to the Mac OS X Combo Update 10.2.8 will take any version of 10.2.x directly to 10.2.8...no need to use the incremental or delta updates (10.2.1, 10.2.2, etc.).

- Yes, download the updates to your iMac (especially if you have a high-speed connection), burn a CD, then install them after 10.2 is up and running on the Wallstreet. Just drag the image file from the CD to the Wallstreet's desktop; don't try to run the update from the CD.

Shannon,

You have the Powerbook G3 Series "Wallstreet" M4753; I also have this model with the 233MHz/512K L2 cache. My experience with OSX on this 'book plus those experiences of many others on this and other forums is mixed.

OSX is not fully optimized for the Wallstreet...no support for the ATI video accelerator card (slow scrolling, etc.), limited SCSI, ADB and serial support (SCSI, serial and ADB ports are all legacy since 2000), no DVD support, and no floppy drive support. In addition, even with 10.2.8, the last natively-supported version, the Wallstreet can be cranky. I have also run 10.3 and 10.4 on my Wallstreet via XPostFacto and had few problems, but I was doing little more than what you expect your daughter will be doing. All I can suggest is that you give XPostFacto + 10.3 a try and see how it behaves. However, there are additional considerations since you have just posted the specs on your 'book.

- Are you sure no additional memory has been added? If 64MB is indeed the installed RAM, you are about 200MB short of a good running Wallstreet with OSX. Minimum RAM is 128MB but 256MB is better. When running, go to the System Profiler under the Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info and see how much RAM is installed plus see if you have 1x64MB module or 2x32MB modules; I believe you have one 64MB from the factory in the bottom slot which leaves the top slot open.

You can easily add a 128MB for a total of 192MB or add a 256MB for a total of 320MB. Here is an excellent company and source for Wallstreet RAM. Please keep in mind that the Wallstreet rquires a special 256MB module while smaller sizes can be generic if they meet the other specs. •IF• the top memory slot is empty, you can buy a standard height (2") 128 or 256 module; low-profile (1.5" or less) will work in either slot.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iBooks-PowerBooks/G3-Lombard/

- Your 4GB HD will be adequate as long as she does not start loading up the HD with photos and music. You can perform a minimum install of OSX using less than 2GB.

- The Sonnet Aria card will work with any version of 10.2.6 plus AirPort 3.1.1 or later; my Buffalo card (same Broadcom chipset) worked fine in 10.4.6.

- Don't concern your self with installing OSX in steps; as long as you have a retail, full-install MacOS X 10.x CD, you can install any version on an empty HD. I wiped my Wallstreet's HD, then installed 10.4 plus XPostFacto.

- If you move to 10.3, you •MUST• have a working OS on the HD to run XPostFacto; XPostFacto allows you to boot the unsupported OSX CD plus makes a few modifications to installed files so the Wallstreet can then boot the HD. I do see a space problem on the HD if you leave 10.1.x installed so you can install XPostFacto, then try to install 10.3...there may not be enough room.

Workaround #1: Wipe the HD and install a very basic 9.x plus XPostFacto; this will only use about 300MB of HD space.

Workaround #2: Dispense with the idea of using 10.3...wipe the HD, then boot to 10.2 CD and install.

- There are considerations of troubleshooting for your daughter. If her Wallstreet were to crash due to HD corruption, it will be far easier for her to boot to the natively supported 10.2 CD and perform an Archive and Install or even complete reinstall if necessary. If running 10.3 under the same scenario and needed a complete reinstall, she would have to install a 9.x plus XPostFacto, then install 10.3.

- Supposedly 10.3 is slightly faster than 10.2 but for what she is doing, this becomes a non-issue.

- If I were in your shoes, I would make it as simple as possible:

1. Install either 128MB or 256MB RAM module (they are cheap).

2. Wipe the HD, then install 10.2.

3. Have CDs for her containing a backup Jaguar 10.2, plus a CD containing MacOS X Update Combo 10.2.8 and AirPort 3.1.1. There are also Security Updates you can install after 10.2.8 by using your Software Update in System Preferences.

Please post back with any questions.

shannon,

I see my mistake...OSX, at least on the Wallstreet, does not report memory in each slot, only the total amount. It really doesn't matter whether you have a 32MB in each slot or a 64MB in the bottom slot; you will either remove a 32MB from the top slot and replace it with a 128MB or preferably a 256MB, or you will just add your new RAM to an empty top slot.

Here is Apple's procedure for adding memory:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25002

Here is a photographic guide:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/3.0.0.html

It really is quite easy:

1. Disconnect power adapter and empty both media bays.
2. Lay the keyboard on its face on the palm rest.
3. Remove the heat shield. Be SURE to use a #10 Phillips screwdriver or you will strip the heads of the screws.
4. Replace or add the memory.

The lower slot module must be no higher than 1.5 inches.