Imac 10.5.8 airport card problems

I'm a Mac newbie. Bought an iMac in Dec 2008, used Linksys wireless router with it successfully until about October 2009.
At some point, for several days in October (perhaps after an iMac software update?) no wireless networks were found by my iMac, despite the fact that my PC laptop had no trouble connecting. Restarting the iMac, the router, and the cable modem didn't seem to help, but less than a week later, the connection "magically" reappeared, and worked fine for several months.
This week, I've experienced the same issue. Restarting (the iMac, the router, etc.) doesn't fix anything. Looking at the details in "About This Mac" from the Apple pull-down, under "Network" and "Airport Card", it says "no information found". Does this mean my iMac thinks it doesn't have an airport card? Does that mean the hardware has failed? (The airport icon in the top right corner is now just an empty triangle and clicking on it gives me a message that says "No AirPort card installed".)
Since the connection has not reappeared "magically", I've done some searching around for solutions. I see lots of posts related to MacBooks, but can't find a similar description for an iMac.
I'm grateful for any suggestions. Thanks for your patience with a newbie.

If you have not already, reset PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
and if that does not help, reset SMC (power management)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
which is unplugging the iMac and reconnecting using a precise procedure. You should disconnect ALL cables when you do this. If you have been using a crowded or old power strip, you should connect it directly to a wall power outlet for this test. Power it up with nothing connected, except for power cord. Then add only your keyboard/mouse. Any improvement with the AirPort? If all is well, you can add back any other peripheral (USB/FireWire) devices; if the problem returns, see if one of the devices is causing the problem. USB and FireWire devices can sometimes cause interference.

Similar Messages

Do I Need Airport Express If Both My iMac and MacBook Have Airport Cards

Just ordered a new MacBook that has a built-in airport card. Also will be using my good old iMac (both running Leopard 10.5.6). Since both computers have the built-in airport cards, do I still need Airport Express so I can use a WiFi network? I've already set up an Airport WiFi network on my iMac so I can WiFi my iPod touch. Isn't it the same principle? Hate to waste money if I don't have to. Also, I've got another iMac in the house that also has an Airport card (also running 10.5.6). It's in the shop for repair now so I can't try this out to see if it works - but can I simply turn on airport and internet sharing on that mac and let it use the WiFi network already set up on my other mac? Hmmm??? Thanks for any help.

Basically what you have done is utilize OS X's Internet Sharing feature on your iMac. This turns your iMac into a "software" router. In this case, you MacBook (& other wireless clients) can access the Internet through the iMac so you do not need to get a hardware router, like an Express or Extreme base station in order to do so. The only constraint is that the iMac must be on for this to work.

IMac 10.4 w/ Airport Card loses wireless connection

I just upgraded an iMac w/ Airport card to 10.4.6. Was running 9.2.2 w/ Airport card and it worked fine on home wireless network. Now, the signal stays on for 5 seconds, goes off for 1 second, and then comes back. iMac is in same location as before. 2Wire, the wireless modem maker, says I need to update Airport card driver? Can anyone please help?
iMac Mac OS X (10.4.6)

brawleymorgan, Welcome to the discussion area!
Not to worry. If you have applied all of the AirPort updates via Software Update, your AirPort card has all the updates that are available.

Internet Wifi for Imac - to buy an Airport Card or Not to buy?

Has anyone had any experience using an USB wireless adapter for wireless internet instead of using an Apple AirPort Card? There is an website called: afterthemac.com who sells this wireless USB adapter that claims it is 10x faster than having an Apple Airport Card... PLease advise if this is the way to go? Currently I use A Ethernet/Cable set up. Thanks.

I'll post it here again, for your sake:
Honestly, this is the best solution I've found in your situation:
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/wireless-networking/us-robotics/m/2519622/
Its cheaper overall (especially if you don't already have the required cage for your iMac), and monkey-easy to use. You plug it in, run the ethernet to your mac, and wa-la, you're up and running. It even has some advanced setup, and best of all-you can always use it on any other ethernet device (Xbox, PC, etc) that needs to grab a wireless connection.

10.6.2 Upgrade and old Airport Card Problems

Not sure if related BUT after spending the day from heck recovering from my 10.6.2 upgrade, my G4 Cube which was in the wireless network with an old airport card I pirated from and old macbook will NOT join the network. Airport Ext is set to use WPA Personal or WPA2 as security.
Any ideas?

no response at all

AirPort card problem

Recently I built a wireless network using a Belkin G Plus MIMI Router. Although initially I was able to connect to it, a day later my MacBook was unable to pick up any wireless network that otherwise should have come up (as it does on my HP laptop). After a shutdown, my AirPort was no longer even recognized! I did what someone said to do on another thread (take out battery > hold power button > hold apple + option + p + r + power button > wait for it to beep twice), and eureka! AirPort was back online! However, it still couldn't recognize any wireless network. Turned the laptop off and on again...and AirPort was gone again. I did the miracle key combination again (and again and again), but it still hasn't shown up.
How can I fix this? I need to use the internet on my MacBook for work, my ethernet port is busted (which is why I bought the router in the first place), and my CD drive is broken so I can not use that as well to reinstall the card.
Thanks.

oishee wrote:
How can I fix this? I need to use the internet on my MacBook for work, my ethernet port is busted (which is why I bought the router in the first place), and my CD drive is broken so I can not use that as well to reinstall the card.
Given the other things in your MacBook which are not working, it seems there could be a larger problem and the computer needs repaired.
The alternative might be to acquire a usb adapter of some sort (ethernet or wireless) and try that. At least you will have a known and working hardware configuration .. assume the usb ports in your MacBook are working.
Phil

Internal airport card problems

my airport is recognized now after doing an archive and install of the OS but it won't connect to the router. the mac mini still gets to the internet through ethernet for now but with school starting back soon thats not gonna be an option. my sisters mac mini is working fine on wireless so i know its not the router. anyone have any ideas? thanks

I upgraded through 10.4.11 with all the security, java, etc. but didnt't do the firmware. I figured if the firmware was fouled up the boot camp would be fouled up since it requires current firmware? When the airport is working or being recognized it's in the Network box except that it pops up as a red dot since it drops the signal and won't connect after about 30 seconds. I haven't tried moving it around in the list though. Just curious, but what does that do the AP? I have also upgraded the router's firmware, checked all the DHCP settings, changed the channel, and cleared all other RF devices from the area. The main reason I keep believing that it is my machine is because my sister's mac is a few feet away and it works perfect. All your input is appreciated.

IBook clamshell w/original airport card problems..

Ive been having problems with connecting to my modem; via wifi, my service provider said it broadcasts in 802.11b,g,n. in the security type box it says wpa personal, when I try to connect to it it always pops up with a error message. I'm confused lol... What should I do?

As long as it isn't WPA2, it should.
Those requirements again:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2594?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

I have an error code , 500, internal server error, Is this an airport card problem?

I get an error code, 500 Internal Server Error when I try to open Safari. How do I correct it or somehow remedy this?

Hello Thomas,
Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing with Safari when using Wi-Fi. I would be concerned about this too.
I recommend following the steps in the section labeled "Symptom: My Mac does not connect to the Internet" in the following article to resolve an issue like the one you described:
Wi-Fi: How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628
Thank you for posting in the Apple Support Community.
Best,
Sheila M.

New imac 21, airport card anomalies...

hello everybody
just to inform, as here apple ssupport didn't ptopose such "simple`" solution to a kind of network misconfiguration , bad access to web services, aso
1) after a few s=days, a brand new imac 2.5 g intel core i5 was not connecting to te router correctly.
2) when calling apple support, describing the airport icon showing @no airport card connected@,(even if the system info[locations showed a card and even the modem data on screen..) so i had to pack tje machine and travel to such apple center downtown, Polanco, and here in Mexico it's a real pleasure to ride some 2 hours in eavy traffic..
3) arriving there, no airport card problem, and the technician described me a probable motherboard saturation or even overheating situation, i said ok, will go home and see if everything keeps working fine.
4) a few days later, again, no access to web, automatic or personalized network or account adjustments seem fine.. but no way to receive or send mail, web pages crazyly slow, aso...
5) when 24 hours later no way to see nothing, even the airport icon with stripes shows just clear empty grayish icon..
6) calling again ther apple service center, again they ask me to carry the stuff downtown, must be or could be probably a configuration problem, need to be checked there, aso, no way to look for or propose some solution just by calling them aso.
7) calling ip service, we tried for more than an hour to check , trying all options, f.i. using ethernet cable (modem always good, and machine working fine then) we examined all options, accounts configuration, the automatic was not accepting a connection, system showing "Airport connected but no ip address because not attributed, or missing", aso)
8) and when changing from automatic locatoon to the configuration we had installed weeks before to help solve the connection problem , same result.
the directions of ip, router subnet mask aso were correct, changed eventually, no way, nothing was connecting., we tried quitiing such non automatic configuration to avoid possible conflicts, no results.
9) after an hour or so, the technician from my IP offered to quit the airport configuration (even with a green bulb visible that airport config was not connecting, the desktop icon was sometimes greyish, sometimes empty, aso...) and add a new one.
10) at the moment it was created (as "airport 2") ... the automatic configuration looked instantly for another ip adress, and everything works fine now..
SOSO why doesn[t apple support technicians have suchj ideas ? why did the airport icon even show a "not connected{ airport card message ?
I phoned those apple guys around, explained them the solution offerde by phone by the IOP provider, no comment, answer or even a simpe "thanks" for such suggestion , from them, whan the received such info, Hopefully will eb useful for others users, and eventually after a post here. tschuss
Form Mexico city...

Looks like this issue has hit its fair share of people. Spoke to Apple support today about the same issue. Brand new iMac 27' 2.8 quad core with 8gb of ram and I opened the box only to find my airport card was not recognized by OSX. After performing several support steps, the staff let me know that this was indeed a hardware related issue - I am not advocating this is everyone'e issue just mine.
Here is what we did to troubleshoot and determine it was hardware related.
Open system profiler / go to network and look at airport - if all you see is "software versions" your hardware is not recognized. You will need to reboot the system and clear the SMC. To do this do the following:
Unplug everything from your iMac and wait 60 seconds with absolutely nothing connected to it. After that, plug in your power cable and press the power button down, letting it go after 2 seconds. Immediately after the power button is let go - hold down option + apple + p + r you will hear 2 "bong" sounds, then let go of the keys and boot. If your hardware does not show up you will need to boot to the OSX install DVD to get a "clean" install of OSX.
Boot to OSX DVD
Insert DVD
Shut down system
Power on system - hold down C key until you hear a chime then let go. System will boot to OSX install.
Once you pass all the prompts by selecting defaults, you will come to "Install MAC OSX" asking you to select the disk where you want to install. DO NOT CLICK INSTALL. Open Utilities / System profiler. If you still do not see anything under Airport other than software, your Airport card is bad or at the very least not showing up in the OS. If you do see the airport card there, you will need to reinstall the OS to have it recognize the card.
Hope that helps!

3rd Party Router and an iMac with Airport card

Could someone assist me in setting up an older flat panel iMac 800Mhz with a airport card to a 3rd party router (Speedport W 500V). It was really easy to set up the DSL etc when connecting to an Airport Extreme base station, however I have upgraded and trying to get conencted at my parents place, which have DSL but with the Speedport W 500V modem/wireless combo - any assistance to get the two connected would be appreciated.

Is there a SW tool similar to the Airport Admin
Utility which will allow setting and management of
the third party router?
There may be (probably Windows only) or you need to use a web based configurator. It will depend on what the manufacturer of your router provides.
The manual which came with the router (it may be in electronic form) should provide guidance on how to configure the router via a browser.
iFelix

How can I tell if my airport card is working?

My slot loading imac has had an airport card functioning well for years. Currently is it on a wireless network via Airport Express shared with an airport connected ibook.
The ibook is connecting easily to the network. For two days the imac will not connect. When I go to the System Profiler on the imac , the airport card is recognized with Type, Locale, and Firmware Version, but the "current wireless network:" is listed as "wireless network is not available."
The Ibook's "current wireless network:" lists the correct name of my wireless network. Proximity is not the issue, I have the two computers sitting side by side.
I suspect this mean the wireless card is not functioning. I suppose it could also be a problem with the Imac's antenna. Are there other possible hardware or software problems? How would I troubleshoot the differences before buying a new airport card fot the Imac?
I am running 0S X 10.3.3 on both of the computers.
slot loading imac (tangerine) Mac OS X (10.3.3)

Is the iMac connected to the wireless network? In
your menu bar, are the signal lines grayed out or are
they black. Click on your airport icon as make sure
you have you network selected.
Give that a try.
P.S. I would recommend updating to 10.3.9 as well.
The wireless signal is grayed out.
What do I get additionally with 10.3.9? What harware do I need to manage 10.3.9 on this older Imac?

Airport card disappears in OS9?

Hello all
I just acquired a G4 cube. It has 640MB RAM (more is on order) and a stock 16MB video card (got a new one on the way...) and the Airport card. I just did a clean install of OS 9, and updated to 9.2.2. The entire system, including the Airport card works flawlessly under Tiger (I'm using it to type this message), but the Airport card disappears in OS 9. On initial boot in OS 9, the Airport card will show up, with four "bars" of signal in the control strip, showing it is connected to my home network (which is temporarily secured with WEP, so it will play nice with OS 9 - I've also tried it with an unsecured network). However, whenever I try to actually use the network (software update, web browsing, whatever), the bars go blank, then the Airport icon greys out and disappears. I click on it and get the message "there is no Airport card installed". Occasionally, it gives me a number "3278" and nothing else.
I don't know if this is related, but OS 9 feels a LOT slower than it should on this G4. Tiger runs a lot smoother and faster, yet there is considerable mouse lag when dragging the pointer across the screen, and a definite lag when opening applications or documents in OS 9.
Any ideas on why I can see my Airport card in X and not in OS 9?
thanks,
Rich

OK, more weirdness...
Before I received our last message, I got a strange error - I came back to the computer and there was an error box saying something like "This computer can not go to sleep because it is missing some of the system software. Please reinstall the system software.". Gulp! Sounds like a corrupted OS install...so, I wiped the drive. I repartitioned it (120GB WD drive - 4096MB for OS 9, the rest for X) and formatted it using the OS 9 disk utility software. I then booted from the "Software Install" disk and let 'er rip. I wound up with an OS 9.1 partition...and...all of the original Airport card problems were back!!! I tried to put the machine to sleep, and got the above error again.
So I reformatted again, and this time used the "PowerMac G4 Cube System Restore" disk, which reset everything to factory defaults from a disk image. Again....no Airport, and no sleeping due to "missing system software". What in the name of the Force is going on here...?
I am now running extended Apple Hardware Tests and will report back.
Of course, everything works perfectly in OS X, so I'll probably just let it live in Tiger land...but this is seriously challenging my Mac geek cred...LOL
And just a side note - OS 9 installs SO much more quickly than X! I've been able to completely reinstall twice now in rather little time!
Rich

Older airport cards, pre- airport extreme

Hi all,
I hope this isn't too far off topic, but there isn't really a catagory for Airport card usage.
I have a PowerBook 15" DVI (667Mhz) with an Airport card installed. I haven't opened the case to inspect it, but it was installed new, so I am assuming it is the older Airport model and not the extreme model card. I want to put the card from the PowerBook into my G4 800Mhz iMac. I have checked the Apple support and it seems to be the model card for the iMac, although the info for the older cards was not too specific. Could anyone confirm this for me please?
My ultimate plan is to hardwire the Powerbook to the DHCP modem and bridge the iMac with an Airport Express.
Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated, be it negative or positive.
Thanks in advance.

As iFelix confirmed, yes the G4 800 MHz iMac requires the original AirPort card.
My ultimate plan is to hardwire the Powerbook to the DHCP modem and bridge the iMac with an Airport Express.
Please explain this in more detail. Cable/DSL modems typically only have a single Ethernet port. That output can be connected to either the PowerBook or AirPort Express.
The AirPort Express only has a single Ethernet port so you can't connect both the modem and PowerBook to it.
If you connect the modem to the PowerBook then there is no way to connect the AirPort Express to the PowerBook.
The AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) has 2 Ethernet ports. This would allow you to connect everything like this:
modem-->[WAN] AEBS [LAN]--> PowerBook

HT4199 I use an IMAC thas has the latest version of OSX. Lately I have had problems with my internet connection...now I see that my airport card is turned off. How can I turn it back on...I have done the obvious things in the network menu...even gone to

I have an IMAC that uses OSX maverick (10.9..) I cannot connect to the internet because my airport card is turned off. I .have tried repeatedly to turn it on, ,going into assist in diagnostics, as well as the opening wireless menu. I am thinking the card might have died. How can I run diagnostics on the card? How can I fix the problem? Java mama

Click the Wi-Fi icon in your Mac's menu bar.
If it looks like this, it's off:
Click it and select Turn Wi-Fi On.
If it looks like this, it's already on but something else is wrong:
If it looks like something else, describe it or post a screenshot.

Imac 10.5.8 airport card problems

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