Mini with no airport card

I talked my friend into buying a mini some time back. I should have been sitting next to her when she ordered it -"Why would I need airport? I'm not going to take it to the airport!"
So. NO airport card but she would like to connect to wireless broadband. I understand it is a giant hassle installing an airport card after the fact and I have been looking at USB connection options but none specify that they will work with the mini. Has anyone had any luck finding an after-market solution to this problem? I feel kinda responsible for getting her in this mess ...
thank you,
Lucinda

Actually, it's a wireless print server with a 4-port switch. It's the cheapest yet most reliable device I've found for putting wireless on wire-bound devices. Advantage for the mini is that it won't take up a USB port, it's fast and it'll provide a local switch in case you want to add a printer to the network -- either USB or ethernet there as well.
Meshing or using WDS to extend a router may work, but I wouldn't bother with the extra effort. Either cut the wireless bandwidth in half for each unit you add.
The best solution is to buy an Aiport card and plug it in if the means can be found. But for $80, those little Netgear wireless print servers can't be beaten. Nearly indestructable, works without fail.

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Hi, I have a power Mac G5 with an airport card and I am having a hard time connecting to my regular NETGEAR router. Any help, Hi, I have a power Mac G5 with an airport card and I am having a hard time connecting to my regular NETGEAR router.PLs help

Hi, I have a power Mac G5 with an airport card, MAc OS X 10.5.8, Wireless card is Airport Extreme ( 0x14E4,0x4E ) and I am having a hard time connecting to my regular NETGEAR router. PLS Help,
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Mishcadola

I spent 2750 $ for my 24" iMac (price for my region)...
And the perfect world of Steve Jobs still close, but never we've been in there!

HT5211 My HP 2355 won't show up in AirPrint? I have it plugged in via USB and set it up on my Mac mini with the airport express network. Any advice?

My HP 2355 won't show up in AirPrint? I have it plugged in via USB and set it up on my Mac mini with the airport express network. Any advice?

Unless your HP printer is an AirPrint-ready device, just connecting it to the USB port of the AirPort Express base station will not make it so.
On the other hand, connecting a non-AirPrint printer to the base station's USB port it can be shared out by the base station's print server. Please see the following Apple Support article for details.

Mac Pro with no airport card installed

I have a Mac Pro with no airport card installed....Can I just purchase an Airport express and connect by ethernet to the Mac pro.... I use Air port Extreme as my router for other computers

Yes, this is referred to as a ProxySTA in the business.
HOWEVER, this only became available with the 802.11n Express. I haven't yet seen it OFFICIAL if the new second generation still supports ProxySTA. I'm a bit hesitant to say yes, because the new express leans a little closer to the Extremes which work quite differently. (haven't had time to test this yet myself)
I'm curious, why you don't just run an ethernet from your extreme to your Pro... I'm guessing because of the distance?

Does Mac Mini have inferior Airport Card?

Ok after days on the phone with numerous Apple tech reps and no answers I want to hear from other Mini users.
Problem is I cannot get the Mini to pickup the Airport Extreme base station in the other room which is only 17' away, through one wall. Have eliminated all possible interference issues. Changing channels in the Airport utility didn't help. When the Mini was in the same room as the Airport I had no connectivity issues. Airport was hard wired to an older iMac (lampshade).
Now if I move the Airport closer and in direct view of the Mini (in separate room) I can pick up the Airport on the Mini. Not a strong signal but I do get a wireless connection. Soon as I move Airport back and out of view it drops. Also if I close door to room signal drops.
Next thing I did was reverse the computer scenario. I hard wired the Mini to the Airport and placed the iMac in the other room. Had no connectivity issues here at all, in fact the iMac had a very strong signal even with the Airport placed over 20' away behind a wall and door closed. To me that seemed to eliminate any interference issues.
So next call to the Apple tech I suggested that maybe I have a bad card in my Mini. He respectfully disagreed and said the iMac has a better antenna and that is why it had no connectivity issues. So I asked him if the Mini Airport card was inferior to the iMacs, even though the iMac was about 6 years old. He said no and then said I needed to speak with higher level Apple techs. He transferred me but after 2 hours on hold I hung up.
So do I have a bad card in the Mini or is just an inferior product? Seems to me that I shouldn't have these problems connecting the Mini wirelessly. Seems absurd to have to have the Mini and Airport base station in direct view to get a connection. Anyone else with these issues? I especially want to hear from users in 12,000' MacMansions using Airport and the Mac Mini.

The simple answer to your question is no, the mini doesn't have an inferior Airport card. In fact, it uses a standard card that can also be found in other Apple products. However, it does have a smaller antenna, and of course the antenna is mounted inside what amounts to a metal enclosure which makes the system a little less sensitive to wifi signals - particularly if there is anything placed directly on top of the mini's casing. It also means the mini's wifi reliability is affected a little more by sources of interference in the area, thus things like microwave ovens, cordless phones, other wifi networks on the same or adjacent channels, structures which reflect or deflect radio signals etc will tend to impact on the mini's signal strength and connectivity somewhat more than might be the case with other wifi devices in the same location.
Typically you will find that even small changes in the location of the mini or wifi access point will affect signal quality. In this situation I would be inclined to download a copy of something like AP Grapher (from www.versiontracker.com) and use it to examine the strength and quality of signal, trying to find a location where the mini or access point give optimal signal strength and lowest noise.
It is also possible that while the Airport card in your mini is working perfectly well, the connection to the antenna is not firmly made. If the system has been worked on at all, this is not an unusual problem, and there have been indications of some minis being sold where the airport antenna is not firmly connected, giving poor (or even no) wifi connectivity.
I must say that at one point I had a very poor connection to my domestic wifi from a G4 mini used as a media center, such that moving data to it became quite tedious and prone to failure. I found the Airport signal strength was generally quite low, despite there being little more than about 20 feet between the system and base station. I checked the Airport base station's transmission strength and found it had been set low, so reset that to full power and that helped a great deal, but eventually replaced the Apple base station with a Belkin wifi router, and that has resolved the problem completely.
Since wifi is merely radio at a frequency and power that is susceptible to interference, deflection, absorption and degradation, even over short ranges, there can be many factors affecting signal strength and quality. Usually a bit of experimentation with positioning devices helps a great deal, but you may want to get your mini checked to ensure the antenna is correctly located and firmly connected.

MacPro with no airport card + airport express

Got an Ipad last week. Got an Airport Express this week. Tried to setup a wifi network since 2 days trough ADSL modem. Mac Pro as no Airport Card. Ethernet port 1 goes to modem. Ethernet port 2 goes to Airport Express. Successfully configure Airport Express from MacPro. Can see network from Ipad but no internet connection. The question is: Am I loosing my time? Is there a way to setup so that I can get internet on Ipad?
Thanks.

Hey Bersan, I know it was a long time ago, but i'm trying to do exactly the same right now, but you did not post one information:
1* Enable Internet sharing from Ethernet 1 (PPP) to Ethernet 2 (Airport Express).
2* Manually configure IPv4 on Port 2 with address 192.168.2.1. Submask at 255.255.255.0 And the Router? What do i put???
3* In Airport Utility create a wireless network. Setup connect via Ethernet.
4* Share connection should be deactivate (bridge mode).
5* Manually configure IPv4 in menu TCP/IP.
IP:192.168.2.12
Subnet mask:255.255.255.0
Router:192.168.2.1
DNS:192.168.2.1
You did not explain how to fill the "router" field on the Ethernet 2 form...
Can you help me?
Cheers!

Can i use ipad mini with european sim card

is ipad mini unlocked? Can i use it with european sim card?

at least non of the other ipads been sim locked so I'd guess not

Time capsule with no airport card on a macpro

Hi there, i have being unsuccessful trying to access to the internet via a TCapsule device with no modem on the WAN port, this modem is on other room computer in my office and there is no possibility to change location, the mac pro came w/o the airport card and i supposed that with the TC will not be necessary ....is this correct or do i have to install the AP card, ...on the other hand trying to configure the TC i see in fact the wireless access point and input the password but my machine just cant access the internet...

I don't think you're understanding what a TC does...
How are you seeing other wireless networks? Using what? The Mac Pro? I thought it doesn't have a wireless card in it? Or are you saying the TC sees other wireless networks? Or are you talking about some other machine you have that has Wifi?
The TC can run in 2 different modes -
1) It can act as a router/Access point. You plug your modem into it's WAN port, plug your computers into it and they all get network access THROUGH the TC out to the modem.
2) It can act to bridge/extend an existing wireless network. ie, if there's another wireless network that is open/unencrypted, or that you know the key information for, you can have your TC talk to the other Access point and the TC can extend the access point to your location, allowing your Mac to talk out through the TC to that other AP and then out to the net though whatever connection that other AP has to the internet.
In reality, if you bought the TC to do #2, you spent a WHOLE lot of $$$ for no reason... plus you're at the mercy of somebody else's network.. The reason you're seeing those other networks, but not getting any internet off them is because you're probably not able to log into their secured WIFI networks...
Just move the TC into the other room and, hook the modem to it's WAN port, hook all the computers to the other ports on it, and you're good to go. What you're trying to do is very screwy and not really a good idea in general.

Getting started with this airport card

I have an ibook g3, so i bought an airport card to give me wireless access. i don't have a base. i planned on using the airport card to get wireless in coffee shops. Can i do that?
Also, i can't get my computer to recognize that an airport card is in it.
Please help!

Hi Pixi:
It appears as if you puchased the "Airport Extreme" card that may not be compatable with your older iBook. Since your iBook is an older model, you will need the original Aiport card that supports "802.11B" only. The new Airport Extreme cards are for the newer macs that support 802.11B/G
Here's a link to the card you probably need: http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Apple-Airport-Card-80211b-p-16144.html
Once properly configured, you will be able to connect to the wi-fi spots as long as they offer 802.11B service.

I have a strange WPA problem with my airport card

To set the scene, I'm using a powerbook G4 with built in airport card. My home router is a Belkin Pre-N MIMO.
I have had a recurring problem with the router for a few months now, I don't quite know when it started, but it has gotten to the point where I must do something about it.
The security on the router is set to WPA PSK with a TKIP system. I understand that in order to preserve the integrity of the encryption, the WPA key is routinely changed. In normal circumstances, this transfer is instant, but for some reason on my powerbook, it results in the computer becoming disconnected from the Internet, although it thinks it is still connected. Even more strangely, only port 80 is affected by this, as ftp, POP3, online games and instant messengers work fine.
Disabling the security on the router seems to fix the issue, but leaves the network open to others. Other wireless computers, including a G4 MDD with a Belkin Wifi card, are not affected by this issue.
I thought it might be a problem with my powerbook's built in wireless card not dealing with the WPA key change process, but i'm not sure. I'd appreciate any insight.

This was solved by buying an Apple Airport Base Station.

Seting up airport extreme basestation with out airport card

I just ordered a mac pro and will be getting the free ipod touch under the educator back to school program. It was only later that I discovered. How much I will be missing on the ipod touch with out wifi. I tried to add the airport card to the mac pro but it was to late as it is on it's way here now.
We have dsl and I was wondering if I were to buy the airport extreme base station. Would I be able to use it, and configure it. Using my new mac pro with out a airport card. Through only the ethernet cable or do you have to log into it wirelessly.
From reading the airport's downloadable install guide. It looks like it can only be configured by a computer with a wireless connection.
From what I see from other 3rd party wireless router guides. It looks like all configuration is done through the ethernet cable, in combination with using your web browser to log into the wireless router

Yes, if you buy the AirPort Extreme you will be able to do exactly what you are wanting: you will be able to plug your Mac Pro into the AirPort Extreme using an ethernet cable and will be able to access the network wirelessly with your Touch. And yes, you can run AirPort Utility wirelessly and wired, so you will be able to set it up with your Mac Pro even though you don't have a wireless card.

MacOSX 10.3.8 system with original Airport card can't connect via WPA/WPA2

Hi all,
My WiFi network consists of an Airport Express running a WPA/WPA2 Personal network and 802.11b/g compatibility, upon which 3 Macs (all with Airport Extreme/G or /Draft-N cards) and 2 PCs (both G compatible) merrily connect to.
I have an old PowerMac G4 which I've just fitted with an original non-Extreme Airport card, and having updated MacOSX 10.3.8 with Airport 4.2 to enable WPA access, it still refuses to connect to the network; I get the "There was an error joining the Airport network ..." when the correct password is entered.
My understanding is that while the old Airport cards don't support WPA2, they do support WPA and thus if the Airport Express network is set to WPA/WPA2 and b/g compatibility (which I'm assuming is some kind of all encompassing compatibility mode, given there's also sole WPA2 options) then it shouldn't have any problems connecting to the network. What am I missing here?
Cheers, Ben.

I am having the exact same problem. Powerbook G4; original factory installed airport card; with Panther 10.3.9 OS plus updated 4.2 Airport Admin. Utility. It will NOT connect to my Airport Express set to the WPA/WPA2, which is working fine with my iPod touch.
When I get to the screen requesting password for my chosen airport network ("Wireless Security: WPA Personal), the "OK" button is grayed out and it will not even let me submit a password to connect. Can somebody help?

Creating a wireless connection on a Mac Pro with no airport card.

Hello
Forgive me if this has already been discussed but I am looking at all options to add wireless function to a mac pro with OS10.4 that does not currently have an airport card installed. My options so far are to either purchase a airport card, purchase a USB wireless dongle i.e.: D-Link DWA-140 (for which I am having trouble finding something that is compatible) or possibly using a airport express. The objective is to use it for presentations for lectures as I am using keynote and would very much like to use the keynote remote from my iPod touch (later with a iPad) so I can control my presentation wirelessly.
My question is this, will I be able to use an airport express, connect it via ethernet to the mac pro and create the wireless connection with my iPod touch? Will I require a wireless router? Or can anyone suggest an easy way to wireless control a keynote presentation with a non wireless mac.
Thank you so much.
Dave

This is not an exact answer to your question, but we had cable installed today (Virgin Media, UK) and the router is too far for my MacPro tower to connect. The engineer gave me a wireless dongle (the D-Link DWA-140) and said it would do the trick. After a few hours of searching online, I cannot make the dongle connect to the router, so I would recommend that you avoid this option for a MacPro. It may be possible to connect it but I'm certainly not finding it straightforward.

Problems with my airport card.

Why do i get the message "No airport card installed" up on my Macbook pro when it from time to time finds it?
And when i have it and turn it of i can't turn it on again.
I have upgraded from OS X 10.6.8 to OS X 10.7.2, and i still have the problem. I got the OS X 10.6.4 install CD so now that i have installed Lion i cant use that Install CD anymore, so i cant reinstall the whole computer. With my present knowledge.
But is it something i can do to fix this problem or do i need to send it in to get it repaired. Since it just started happening and it have been working perfectly the last year. My model is august 2010 (late 2010)

It seems it won't be necessary -- this is beyond weird!
I've just re-turned on my Mac (which I had already tried to do a couple of times before posting my question, even allowing some time for the computer to cool off and relax, but unsuccessfully) and the AirPort Card is working again...what the bloody hel*?! Hopefully it is going to keep behaving properly for good, now!
Anyway, thank you so much for your help, I'll note down your suggestion in case it happens again in the future!
Have a nice day

Problems with my AirPort card -- in dire need of help!

Hello everyone.
Something very odd and equally horrible has just happened.
I've turned on my MacBook Pro 15" and - poof! - apparently it's as if the AirPort Card (which has worked perfectly well for over a year now) were no longer there, meaning that the computer just won't "see" it.
I really am at a loss to explain this because earlier in the afternoon I used my MacBook Pro as usual and everything was fine -- I didn't do anything besides surfing the Net, as I always do. Now I've turned it on and it's as if there were no AirPort Card in the computer.
The AirPort network, on the other hand, keeps working all right (I'm writing on another Mac on the same network).
What's wrong?!?!?! Is it a hardware issue? Is my Card simply busted? Or could it be a software issue (dunno - viruses or whatever else)??
Thank you, I'm desperate!

It seems it won't be necessary -- this is beyond weird!
I've just re-turned on my Mac (which I had already tried to do a couple of times before posting my question, even allowing some time for the computer to cool off and relax, but unsuccessfully) and the AirPort Card is working again...what the bloody hel*?! Hopefully it is going to keep behaving properly for good, now!
Anyway, thank you so much for your help, I'll note down your suggestion in case it happens again in the future!
Have a nice day

Mini with no airport card

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