Replacing Airport Extreme card (FLEX CABLE, GLUE?)

The airport was no longer working in my powerbook and I found someone selling a working card locally, however, it was from a 15inch which from what I understand does not use the same type of cable to connect it. (i.e. there is no flex cable glued onto the input) I peeled the flex cable off the non-working airport but have no idea how to put it on the working card, or if it is even possible. I was thinking maybe it is heat activated and the residual glue from the original connection can be reheated to use?

I'm already upgrading to 8GB of RAM and I'm planning on adding a Solid State Hard Drive since it will be a secondary machine. I really don't want to replace the optical drive too. At that point it's got new components in an old chassis with an old CPU.
I've been to the Genius Bar (back when I lived in a place where there was one in town) and they couldn't replicate the issue but as soon as I left it started up again. There are times when it holds the signal for a good hour or more or days like today when it's dropping it every few minutes. It's completely random.
No. This girl is going to go build her own PC with a fantastic GPU so as to kick some Diablo butt and the old Macbook Pro will only get used when I don't need it for anything serious. And I am most certainly not dropping another $2k + on a new MBP no matter how shiny they are! It's the end of an era as I've been using Macs exclusively for over 10 years now.

Similar Messages

  • What replacement Airport Extreme Card do I need for Macbook Pro 8.2?

    It looks like my Airport Extreme Card has failed, although the Blue Tooth  is fine. I'm assuming that I need to buy a replacement but am struggling to find what I need. I have a Macbook Pro 15" early 2011 i7 2.2ghz so just need to know what cards are compatable.
    It's been a slow failiure, over a couple of months but now it is not even recognised in the System profiler. I am happy to open the case and install a new card, I just need t know what will work. Is there a better card than the original out there, or even an upgrade? I've upgraded the Ram and had to change the HHD already, so as a machine it's starting to resemble the Philosopher's Axe...
    Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

    Hi Ralph,
    Thanks for the speedy response!
    I"ve had the case open when I changed the HHD and Ram, and can seen where the card slots in. It's held by a supporting arm which lifts up when disconected from the Logic Board. it's weird looking inside, as you can see there are many of the same componants I've seen in other laptops. It is a tidier build though. I'm confident that if I detach the 3 antener conectors and remove the retainer screws a new card will fit back in.
    The Genius Bars here in London are highly over subscribed, and I don't think I have the time or budget for that.
    I'll keep plugging away, and see what happens. I'm almost getting used to being tethered to the Ethernet cable. I've only tripped over it 20 times a day!
    Take it easy.

  • Replacing Airport Extreme Card in Late 2008 MBP - What to buy??

    I've limped along for about 2 years now with my wifi constantly dropping while everyone else has a strong, constant signal. Doesn't matter where I am, it's always dropping and takes ages to reconnect. I've tried everything advised on the forum etc and am now about to buy something else as my main machine. I don't want to get rid of my MBP though so am planning on installing new memory and hard drive and while I'm doing that, want to replace the airport extreme card. The MBP will then become my secondary machine.
    Problem is, I can't figure out what I need to buy to replace the **** card! Seems like a lot I'm finding are either for machines that never had cards or for 2009 or newer. I just need to know which card to buy.
    OR . . . hearing that they are a pain to get to (keeping in mind I'll have the guts exposed while I upgrade the memory and HD) and fiddly . . . is there something external to plug into a USB I should get instead?
    Here are my specs:
    MacBook Pro, 15" Late 2008 (Unibody)
    2.4 Ghz Intel Core Duo
    2 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3 (which I'm about to upgrade)
    Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 (11E53)
    Card Type:
    AirPort Extreme  (0x14E4, 0x8D)
      Firmware Version:
    Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.198.4.20)
      MAC Address:
      Locale:
      Country Code:
      Supported PHY Modes:
    802.11 a/b/g/n
      Supported Channels:
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165
      Wake On Wireless:
    Supported
      AirDrop:
    Supported

    I'm already upgrading to 8GB of RAM and I'm planning on adding a Solid State Hard Drive since it will be a secondary machine. I really don't want to replace the optical drive too. At that point it's got new components in an old chassis with an old CPU.
    I've been to the Genius Bar (back when I lived in a place where there was one in town) and they couldn't replicate the issue but as soon as I left it started up again. There are times when it holds the signal for a good hour or more or days like today when it's dropping it every few minutes. It's completely random.
    No. This girl is going to go build her own PC with a fantastic GPU so as to kick some Diablo butt and the old Macbook Pro will only get used when I don't need it for anything serious. And I am most certainly not dropping another $2k + on a new MBP no matter how shiny they are! It's the end of an era as I've been using Macs exclusively for over 10 years now.

  • Replacing Airport Extreme Card

    Does anyone know where the airport card slot is on the 17" powerbook?
    On all other powerbooks and ibooks it is easily accessable, but i can't find
    it anywhere, or any information on where it is.
    I've got another aorport card to replace it with, but it just seems dumb to have
    to take it in and not do it myself.

    The 17 inch PowerBook G4 doesn't have an AirPort Extreme card; instead, the functions provided by this card are built into the computer itself. Therefore, there isn't a slot for the card you have, and the built-in module can't be replaced by you without voiding the warranty.
    (8905)

  • Where can I buy a replacement airport extreme card for my imac G5 17" 1.8GHZ?

    I just bought an imac 17" G5 1.8 GHZ. It is missing the airport extreme card and I am having a hard time at finding a place to buy one. Does anybody know of who sells one which will fit my computer?

    Here is a suggestion as an alternate to the airport extreme card. It is a tiny wireless 802.11n wireless adaptor you plug into a USB port.   Wireless N 150 Ultra Mini USB Adapter - $34.77   See
    http://stn2.headgap.com/resale/FMPro?-token=13365454&-db=ProductsC.fp3&-lay=WEB& -format=items.htm&-sortfield=SortID&-Max=40&category=pb&-find
    (scroll down the page)
    There are many other similar devices from other sellers.
    For the actual Airport Extreme Card, just do a Google search for sellers. I found one here, there are also others:
    http://www.airportcardsdirect.com/aiexca.html

  • Airport extreme card in iBook G4 behaving strangely

    About 6 months ago my iBook started randomly dropping the network connection - the little 'waves' icon greyed out. When I clicked the airport icon, sometimes I could simply re-select my network and sometimes there were no networks listed at all (can usually see 3 or 4 neighbours' networks). In the latter case, re-starting seemed to fix this.
    This deteriorated and in the end I tried re-seating the card and checking the antenna connections. Subsequently there were no problems for about a week. Then it started again. This continued for a while and then a few days ago my mac shutdown unexpectedly. Now there is no airport connection except very rarely (e.g. once every 3 days!) it seems to connect for a few seconds.
    So now I'm using it connected via ethernet and everything else seems to work fine - although obviously not an ideal situation. I have ordered a replacement airport extreme card, however I was doing some research into this and some tests and it looks like there may be more to it than i first thought:
    System profiler shows the airport card:
    AirPort Card Information:
      Wireless Card Type:          AirPort Extreme
      Wireless Card Locale:          Worldwide
      Wireless Card Firmware Version:          405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
      Current Wireless Network:          wireless network not available
    The Mac hardware test also shows Airport and Logic Board as 'Passed'. (However, and completely unexpectedly reports a fault on the HDD - not sure that this is related though)
    The airport base station is fine - Verified that the network is up and accessible to other devices. Also, it is possible to transfer photos from my phone via bluetooth (noting that airport extreme and bluetooth are facilitated from the same card)
    Would be very grateful for any pointers or insights into this. Thanks for reading.
    Hardware: iBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz Manufactured October 2005. MacOS 10.4.11. Airport Extreme card + BT (OE) WD 320GB HDD (fitted March 2010)

    >unexpectedly reports a fault on the HDD - not sure that this is related though) 
    That could be your problem.  Once the hard drive starts dying all sorts of drivers and data on the hard drive becomes inaccessible.
    Backup your data NOW*:  http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html and get a new Parallel ATA/IDE (not SATA) 9.5mm 2.5" hard drive.
    Once you have replaced your hard drive and recovered your backup, we can focus on your wireless.  But your data is more important than some wireless issues. When you install the new hard drive, see if you can improve the connection of the airport card and/or antenna.
    Message was edited by: a brody.  Corrected link.

  • Can't pull off the antenna for AirPort Extreme Card

    Hi,
    I was trying to install an AirPort Extreme card on my G5 iMac...where I couldn't physically pull the tip of the antenna off the gray plastic base...
    I tried turning it to the right and left, but it didn't help me out. Seems like I need a knack or something??
    Somebody who knows it, could you please help?
    Thanks!!
    -Taka

    This Apple Support Document will provide some ideas to minimize wireless interference:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1365
    The first obvious thing to try is to move the AirPort Extreme as far away as possible from the headphones. You can use virtually any length of Ethernet cable to physically connect the AirPort Extreme to your modem.
    After that, the next best bet is to experiment with a different 2.4 GHz Channel setting by manually trying different channels.
    If the interference persists, you may be forced into trying a different manufacturer of headphones, or abandon the BlueTooth communications.
    A few years ago, I had to replace my cordless phones at the house for the same type of reason. Whenever the phone would ring....the wireless signal would crash.

  • Installing AIrport Extreme card (which one? and WHERE?) in Dual 1.8 G5

    I'm having an incredibly frustrating time trying to check out this (used) G5 which I thought, up until yesterday, might replace my G4 MDD. (Never mind that any topic I run a search for on the support.apple website returns NO results. Is it my antediluvian 10.3.9 and Safari 1.x--newest possible for that OS? But I digress...)
    I keep running in a circle of Google search results that keep bringing me to a .pdf showing an AE card installation on a single processor G5. While not vividly clear in the illustration, the architecture seems to be different. I don't see the same "landmark" components here as in my G5. My Apple Support search difficulties have frustrated a search for a manual for this model.
    Also I'm just now learning of the necessity of the Rube Goldberg-ian additional antenna that seems to be required. (As it sits, the G5 is about 3 feet away from the base station, but I guess I'll have to play along anyway and get one.) Having used an Airport card on a pre-Cambrian white iBook G3 >>>without any bloody antenna<<<, I find this too depressing to be laughable. ("...strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." --NASHVILLE, 1975; Robert Altman, dir.)
    I'm under the assumption that this beast came BEFORE the late 2005 makeover that necessitates the Airport and Bluetooth combination card. Please correct if I'm wrong about this.
    The card I bought on eBay is Model A1026 EMC No. 1951 (thinking an Airport Extreme Card is an Airport Extreme Card is an Airport Extreme Card...ain't that rich!)
    Computer is YM425(XXXXXX) 1.8 GHz DP/256MB 400 80GB/SD/G5200/56K
    I did the installation of the Airport (after having uninformedly bought an AE card first) card on the iBook, but I can't begin to see where one goes on the G5 desktop. I don't even see the connector cable that goes in the back of the card.
    I feel like my good intentions have landed me at Alice's tea table while hardly being on the cutting edge of anything. I'm a sheet of paper's width (see below) from just jettisoning this thing back to Craigslist whence I fetched it.
    (Although I've long waved the banner of "Think Different" superiority, I'm beginning there's not a sheet of paper's width of difference between the respective byzantine frustrations of Planet Jobs and Planet Gates. At least I didn't make the pricey leap all the way into the MacPro rabbit hole...)
    To sum up: which AE card, where does it go, what else isn't Apple telling me and are there any specific links?

    Hi, and a Warm Welcome to Apple Discussions and the Power Mac G5 Forum!
    From the details you have given, your G5 requires the Airport Extreme! card
    http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore?productLearnMore=M8881
    The installation instructions are here
    http://www.info.apple.com/usen/cip/pdf/g5/apec_c.pdf
    The antenna cables and connectors are pre-installed in G5s. The Airport Extreme! antenna connector, with the brass tip, is shown clearly if you click on photo #4 here
    http://tersus.no/bluetooth/
    (They are the Bluetooth instructions - the photo is for identification only)
    You will need an antenna
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86413
    which should have been in the G5 packaging (originally) - but can usually be picked up on eBay - or here
    http://www.mac-pro.com/Airport-Extreme-External-Antenna-for-Power-Mac-G5-Tower?s c=2&category=7286
    if not.
    There is a G5 manual here
    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/PowerMacG5_UserGuide.pdf
    Please post again if you have any questions. Good Luck.

  • Installing airport extreme card in a macbook pro

    need help replacing the airport extreme card in my macbook pro. need details on how to do it

    Without an airport extreme card, there won't be any Wifi signals going to and from the router (unless you have your machine hooked up via ethernet cable, in which case you don't need an airport card because the signal is transmitted through the cable). Most Macs have a card installed - which Mac do you have?

  • AirPort Extreme Card recognizes networks but won't connect - HELP!

    hello forumites,
    firstly, if this post is similar to one that has already been well-read and widely responded to, i apologize and ask that you respond with the link to said thread.
    my issue pertains to an iBook G4 (circa 2004 i believe) running OS X 10.4.11 with an apple-installed AirPort Extreme card (firmware version 405.1). i have never had any problems with the card previously, but in the last week it has quite suddenly ceased to connect to any wireless network i attempt to log on to (both password protected and non). despite the card's sudden inability to connect, it still is able to recognize all the wireless networks in my location (i know this as the networks are still listed in the AirPort status pull-down menu).
    in an effort to fix the issue i have:
    restarted the card (turned it off and on)
    restarted the computer (many, many times)
    used the network diagnostics program
    used the network setup assistant program
    attempted to connect through the system preferences (network)
    attempted to connect through internet connect
    did a complete erase and install
    still nothing.
    anyone had a similar problem? anyone find a way to fix it?
    thanking you in advance for your brilliance and time,
    brad

    firstly, tesserax, a tremendous thank you for your help. unfortunately, i tried each step you suggested, but the problem continues.
    step 1: i have tried and failed to connect to several different networks in a handful of locations (home, work, friend's house, local coffee shop, etc.).
    step 2: i have disabled my own wireless encryption as well as the wireless encryption at a friends house, however, to do so i had to use their ibook, as my own either didn't list the base station in the AirPort utility (although it did list the base station in the AirPort status pull down), or it asked for a password even though the base station wasn't password protected (maybe this may add some insight into the issue?).
    step 3: i have connected the computer directly to the modem using an ethernet cable and was able to go online - perhaps this means the problem is related solely to the card.
    step 4: i moved the the com.apple.networkConfig.plist file and and the SystemConfiguration folder to the desktop and restarted. unfortunately, OS did NOT rebuild the files. instead, i had to go through the network diagnostics to rebuild them manually. while the files were replaced, the problem was not solved.
    step 5: i reset the PRAM, but the problem still exists.
    step 6: i reset the PMU, but the problem still exists.
    i then tried various combinations of your suggestions, including moving the files out of the preferences folder and then reseting the PRAM and the PMU, but still nothing.
    after having attempted every fix i could think of (and that was before posting to this forum) i did a full erase and install of the OS. since that's usually the cure all to whatever ails the computer, it's my assumption that the issue is a physical (hardware) one. that said, if you have any other suggestions i will be more than happy to give them a shot.
    thanks again,
    brad

  • Airport express without airport extreme card

    I have an iMac G4/1.25 17-Inch "FP" with Airport Extreme capability but NO Airport Extreme card.
    I just want to stream iTunes music to the stereo buying Airport Express ( no internet wireless connection needed).
    Is this possible or I have to install the Airport Extreme card inside the iMac?
    Thanks
    piero

    ziopiero,
    There are probably ways to do this but you would have to be wired via Ethernet cable(s)... and apparently you are already connected to the Internet via an ethernet cable. You would then need a hub, router, or a switch etc. if you don't already have one of these. If you stereo is in another room, then your ethernet cable would also have to be connected there.
    Your easiest, and probably cheapest method, is to purchase the Airport Extreme Card. You can even buy these refurbished from the Apple Store under "Deals" and are very reasonable.

  • Wire bracket in iBookG4 - can't clip in airport extreme card

    The airport extreme card is installed and works but I can't put back the keyboard because i can't get the clip to sit back in the slots. Others too have tried. Any ideas please or should I just use pliers? Thanks.

    The airport extreme card is installed and works but I
    can't put back the keyboard because i can't get the
    clip to sit back in the slots.
    Check that you inserted your AirPort Extreme card
    "completely".
    Check that the antenna cable isn't under the bracket.
    dan    

  • Refurbished AIrport Extreme Card problems

    So i ordered a refurbished airport extreme card for my 12 inch powerbook g4. i installed the card in the right place and heard the click it is supposed to make, i fold up the little door, put the battery back in and reset my computer, after having installed the softwear but my computer doesn't pick up that i have an airport card. i've messed with it a lot, trying to see if i put it in wrong and it seems to be right but the computer still doesn't pick it up. what am i doing wrong?

    Sometimes the antenna wire or main circuit (or both) are not fully seated;
    even if they seem like they should be, so about all you can do is try again
    and see if something less than brutal force can get a connection; or if you
    have any nearby Apple specialist, call and see if you can get some help.
    They could also try another card in that slot, as a form of troubleshooting.
    If the computer has an extended warranty, you could call AppleCare
    support; if there is a problem in the computer (where card integrates w/ logicboard)
    that would require a repair or replacement if damage exists.
    Hopefully another go at fitting the card and checking the antenna wire
    will give you wi-fi access. The issue sounds like it's physical contact.

  • Dead Airport Extreme card?

    For the last three days I have had issues with my G5 dual 2GHz and OS X 10.4.2, the latest updates to Airport software and firmware.
    The signal strength meter in the menu bar or in Internet Connect is greyed out and the connection cannot be made -- eventually it gets to the point where the G5 cannot even remember any of my precvious connections. The Macwireless.com widget shows the connection and signal strength as bouncing from 0 to about 70% for all connections that are still recognized, with each location bouncing from the top of the list to the bottom and then sometimes disappearing altogether. After a short while the locations don't reappear... Once they're gone, they're pretty much gone without a trace (Airport Admin either cannot connect to the Airport, telling me an error occurred while trying to access it, or it doesn't see anything to get an error message from).
    My G4 sits right next to the G5 and has shown no problems. Strangely, after a full day trying to troubleshoot this, the G5 started up today at full signal strength -- I'm using it now to write this message! Nothing has changed on this machine in the past week, except for me trying to get the Airport Extreme Card to function as it had for the month or two I've had it. Yesterday I lost connection altogether -- neither restarting the Mac nor a full shut down, wait a minute or two, restart would restore my connection. At one point, I shut down the machine for about an hour while I reseated the AE Card and let the computer become room temp (roughly 70 F). Still no go...
    After eliminating all the variables I could think of, I've come to the conclusion that the Airport card is probably bad -- possibly malfunctioning with heat build-up (?). Problem is, how do I show this problem to a tech? Especially since it's a half-hour drive to the closest Apple store and longer to a third-party Apple repair shop. And knowing that once it's been off for a while and is on a workbench, it will behave like all intermittently faulty equipment and work perfectly. :-/
    If anyone has trouble shooting suggestions, or can help me determine for sure that the card is the problem, please help!

    Hi Julia,
    Well, the card may have problems too, but I now think there's a software problem as others have suggested. It's odd because everything seemed fine for some time after applying the updates, so it appeared as if the card was bad or going bad. For me, I spent three days trying everything I could, including removing and re-seating the card, antenna wire and antenna, trying various configurations, resetting the Airport itself and so on. All to no avail.
    On the last day, I had the strangest situation, where Mail could not see the Airport and could connect to nothing, but Safari was able to access the Internet! I used Safari to access sites I hadn't visited in months just to be sure I wasn't seeing cached versions of the pages... Eventually though, Safari lost contact, and that was it for the day.
    After all that, the next day I turned on the Mac to see a solid connection that's been stable ever since except for the incident in my previous post where the Airport widgets knocked the connection out. Turning off those Widgets and closing Dashboard brought the connection back up immediately -- I haven't tried them again, and probably won't!.
    Once I had the solid connection, I used Onyx to repair permissions, optimise the System and to empty the Network cache. I also deleted the various Locations I'd set up in the Network Preferences to get it back to just the one connection to choose from. If you're comfortable with Onyx (or Cocktail or one of the other utilities) you could try at least clearing the cache(s) and repairing permissions.
    Have you tried a complete shut down and leaving the computer off overnight? Do you have anything set to open on startup that may try to connect with the Internet (like Mail or Safari)? Try removng them from your Startup Items (you can do this from the Dock -- click and hold on the icon and a mini menu should pop up with that option).
    Have you looked at the info in System Profiler, and does it show the Airport card? (you can access System Profiler from the About This Mac item in the Apple Menu and clicking the button: More Info...) The card should show up under Network>Airpport Card.
    Since you have a Powerbook, you have the option to take your computer to an Apple tech (Apple Genius at an Apple store, or to a dealer with a repair crew) and have them troubleshoot it. My guess is they'll end up reinstalling your OS and/or replacing the card... My G5 is far too heavy for me to throw it in the car -- and I found out the hard way yesterday that my computer is just 2 weeks out of warranty, so I'm ineligible for AppleCare. grrr... (my fault, but grrr...)
    Let us know if anything good happens -- best of luck!

  • Airport Extreme Card - USA version not compatible with Europe?

    I'm having some problems with the Airport Extreme Card in my Mac Mini i.e. my connection to the internet is mind numbingly slow when using it. I have no issues when I hook it up directly with a LAN cable and I've used a friends Macbook to connect to the wireless router and their connection works perfectly.
    My specs...
    AirPort Card Information:
    Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x168C, 0x86)
    Wireless Card Locale: USA
    Wireless Card Firmware Version: 1.4.3.1
    Current Wireless Network: SpeedTouch3C84E7
    Wireless Channel: 11
    Now here's where I think the problem lies, I bought this machine in the US but am now living in Belgium...you'll note that the card locale is set to USA. My friends machine has a card locale of worldwide and I think this difference is causing the issue. I found another thread that mentions using a USA card in europe limits the number of available channels but I'm still in the dark as to what to do about it.
    Is the locale changeable via a software setting or is the hardware different...maybe there's a firmware change I could make?
    If it's hardware is this something my Apple store can switch for me?
    If I'm really stuck can I switch my router to the US settings to fix the issue?
    Any other ideas?
    Thanks for the help!
    Chris

    hi. I think that the only difference between USA and worldwide cards is that ww cards have additional channels (12 and 13). You should be able to use your mini in Europe.

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