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Posted by bas on Dec-29-2008 23:30:

Mac Peoples

I just got a Mac G5, slightly used, from a friend of mine. I believe it's dual core but not the Intel dual core and I'm trying to figure out the wireless situation on this. I've read two conflicting reviews/reports...some say the Airport Extreme card won't work on a G5, some say the older G5s come with them and I know that the regular Airport card will only work up to the G4s.

On the back of mine there's two ports (one bluetooth and one wireless internet) that look like their missing an antenna. I know that an antenna comes with the G5 that's supposed to boost the signal, my question is how can I know if my computer already has a wireless card in it? I've gone to "about this mac" and checked under wireless (or whatever it's called) and it says "no information available". Am I missing a driver for an already installed card or is there no card at all?

Posted by fury on Dec-29-2008 23:43:

AFAIK all the later Power Mac G5s included Airport Extreme cards. When you go to System Preferences->Network, what does it say for AirPort?

Posted by 72hrpartyanimal on Dec-30-2008 00:05:

make sure the angle of the dangle is relative to the walls of my balls.

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 00:14:

quote:
Originally posted by fury
AFAIK all the later Power Mac G5s included Airport Extreme cards. When you go to System Preferences->Network, what does it say for AirPort?

No information available

Posted by Psiweaver on Dec-30-2008 00:36:

sounds to me like you need an airport extreme card for you G5. You can pick them up at any apple store.

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 00:47:

quote:
Originally posted by Psiweaver
sounds to me like you need an airport extreme card for you G5. You can pick them up at any apple store.

The Airport Extreme cards that you can buy at the store/online aren't G5 compatible. I think you actually have to take your machine in so they can install one for you?

Fuckin' Apple

Posted by fury on Dec-30-2008 00:52:

If your computer is like this model, you should easily be able to open the side and see if it has an Airport card or not: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/AirPort_Card.pdf

However, the later models right before the switch to Intel use an Airport + Bluetooth card and Apple does not sell those as a do it yourself part. You might need to contact Apple about replacing that. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3096?viewlocale=en_US

Posted by Psiweaver on Dec-30-2008 00:54:

I'm guessing its the airport bluetooth card. Which means you'll be paying a trip to the apple store. I think that the genius bar will usually help you out for free though.

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 00:55:

quote:
Originally posted by fury
If your computer is like this model, you should easily be able to open the side and see if it has an Airport card or not: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/AirPort_Card.pdf

However, the later models right before the switch to Intel use an Airport + Bluetooth card and Apple does not sell those as a do it yourself part. You might need to contact Apple about replacing that. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3096?viewlocale=en_US

Thanks man, I'll check that out. There is a slot missing on the back of the machine that I assumed was a 2nd graphics card, they could have actually taken the Airport card out before selling it.

edit // I think I'll have to take it in, mine does have that wireless/bluetooth thing in the back. Thanks errbody.

Posted by DjWoody on Dec-30-2008 01:03:

1.- Go to your Apple Menu
2.- Select ABOUT THIS MAC
3.- Click on MORE INFO

Than scroll down to NETWORK and it should tell you there.

Posted by |Thrax| on Dec-30-2008 01:24:

I have an Intel Mac Pro, but....
my airport card was also sold separately... (from the bluetooth)

I don't have an airport card, and mine says "NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE"

you are going to need to have to scour for one, and have an apple tech install it.. (you can do it yourself if you can source the part)

reason an apple certified tech is "supposed" to install it, because it has a small wire and smallish screws (in the case) its not just a slot pci card.. etc

load that sonofabitch up with memory.

I have another 4GB on the way for mine.. happy holidays to me.

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 01:27:

quote:
Originally posted by |Thrax|
I have an Intel Mac Pro, but....
my airport card was also sold separately... (from the bluetooth)

I don't have an airport card, and mine says "NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE"

That's what mine says, I think they just took the Airport card out before selling it, mine isn't an Intel and I think those are the only ones you need installed by an Apple tech.

Posted by DjWoody on Dec-30-2008 01:50:

If you wanna go wireless, you don't need an Airport Extreme card. You can get any PCI card that's Mac Compatible, or you can even get one of those USB adapters.

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 02:07:

I actually have a USB wireless card but it doesn't get read at all, which I thought was kinda weird.

Posted by Ted Promo on Dec-30-2008 04:47:

Get a pc.

Posted by rizo on Dec-30-2008 05:00:

At least its not a G3

Still PPC, ugh. Good thing Apple switched to Intel and you can install Windows

Posted by rizo on Dec-30-2008 05:01:

quote:
Originally posted by bas
I actually have a USB wireless card but it doesn't get read at all, which I thought was kinda weird.
is it an Atheros wifi? Doesn't Apple use Atheros chipsets for their wifi?

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 06:22:

quote:
Originally posted by rizo
is it an Atheros wifi? Doesn't Apple use Atheros chipsets for their wifi?

No idea, the USB thing I have is by Netgear.

And I've had several PCs in my life, don't with them

MAC 4 LYFE S0N

Posted by skell on Dec-30-2008 17:14:

If all else fails, buy a wireless bridge and connect that to your G5.

Posted by RobertStern on Dec-30-2008 17:47:

just run a direct cat-5 cable and call it a day. Way cheaper and more reliable!

Posted by skell on Dec-30-2008 18:35:

quote:
Originally posted by RobertStern
just run a direct cat-5 cable and call it a day. Way cheaper and more reliable!

That's an obvious assumption. I'm sure he would've done that if it was an easy option.

I'm assuming his router/switch is in another room. A wireless bridge with a short network cable would be a quicker fix to the hardware issues.

Posted by bas on Dec-30-2008 19:45:

quote:
Originally posted by skizzell
That's an obvious assumption. I'm sure he would've done that if it was an easy option.

I'm assuming his router/switch is in another room. A wireless bridge with a short network cable would be a quicker fix to the hardware issues.

Yeah exactly

Wireless bridge would be a good idea too. I called Apple and talked to them, the woman on the phone had NO clue what I was talking about. I gave her the serial number of my computer she told me I just need an Airport Extreme card, I asked if it just popped into one of the PCI slots...she was like 'what?'

Did some research online, I believe mine will work with the Airport Extreme and just goes into a PCI slot, probably the one that they previously had installed. I just need to get that weird antenna thing too.

Thanks for the help everyone All this trouble just to update the software so I can install Logic. Shit

Posted by Lomeli on Dec-30-2008 21:25:

quote:
Originally posted by 72hrpartyanimal
make sure the angle of the dangle is relative to the walls of my balls.

LOL!!!! That made me laugh, haha!

Posted by d.case on Dec-31-2008 04:58:

quote:
Originally posted by RobertStern
just run a direct cat-5 cable and call it a day. Way cheaper and more reliable!

wow great idea, youre awesome

Posted by CReddick on Jan-02-2009 21:57:

Are we sure we're on the right path here?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1305

This support item about mid way down indicates that airport extreme cards should work. I have a G5 also (late 2005), I'm curious of the outcome to the research here.