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Mac Forum / Country Specific / UK Mac Group / May 2008USB wireless adapter suitable for a Mac
Hi all, I am looking to set up an old G4 PowerMac for my kids to use. I want to have it connect to my wireless network and am thinking of getting a USB wireless adapter. I've found this one (D-Link DWL-G122) that seems to be Mac-compatible. Has anyone here used such an adapter (this model or others) to wireless-enable an older Mac? I'm a bit concerned by reading about several that only have Wingrot support. Thanks, Ian. -- > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > others) to wireless-enable an older Mac? I'm a bit concerned by reading > about several that only have Wingrot support. Don't do it... Well, of course, if you have to. But, they're generally a pain with problems occurring after every system update. The netgear one worked for me on an ibook but needed reconnecting etc. every so often as it failed to recognise or be recognised by the network. >> Hi all, >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > for me on an ibook but needed reconnecting etc. every so often as it > failed to recognise or be recognised by the network. Well, alternatively, what about Mac-compatible PCI wireless cards? Anyone have success with these? Ian. -- > Well, alternatively, what about Mac-compatible PCI wireless cards? > Anyone have success with these? Can't you use a wireless ethernet bridge? If you have an ethernet port and a browser it's as easy as 1-2-3.  Signatureremove stars for email g*a*r*y*c*o*w*e*l*l*a*t*m*a*c*d*o*t*c*o*m >> Well, alternatively, what about Mac-compatible PCI wireless cards? >> Anyone have success with these? > > Can't you use a wireless ethernet bridge? If you have an ethernet port and a > browser it's as easy as 1-2-3. Sorry, I don't understand. The computer has an ethernet port, but there is no network connection in the room. I don't want to run Cat6 cabling out to that room, which is why I wanted to use wireless. Or am I misunderstanding something? Ian. -- >>> Well, alternatively, what about Mac-compatible PCI wireless cards? >>> Anyone have success with these? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > that room, which is why I wanted to use wireless. Or am I misunderstanding > something? Yes you are misunderstanding. Connect the ethernet port to a wireless ethernet bridge. Configure the bridge co connect by wireless to the rest of your network. This avoids all need to install anything on your Mac. -- Graham J > >>> Well, alternatively, what about Mac-compatible PCI wireless cards? > >>> Anyone have success with these? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > ethernet bridge. Configure the bridge co connect by wireless to the rest of > your network. This avoids all need to install anything on your Mac. Yes, like this one <http://www.ebuyer.com/product/97644> They take a few mins to configure, plug into mac, set the IP address into the range of the bridge, go to the bridge's home page in a web browser, configure it up to talk to the network, set the mac back to DHCP networking and it should pick up an IP address from the router. Sorted. SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. On Sat, 3 May 2008 10:05:48 +0100, Graham J wrote >>> Can't you use a wireless ethernet bridge? If you have an ethernet port >>> and a browser it's as easy as 1-2-3. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > ethernet bridge. Configure the bridge co connect by wireless to the rest of > your network. This avoids all need to install anything on your Mac. Why not just use a couple of Devolos (Devoli??) No geeky stuff required then, just two Devolos and two bits of Ethernet cable - no wireless stuff, no bridges. EZ-PZ > On Sat, 3 May 2008 10:05:48 +0100, Graham J wrote > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > No geeky stuff required then, just two Devolos and two bits of Ethernet cable > - no wireless stuff, no bridges. EZ-PZ I think I'd go with that too. We had loads of trouble getting wireless to work at my sister's house (too many walls, and a library of books in between). I got a couple of the plugin adapters, and it works fine - I don't think they were Devolo, but these were less then £30 the pair at Amazon. Connects between PCs and Macs no trouble. The cheaper ones are only 10Mb, but that's still good enough for most broadband. SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> > > Why not just use a couple of Devolos (Devoli??) > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Amazon. Connects between PCs and Macs no trouble. The cheaper ones are > only 10Mb, but that's still good enough for most broadband. Here's a dumb question - are these Homeplug things just a bridge, i.e. like the two ends of a piece of Ethernet, so you always need two to make a link? Or can you buy three, one connects to your router, and the other two can be used to connect computers to the router? SignaturePd > > > Why not just use a couple of Devolos (Devoli??) > > > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > a link? Or can you buy three, one connects to your router, and the other > two can be used to connect computers to the router? They are just an interface, so you can have as many as you like (well, I am sure there is a limit). I have 3 of the 100AV devlos. I have one by the adsl router where it comes in, one by the servers and PCs upstairs, and one by the mac. The other portables are wireless from the adsl router. Pretty well the same as having an ethernet network, apart from a program that sets the security, there is nothing to do. SignatureWoody www.alienrat.com >> > Why not just use a couple of Devolos (Devoli??) >> > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >a link? Or can you buy three, one connects to your router, and the other >two can be used to connect computers to the router? The latter. You can also get mains-to-wifi plugs, which may be even more useful. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"the average homeowner should expect to repair direct meteor damage every hundred million years." -- http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030506.html On Sun, 4 May 2008 12:20:16 +0100, Pd wrote >>> Why not just use a couple of Devolos (Devoli??) >>> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > a link? Or can you buy three, one connects to your router, and the other > two can be used to connect computers to the router? Yes you can... My ADSL router is connected to one and there are then three other plugs around the house connected to separate computers - 1 Devolo 'sending' and 3 'receiving' if you like. The Devolo ones genuinely 'Just Work' (tm) no mucking around with IP addresses or the like, just plug in and go. I tried the Netgear 'mains to wireless' version and they were a nightmare - endless arsing around with setting IP's etc to get them to work. I binned 'em after a few weeks. > On Sun, 4 May 2008 12:20:16 +0100, Pd wrote > > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > endless arsing around with setting IP's etc to get them to work. I binned 'em > after a few weeks. The ones I got were Vesenet. Similarly, they just 'work'. They were actually £38 a pair with P&P. SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> >> On Sun, 4 May 2008 12:20:16 +0100, Pd wrote >>> >>>>> Why not just use a couple of Devolos (Devoli??) >>>>> > The ones I got were Vesenet. Similarly, they just 'work'. They were > actually £38 a pair with P&P. I think this approach might be a problem in my house. The adsl router is in a home office that is on a separate mains circuit from the rest of the house (which is where the other computer is going to be). Don't these "network-through-the-mains" beasties have to be on a common circuit? Ian. -- > >> On Sun, 4 May 2008 12:20:16 +0100, Pd wrote > >>> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > these "network-through-the-mains" beasties have to be on a common > circuit? Oh you do like making things hard don't you! Yes, a connected circuit between the two would be necessary. They do work through extensions though. SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> >>> On Sun, 4 May 2008 12:20:16 +0100, Pd wrote >>>> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >these "network-through-the-mains" beasties have to be on a common >circuit? You could use a wifi devolo if that gives you any help, or you could bridge your two mains segments with two devolo and a long patch cord - it sounds worrying, but there's no mains connection through it! Cheers - Jaimie Signature"I didn't do much of that sleep thing last night, so I only hope the above makes some sense." (A generically applicable wish, but this one by W Hyde in rasfw) On Mon, 5 May 2008 10:35:41 +0100, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote >> I think this approach might be a problem in my house. The adsl router >> is in a home office that is on a separate mains circuit from the rest [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > bridge your two mains segments with two devolo and a long patch cord - > it sounds worrying, but there's no mains connection through it! ...or just lay in an armoured Ethernet cable between the house and the office. >On Mon, 5 May 2008 10:35:41 +0100, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >...or just lay in an armoured Ethernet cable between the house and the >office. I was thinking of sockets near the distribution panel, so you could do it with a short patch lead, but otherwise you're right - it works out the same, and a single armoured cable is cheaper than that plus a pair of Devolos. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"I have an asteroid named after me. Isaac Asimov's got one too. It's smaller and more eccentric." -- Arthur C. Clarke On Mon, 5 May 2008 11:04:26 +0100, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote >> On Mon, 5 May 2008 10:35:41 +0100, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote >>> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > the same, and a single armoured cable is cheaper than that plus a pair > of Devolos. I recently had an outbuilding converted to an office and decided that whilst there were many clever technical solutions it was a darn sight easier to stick in some armoured Ethernet and a Netgear WGR614 wireless router in the office building. Gives me two separate wireless networks (home and office) but that's no hardship really > On Mon, 5 May 2008 10:35:41 +0100, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote > > ...or just lay in an armoured Ethernet cable between the house and the > office. ...which is where I started. If you listen carefully you may hear the sound of me kicking myself for not having the foresight, when having the office conversion done just 6 months ago, to extend the Cat6 network that I put into the new office to the rest of the house. I thought I would only ever use wireless computers everywhere else in the house so didn't think I would need to run the cabling out to the other rooms. D'Oh. I think the wireless bridge is the way to go. A little more expensive than a wireless USB adapter but probably easier and more flexible. Thanks everyone for the help. Ian. -- >>> Hi all, >>> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Ian. Ian - yep I have put 3 G4 powermacs onto my network over the last 2 or 3 years using PCI cards and they work well. I have used the Belkin ones - but you do need to be careful that you get the right chipset version to work natively with Airport - it is OSX version dependent too. i.e. some work in 10.2/10.3 and not 10.4 - and so on. Some other cards work too. So do a bit of googling on the forums and check this group for postings from myself (& jon b) on this topic over the last 2/3 years to give you pointers on where to start. -- JohnB > > Well, alternatively, what about Mac-compatible PCI wireless cards? > > Anyone have success with these? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > from myself (& jon b) on this topic over the last 2/3 years to give you > pointers on where to start. Yes you'll get some extra clues here on the Belkin page <http://www.belkin.com/support/article/?lid=en&pid=F5D7000&aid=6001&scid =221> The V1 card worked without drivers, which is what I'm still using here, but then later cards either didn't work or require drivers. There are a few other cards about that work without drivers if you do a bit of googling. Worth it though the USB dongles aren't very stable, and the older G4 being USB1 you are limited to 11mbps tops. The other alterntive is a Ethernet-Wireless bridge but that is an extra box on/under the desk and an extra power source, so I tend to reserve this solution for printers & iMacs. Course the G4 should also have an original style airport card slot in there, but they are still fetching a premium for the older cards. SignatureJon B Above email address IS valid. <http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs. > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > others) to wireless-enable an older Mac? I'm a bit concerned by reading > about several that only have Wingrot support. By now the second hand airport cards that should go in there are back to more reasonable prices, Jan |
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