Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
Well, I tried installing Tiger (10.4.11) last night and it did not work. Therefore I assume it's an antenna problem. Therefore I will move along to Plan B, the USB wifi dongle. The good news is I now seem to have two perfectly good Airport Extreme cards to sell on the Swaplist. Maybe I should also throw in my extra original Airport card from the Pismo. Bruce - in Orlando On Apr 14, 3:12 pm, Kris Tilford ktilfo...@cox.net wrote: On Apr 14, 2011, at 8:47 AM, Bruce Johnson wrote: You're seriously suggesting that Apple would ship laptops with a 5' wifi range? Apple shipped not one iPhone, but TWO iPhone's with a major antenna/ reception issue. If you Google search this issue you can find MANY people having this problem with aluminum PowerBooks. I can attest that I have worked on a 15 1.67GHz aluminum PowerBook that had this problem, but as Alex suggested, when I downgraded back to Tiger (at the owner's request because Leopard was too slow), the reception issue cleared up. I can say for certain it wasn't an antenna issue, but it may be a Leopard software bug issue? I still think the best solution may be a USB external dongle like this one which is $16 shipped: http://cgi.ebay.com/PSP-NDSL-WII-Hi-Gain-USB-Wireless-w-Rp-SMA-Connec... NOTE: This one uses the Zydas chipset which is OS X compatible, but it might be better to find something with a Broadcom chipset. Also, Apple has used both Broadcom and Atheros chipsets in their Airport cards. The Atheros are considered to be inferior in terms of range, so if this PowerBook has an Atheros chipset Airport card it might be worth switching to a Broadcom chipset card. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
On 2011/04/13 19:22, Clark Martin so eloquently wrote: There was one or more versions of the PowerBook that had problems with WiFi range. It was basically a design error (AFAIK). Your model is from around that period but I don't know specifics. This means that you may never get acceptable reception. My Al book has worse reception than my G4 iBooks did, and all of my Macs, desktop and notebook, see fewer networks than my friends do with their Windoze boxes. For the OP perhaps a 'repeater' would solve your problem? Tina -- iMac 20 USB 2 1.25GHz G4 2GB RAM GeForceFX5200 Ultra 64MB VRAM 10.4.11 PB G4 15 HR-DLSD 1.67GHz G4 2GB RAM Radeon 9700 128MB VRAM 10.4.11 Mac Pro Mid-2010 2.8 GHz QC 6 GB RAM Radeon HD 5770 1GB VRAM 10.6.6 -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
For the OP perhaps a 'repeater' would solve your problem? Alas, many of the Broadcom (and perhaps other) WiFi sticks are power-hungry. Some, in my experience many Broadcom Mini-PCI-e sticks, will degrade over time, thereby necessitating a replacement. The first indication of the impending demise is failure to exchange the WPA keys with the access point, although the control panel may, indeed, see the network. At least for a while. And, thereafter, it may, indeed, fail to see your network (although it may, indeed, see others' networks). Forewarned is forearmed. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
On Apr 13, 2011, at 7:30 PM, Kris Tilford ktilfo...@cox.net wrote: On Apr 13, 2011, at 3:03 PM, Bruce - in Orlando wrote: Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? It appears the aluminum PowerBook suffers like the Ti PowerBook did, bad reception because of metal case (Faraday cage Well, for one, no they don't. I've owned both, and while the TiBook indeed has poorer wifi range the AlBook is just fine. (tested on both with a USB wifi dongle.) Crucially NEITHER has range as poor as the OP describes. His issue is a broken, unattached, or dislodged antenna. You're seriously suggesting that Apple would ship laptops with a 5' wifi range? -- Bruce Johnson -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
This seems to be a Leopard bug. That has happened to me several times, all on Macs running Leopard. A simple downgrade or upgrade fixed the problem. On Apr 13, 2011, at 3:03 PM, Bruce - in Orlando wrote: Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? It appears the aluminum PowerBook suffers like the Ti PowerBook did, bad reception because of metal case (Faraday cage Well, for one, no they don't. I've owned both, and while the TiBook indeed has poorer wifi range the AlBook is just fine. (tested on both with a USB wifi dongle.) Crucially NEITHER has range as poor as the OP describes. His issue is a broken, unattached, or dislodged antenna. You're seriously suggesting that Apple would ship laptops with a 5' wifi range?! -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
Really? - That would be a really easy fix then, at least to try before moving on to Plan B which I think would be Kris's USB 802.11n WIFI adapter. I installed Tiger on my MDD and my previous powerbook (Pismo), but when this one came with Leopard I figured I'd just leave it there and see how I like it. So far, I'm not feeling the love anyway. I haven't loaded too much stuff on this AlBook yet, so should I just figure on wiping it all out and starting over? On Apr 14, 11:22 am, Alex Barnes kab...@gmail.com wrote: This seems to be a Leopard bug. That has happened to me several times, all on Macs running Leopard. A simple downgrade or upgrade fixed the problem. On Apr 13, 2011, at 3:03 PM, Bruce - in Orlando wrote: Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? It appears the aluminum PowerBook suffers like the Ti PowerBook did, bad reception because of metal case (Faraday cage Well, for one, no they don't. I've owned both, and while the TiBook indeed has poorer wifi range the AlBook is just fine. (tested on both with a USB wifi dongle.) Crucially NEITHER has range as poor as the OP describes. His issue is a broken, unattached, or dislodged antenna. You're seriously suggesting that Apple would ship laptops with a 5' wifi range?!- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
On Apr 14, 2011, at 8:47 AM, Bruce Johnson wrote: You're seriously suggesting that Apple would ship laptops with a 5' wifi range? Apple shipped not one iPhone, but TWO iPhone's with a major antenna/ reception issue. If you Google search this issue you can find MANY people having this problem with aluminum PowerBooks. I can attest that I have worked on a 15 1.67GHz aluminum PowerBook that had this problem, but as Alex suggested, when I downgraded back to Tiger (at the owner's request because Leopard was too slow), the reception issue cleared up. I can say for certain it wasn't an antenna issue, but it may be a Leopard software bug issue? I still think the best solution may be a USB external dongle like this one which is $16 shipped: http://cgi.ebay.com/PSP-NDSL-WII-Hi-Gain-USB-Wireless-w-Rp-SMA-Connector-/260656488799 NOTE: This one uses the Zydas chipset which is OS X compatible, but it might be better to find something with a Broadcom chipset. Also, Apple has used both Broadcom and Atheros chipsets in their Airport cards. The Atheros are considered to be inferior in terms of range, so if this PowerBook has an Atheros chipset Airport card it might be worth switching to a Broadcom chipset card. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
I recently purchased a 12 1.5 Ghz Powerbook on eBay (running OS 10.5.x). The auction description said the Airport Extreme card doesn't seem to be working correctly. Once I received the laptop, I figured out that the problem is really that this powerbook has a very short wireless reception distance - such that when I first powered it on, sitting at my computer desk about 5 feet from the wireless router (linksys) it worked just fine. But when I sat with the laptop on the other side of the same room, about 15 feet from the router, reception was only fair. Take the laptop to the next room, about 25 feet from the router, and you're totally out of luck. So at first I thought the problem must be with the Airport card, so I bought another one - they aren't very expensive. Now I find that the reception problem has not changed at all, so the card can't be the problem. Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? I'm just hoping it's not on the motherboard, because they really are expensive. Bruce - in Orlando -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
On Apr 13, 2011, at 1:03 PM, Bruce - in Orlando wrote: So at first I thought the problem must be with the Airport card, so I bought another one - they aren't very expensive. Now I find that the reception problem has not changed at all, so the card can't be the problem. Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? I'm just hoping it's not on the motherboard, because they really are expensive. Well it'll be a pain to fix, but if it's not the airport card, it's the antenna, which has probably somehow come loose and is not longer functioning well. The antenna, iirc, is built into the upper display. -- Bruce Johnson University of Arizona College of Pharmacy Information Technology Group Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
On Apr 13, 2011, at 1:03 PM, Bruce - in Orlando wrote: I recently purchased a 12 1.5 Ghz Powerbook on eBay (running OS 10.5.x). The auction description said the Airport Extreme card doesn't seem to be working correctly. Once I received the laptop, I figured out that the problem is really that this powerbook has a very short wireless reception distance - such that when I first powered it on, sitting at my computer desk about 5 feet from the wireless router (linksys) it worked just fine. But when I sat with the laptop on the other side of the same room, about 15 feet from the router, reception was only fair. Take the laptop to the next room, about 25 feet from the router, and you're totally out of luck. So at first I thought the problem must be with the Airport card, so I bought another one - they aren't very expensive. Now I find that the reception problem has not changed at all, so the card can't be the problem. Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? I'm just hoping it's not on the motherboard, because they really are expensive. There was one or more versions of the PowerBook that had problems with WiFi range. It was basically a design error (AFAIK). Your model is from around that period but I don't know specifics. This means that you may never get acceptable reception. Make sure your router is using 802.11g, it tends to do better than 802.11b. You could try a web search to dig up info from back when. Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: Poor wireless reception on G4 Aluminum Powerbook
On Apr 13, 2011, at 3:03 PM, Bruce - in Orlando wrote: Can anyone tell me what the real problem is? It appears the aluminum PowerBook suffers like the Ti PowerBook did, bad reception because of metal case (Faraday cage). A few people bought external antennas from QuickerTek, but they don't seem to make these any more, and they were very expensive. You can build a homemade Pringle's can external antenna but this will make your PowerBook look like some sort of weapon and you'll probably get arrested if you use it in public, see: http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448 A USB 802.11n WIFI adapter might be the optimal choice. Get any model using a Broadcom chipset and it will be recognized as Apple Airport as long as the correct VID PID are listed in the info.plist of the Broadcom plugin (AppleAirPortBrcm4311.kext) of the IO80211Family.kext. There's a script available to add all known combinations of VID PID so that everything works, it's called bcm43xx_enabler.sh. A cheap USB 802.11n adapter would be both an upgrade and hopefully fix the reception issue, and as long as it's Broadcom chipset it will integrate perfectly as if it was regular Apple Airport (remove your OEM Airport card first, and delete Airport from System PreferencesNetwork prior to adding the USB adapter. Then reboot with the USB adapter, go to Network and it should auto-detect the new Airport hardware and you should be in business. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
