Re: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
Applicable Mini-PCI cards may be identified in two ways: 1) by manufacturer-to-MAC-address Examples: Broadcom is 000DB6, 001018, 001BE9, 18C086 and 0005B5, and possibly others; or 2) by MAC-address-to-manufacturer Example: 0016cf is Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. Now, most of the cards which I have purchased from HK have been Dell-branded BCM4318-based cards with MAC addresses beginning with 0016cf, meaning every one was manufactured by Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd, presumably for Dell. Perhaps even exclusively for Dell. Every one has worked as Airport-Extreme in my Macks and Hacks. I seriously doubt that Broadcom actually makes any cards at all. Rather, Broadcom makes the BCM4318 chip and supplies those and a reference design to others, who actually make the cards off-shore (often in Taiwan or China). The MAC address is always a 12 hexadecimal digit number, the first 6 digits (48 bits) of which uniquely identify the manufacturer, and the remaining 6 digits (48 bits) of which uniquely identify the sequence number within that manufacturer's production. If a manufacturer runs out of sequence numbers, they simply request a new group by requesting a new manufacturer ID. It is pretty clear that the MAC address doesn't mean that much to Apple's Airport-Extreme driver. It IS looking at the hardware version string, for which a vendor ID of 0x14e4 and a device ID of 0x4318 means a Broadcom 4318. This information may be obtained from the IORegistryExplorer application. -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
re: Broadcom 4318 modules which I have purchased on ePrey (sic) from a Hong Kong-based seller Can you share link to a PCI card from China that is known to have Broadcom modules? I purchased one to test -- it worked great -- then bought 12 more for a lab and they all didn't work because they had different mini-PCI cards under the same labeled slot. Ugh. I know if I can find a reliable supplier with Broadcom mini-PCI modules I'd be set... these cards were like $8- each... very appealing for a lab. -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
re: Broadcom 4318 modules which I have purchased on ePrey (sic) from a Hong Kong-based seller Can you share link to a PCI card from China that is known to have Broadcom modules? I purchased one to test -- it worked great -- then bought 12 more for a lab and they all didn't work because they had different mini-PCI cards under the same labeled slot. Ugh. I know if I can find a reliable supplier with Broadcom mini-PCI modules I'd be set... these cards were like $8- each... very appealing for a lab. I have searched ePrey (sic) for cards meeting the basic requirements. You can, too. Look for Broadcom Mini-PCI 4318 cards which state that they are intended for various Dell laptops but NOT for IBM laptops. Here is the present listing for the lowest-cost one (item plus shipping to the US) ... http://cgi.ebay.com/Broadcom-wireless-wifi-B-G-mini-pci-card-BCM4318-4318-/170464143721?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item27b0746969 ... it is item number 27b0746969 if the above link doesn't work. I have purchased at least a dozen such cards from several ePrey sellers and all have worked. Right now, there are a number of lots of cards being sold at quite reasonable prices. Just key on the description where is says it is Dell-compatible but NOT IBM-compatible. I have found that those cards are immediately seen by MacOS X and do not require flashing or even updating the 802.11 plist. You will require a Mini-PCI to PCI adapter, too, and also an antenna. You want a Mini-PCI to PCI adapter which has one antenna connector and, consequently, one internal cable to the card. The card I have cited, above, is US$4.40, including free shipping. A lot of 10 cards can be had for under US$40. -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
On Feb 13, 11:33 pm, Kris Tilford ktilfo...@cox.net wrote: On Feb 13, 2011, at 9:10 PM, akhoff18 wrote: Download the file bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh.zip and double-click it to unzip it. The unzipped file will be called bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh. Launch Terminal, type sudo with a space after and drag the script bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh into the Terminal window and make sure the cursor is at the end, no extra spaces, Terminal is VERY picky about extra spaces, and hit the Return key. It will initiate a dialog that will ask for your admin password, and then ask if you want to create a backup of the original .plist (which probably isn't neccesary), and then it will repair the ownership permissions and will be done. It will say you need to restart, but in my experience this isn't true, the BCM plugin loads dynamically and is available as soon as Network Preference recognizes the Broadcom device as Airport. followed the exact instructions. after double clicking on the downloaded file the name of it is bcm43xx_enabler.sh rather than having the version tagging along. don't know if that makes a difference. still no luck here. : ( -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
followed the exact instructions. after double clicking on the downloaded file the name of it is bcm43xx_enabler.sh rather than having the version tagging along. don't know if that makes a difference. still no luck here. : ( There ARE cases, as yet unenumerated, where an apparently Airport-compatible card (and a Broadcom 43xx would be a primary example) will NOT be accepted as such after the system is installed. The solution, then, is to reinstall the system, making sure the card is seen and the password is set during system installation. If that procedure is not successful, then the card is most likely not Airport-compatible, and cannot be made compatible. -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
i recently installed a pci broadcom card w/ antenna in my mdd and it snapped into place and seemed like it was good to go but I'm still not getting any signal. is there something more that needs to be done? do drivers need to be installed? i clicked on the about this mac tab and under the PCI cards tab it said no information was found. i'm not very well versed as far as technology but am looking to learn and i have no clue what i'm doing wrong and would appreciate some tips! thanks! Apple has support in its plist for MANY Broadcom modules, most of which Apple NEVER actually used in any of its many products. There is a script which purports to add to the plist the remaining (i.e., he omitted) Broadcom IDs. I've not had to resort to that, as ALL of the Broadcom 4318 modules which I have purchased on ePrey (sic) from a Hong Kong-based seller have been one of Apple's preferred IDs. You can try the script, or you can try manually changing the plist. In any case, the plist MUST include the specific device or devices which you are attempting to attach. -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
On Feb 13, 2011, at 2:30 PM, peterh...@cruzio.com wrote: There is a script which purports to add to the plist the remaining (i.e., the omitted) Broadcom IDs. The script is called bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh.zip. After unzipping launch Terminal, type sudo without the quotes, add a space and drag the script into the Terminal window and hit the Return key. Follow instructions and you're done. This will add the correct PID VID for all known Broadcom products. The script is available here: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=51725 Alternatively you can flash the firmware of any Broadcom product so that it will be rebranded as a native Apple product. First identify the exact Broadcom chipset of your product, then find an Apple product using the same chipset and get the PID VID #'s for the real Apple product and follow the instructions here using an Ubuntu Live DVD or CD to flash the Broadcom card: http://prasys.info/2009/12/rebranding-broadcom-802-11abgn-cards-as-airport/ -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
On Feb 13, 8:26 pm, Kris Tilford ktilfo...@cox.net wrote: On Feb 13, 2011, at 2:30 PM, peterh...@cruzio.com wrote: The script is called bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh.zip. After unzipping launch Terminal, type sudo without the quotes, add a space and drag the script into the Terminal window and hit the Return key. Follow instructions and you're done. This will add the correct PID VID for all known Broadcom products. The script is available here: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=51725 I tried, to the best of my ability, but it said that the command could not be found. does the entire script need to be dragged or just the specific chip that i have? -- 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: 3rd party wireless pci card for MDD
On Feb 13, 2011, at 9:10 PM, akhoff18 wrote: I tried, to the best of my ability, but it said that the command could not be found. does the entire script need to be dragged or just the specific chip that i have? Download the file bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh.zip and double-click it to unzip it. The unzipped file will be called bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh. Launch Terminal, type sudo with a space after and drag the script bcm43xx_enabler_0.5.3.sh into the Terminal window and make sure the cursor is at the end, no extra spaces, Terminal is VERY picky about extra spaces, and hit the Return key. It will initiate a dialog that will ask for your admin password, and then ask if you want to create a backup of the original .plist (which probably isn't neccesary), and then it will repair the ownership permissions and will be done. It will say you need to restart, but in my experience this isn't true, the BCM plugin loads dynamically and is available as soon as Network Preference recognizes the Broadcom device as Airport. -- 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
