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General discussion

Aftermarket WiFi PCMCIA cards with mac OS 10.4.3 & 10.3.9

by dand3 Dec 3, 2005 4:03AM PST

Does anyone know how to get aftermarket PCMCIA cards to work with apple powerbooks in OS 10.4.3 or 10.3.9? It works fine with 9.2.2 on back to 8.6, but does not work at all with the newest OS. There apparently is not a bit of support for aftermarket WiFi cards in the newest operating system. Has anyone figured out how to make them work? I cannot get even an orinoco silverlan card to work in my lombards...unless I run in OS 9.2.2 . The lombard simply does not see the card in the airport setup utility. Any suggestions? Thanks! Dan

Discussion is locked

13 Posts
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If Apple?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 3, 2005 4:05AM PST

I keep going back to Apple products for Apple products. If there is a card by Apple for this machine, try that.

The third party makers may have a fix, but you have to contact them since they are not here.

Bob

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Sorry
by dand3 Dec 3, 2005 4:29AM PST

Apple...to the best of my knowledge...never made any WiFi IEEE 802.11b PCMCIA cards for their machines. They even used a orinoco/proxim silverlan card as the guts...in their original airports...but offer no support for such in OS 10.3.9 in the Lombard (the latest OS that lombards are able to run)...which is downright stupid. There has to be some way to use them.

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Then...
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 3, 2005 4:36AM PST

Try any Apple "labeled" cards. Be sure not to call the support people stupid or such since that tends to be a conversation ended.

Bob

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You do not understand
by dand3 Dec 3, 2005 5:43AM PST

The closest apple came to their own propitiary PCMCIA card is the wavelan silver orinoco card. The was none other...except the internal...nonPCMCIA apple IEEE 802.11b WiFi card in the pismo, the iBook, and the G4's. for the last time...there is no Apple PCMCIA WiFi card!!!!! OS 10.3.9 does not see that card in the airport setup utility.

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My typo. Sorry.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 3, 2005 7:59AM PST

I meant "conversation ender." When you talk to the support people on the phone about when the current drivers or utility will come out, avoid name calling.

As to the Orinoco and such, try that. From memory these did connect to today's networks.

"The closest apple came to their own propitiary PCMCIA card is the wavelan silver orinoco card. The was none other...except the internal...nonPCMCIA apple IEEE 802.11b WiFi card in the pismo, the iBook, and the G4's. for the last time...there is no Apple PCMCIA WiFi card!!!!!"

Absolutely understand that Apple didn't make such cards, but they did sell them. Find those models since Apple seemed to care for such.

Bob

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This one says it works with 10.2.6 or later
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Dec 3, 2005 9:29AM PST
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OK But....
by dand3 Dec 3, 2005 10:22PM PST

There are no drivers listed at all, and I already have nine aftermarket cards...including a Belkin Pre-N model,four wavelan silver cards, two generic PCMCIA cards, and two USB WiFi solutions. Mac OS 10.3.9 sees none of them. I have no desire to spend that kind of money on a new card, that may or may not work. They are expensive, and no one seems to know anything about the manufacturer. I need a software solution work around.

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Won't really help me
by dand3 Dec 3, 2005 10:36PM PST

According to the manufacturer, the card "Uses OS Integrated AirPort Drivers" Maybe I need to get ahold of proxim/orinoco...again!

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Recap.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 3, 2005 11:07PM PST

I think you revealed your true goals when you wrote "I already have nine aftermarket cards... I need a software solution work around."

My position here is that futzing with cards and parts is more expensive than new parts. At least it is at the office in the USA. Your case and goals are different. My advice here with your goals is to make those (nice) calls to the cark makers.

Remember to be nice and never use any conversation ending terms.

Bob

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Possible solutions found...if interested
by dand3 Dec 8, 2005 10:42PM PST
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Very Interested
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Dec 8, 2005 10:57PM PST

thanks for the info.

Did any of these work for you?


P

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3rd party pcmcia cards in a powerbook
by hotmetalman Oct 27, 2008 2:50AM PDT

I have found 2 cards that work ....Belkin 802.11g and a motorola card ... from memory 825. The Belkin has the yellow label.
... 507010xx

When I upgraded to Tiger, the cards didn't work and after messing with Airport Setup Assistant, I gave up and reinstalled the OS WITH THE CARD IN THE SLOT .... and BINGO ... works a treat.

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I found my own answer
by dadoctorman Mar 10, 2009 4:04AM PDT

Motorola makes a PCMCIA card, that is 802.11g, and is native to all macs. It is seen as original airport equipment.

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