802.11g for iMac?

Mpowered · 05-09-2004, 04:24 AM

What is a good wireless NIC for an iMac? I need to get my house set up with a wireless network soon, preferably this week. I have 3 Windows pc's, 1 windows/linux dual boot, 1 Mac, a PS2 and a cable modem. I shouldn't have too much trouble picking out the router, but I wouldn't mind some suggestions. My Win/nix box will most likely be hard wired to the router, so I don't neccesarily need to worry about nix compatability with the wirelss card, but I have absolutely no idea what to get for my Mac.

I haven't been keeping up with the newest wireless tech lately, but I would like the fastest and least laggy setup possible as the PS2 will eventually be wireless. I want a router with a decent firewall so that I can finally kill some of these software firewalls that are eating up clock cycles on some of the slower computers.

For now I need just a wireless nic for the mac and a wireless router. Price isn't a big issue, but I don't want to be spending like $300 on these two items. I don't mind spending a few more bucks for something that is faster and/or higher quality. So what should I get.

Thanks in advance for your help.

JackHammer · 05-09-2004, 06:19 AM

Your imac comes with the airport built-in, right? Now I'm not a mac expert but don't you have to get the airport extreme from apple if you want to upgrade from the regular airport?

ribitch · 05-09-2004, 07:26 AM

your mac probably only supports airport. the extreme cards use a minipci bus while airport used a pcmcia like bus.

due to the imacs all in one design, you would have to use an external device like USB. if your iMac doesnt support extreme than its USB bus is USB 1.1. 802.11g operates a speeds faster than the bus. So it looks like you are stuck with 802.11b.

Mpowered · 05-09-2004, 06:32 PM

It's about 2 years old. I checked the bottom. There are two slots, but niether of them are labeled. I don't think it will take the Airport Extreme card. Are there any Mac compatable USB or FireWire 802.11g NICs I can get?

seqiro · 05-09-2004, 08:43 PM

What about something like this: http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_g.../search=WGA54G

It's meant for consoles, but since it doesn't need drivers I can't see a reason why it wouldn't work on ANY device with an ethernet port, which certainly the iMac has.

I haven't seen any FireWire 802.11g adapters. As ribitch pointed out, a USB 1.1 (which your iMac has) 802.11g adapter would make no sense, since USB 1.1 is only good up to 11 Mbps meaning you couldn't really do much better than 802.11b speeds anyway. So even if they sold one (and I think MeritLine may have at one point) it would be a ripoff.

spigidygak · 05-09-2004, 11:11 PM

what sequirio gave in that link is probably your best bet to get a speedier g setup for your imac. Since all that is, is a wireless bridge. You'll get the benefits of 802.11g and still be wireless. I believe also there is no firewire g adapter, may be some usb 2 adapters, but other than that you've got the bridge option.

Now just as a note, for your PS2 to be wirless, using 802.11b or g won't make much difference at all. The only advantage to go to g really is if you are going to do a lot of large file transfers. But really your internet speed is way slower than even the speeds of 802.11b. So you probably can save yourself some cash and go with b and have your imac stay looking clean with getting an airport card.

Mpowered · 05-10-2004, 11:16 AM

The regular Airport card is 802.11b, right? So I should be able to get a wireless g router or AP and still be able to use it. I do a lot of large file transfers between my windows boxes, but the mac will pretty much only need web access.

seqiro · 05-10-2004, 11:22 AM

The thing to remember about 802.11b and 802.11g is that if ONE device is connected to your 802.11g network using 802.11b, ALL of the devices will be bumped down to 802.11b speeds.

spigidygak · 05-11-2004, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seqiro

The thing to remember about 802.11b and 802.11g is that if ONE device is connected to your 802.11g network using 802.11b, ALL of the devices will be bumped down to 802.11b speeds.

Yep problem with having a g network with just one b coming in, caps down everyone. I run my g so only g devices can work for that reason. Anyhow since you plan to do file transfers your choice for the imac is going to be to get the wireless bridge.

Mpowered · 05-11-2004, 11:08 AM

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to get the wireless bridge so I can keep the rest of the WLAN on 11g.

seqiro · 05-11-2004, 11:15 AM

Let us know how it works out for you.

Mpowered · 05-25-2004, 01:04 PM

I got stuff last night and hooked it all up with no problems. Plugged in the SMC 2804WBR to the PC and cable modem and hooked up the Netgear WGE101 Wireless Bridge to the iMac and had the network up in seconds. Barely any configuration required.

The combination works nicely together. The bridge reports 90% and higher signal strength at more than 50 feet away. I even bought a 4 dB antenna just in case there were going to be any signal problems, but it's working nicely without it.

Thanks again for all the help.

05-09-2004, 04:24 AM	#1
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	802.11g for iMac? What is a good wireless NIC for an iMac? I need to get my house set up with a wireless network soon, preferably this week. I have 3 Windows pc's, 1 windows/linux dual boot, 1 Mac, a PS2 and a cable modem. I shouldn't have too much trouble picking out the router, but I wouldn't mind some suggestions. My Win/nix box will most likely be hard wired to the router, so I don't neccesarily need to worry about nix compatability with the wirelss card, but I have absolutely no idea what to get for my Mac. I haven't been keeping up with the newest wireless tech lately, but I would like the fastest and least laggy setup possible as the PS2 will eventually be wireless. I want a router with a decent firewall so that I can finally kill some of these software firewalls that are eating up clock cycles on some of the slower computers. For now I need just a wireless nic for the mac and a wireless router. Price isn't a big issue, but I don't want to be spending like $300 on these two items. I don't mind spending a few more bucks for something that is faster and/or higher quality. So what should I get. Thanks in advance for your help. __________________ "Leaders? What leaders? **** these so called leaders! I don't respect them. I respect those who take action without being a leader." -Tommy Boomfiger

05-09-2004, 06:19 AM	#2
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	Your imac comes with the airport built-in, right? Now I'm not a mac expert but don't you have to get the airport extreme from apple if you want to upgrade from the regular airport? __________________ "I'm very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a terribly attractive woman." -Royal Tenebaum "Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I would do everything to her, I don't care what she looks like. I would wreck that chick." -Brian from the Family Guy after Peter asked him whether he would have sex with Lois.

05-09-2004, 08:43 PM	#5
seqiro Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,183	What about something like this: http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_g.../search=WGA54G It's meant for consoles, but since it doesn't need drivers I can't see a reason why it wouldn't work on ANY device with an ethernet port, which certainly the iMac has. I haven't seen any FireWire 802.11g adapters. As ribitch pointed out, a USB 1.1 (which your iMac has) 802.11g adapter would make no sense, since USB 1.1 is only good up to 11 Mbps meaning you couldn't really do much better than 802.11b speeds anyway. So even if they sold one (and I think MeritLine may have at one point) it would be a ripoff. __________________ Paul Beasi

05-09-2004, 11:11 PM	#6
spigidygak Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Redlands & San Diego, CA. Posts: 5,882	what sequirio gave in that link is probably your best bet to get a speedier g setup for your imac. Since all that is, is a wireless bridge. You'll get the benefits of 802.11g and still be wireless. I believe also there is no firewire g adapter, may be some usb 2 adapters, but other than that you've got the bridge option. Now just as a note, for your PS2 to be wirless, using 802.11b or g won't make much difference at all. The only advantage to go to g really is if you are going to do a lot of large file transfers. But really your internet speed is way slower than even the speeds of 802.11b. So you probably can save yourself some cash and go with b and have your imac stay looking clean with getting an airport card. __________________

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05-09-2004, 07:26 AM	#3
ribitch Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,672	your mac probably only supports airport. the extreme cards use a minipci bus while airport used a pcmcia like bus. due to the imacs all in one design, you would have to use an external device like USB. if your iMac doesnt support extreme than its USB bus is USB 1.1. 802.11g operates a speeds faster than the bus. So it looks like you are stuck with 802.11b.

05-09-2004, 06:32 PM	#4
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	It's about 2 years old. I checked the bottom. There are two slots, but niether of them are labeled. I don't think it will take the Airport Extreme card. Are there any Mac compatable USB or FireWire 802.11g NICs I can get?

05-10-2004, 11:16 AM	#7
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	The regular Airport card is 802.11b, right? So I should be able to get a wireless g router or AP and still be able to use it. I do a lot of large file transfers between my windows boxes, but the mac will pretty much only need web access.

05-10-2004, 11:22 AM	#8
seqiro Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,183	The thing to remember about 802.11b and 802.11g is that if ONE device is connected to your 802.11g network using 802.11b, ALL of the devices will be bumped down to 802.11b speeds.

05-11-2004, 11:08 AM	#10
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	Thanks for all your help. I'm going to get the wireless bridge so I can keep the rest of the WLAN on 11g.

05-11-2004, 11:15 AM	#11
seqiro Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,183	Let us know how it works out for you.

05-25-2004, 01:04 PM	#12
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	I got stuff last night and hooked it all up with no problems. Plugged in the SMC 2804WBR to the PC and cable modem and hooked up the Netgear WGE101 Wireless Bridge to the iMac and had the network up in seconds. Barely any configuration required. The combination works nicely together. The bridge reports 90% and higher signal strength at more than 50 feet away. I even bought a 4 dB antenna just in case there were going to be any signal problems, but it's working nicely without it. Thanks again for all the help.

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