2006 MacPro: No Airport Card; Alternatives?

[Benmrx]

Here's the dilemma: I've got a 2006 MacPro 1,1 machine with no airport card (I know.. it's 'old'). Some Google searching led me to believe that finding an Airport Card that works with this particular machine is no easy task. Basically eBay seems to be the only hope. Therefore I went and snagged a USB Wireless doo-dad that claimed to be OSX compatible. Well... after numerous install problems..., and more google'ing it seems that it's not REALLY that compatible after all.

Before I go do another round of returning this one for another and just hoping it works, I wanted to ask here and see if anyone has a definative working solution.

FWIW, the whole end goal here is to use an iPad as a DAW/Plugin controller.

[JustinAiken]

Depending on the model of USB Wireless adapter you got, the osx86 community may have a driver for it...

Or you can always get a nice router (or one that can run DD-WRT), hook it to the Mac through Ethernet, and set it up as a wireless hotspot...

[Benmrx]

Thanks for the info. I'm not very technical...., so I apologize:

x86 community. I'm currently running OSX 10.6.8 in 32bit mode, so should I still look there for a driver, or is that only for 64bit mode?

As far as getting a router goes; I already have wireless going in my house with an Apple Airport Express base station. I'm using it right now with an iMac, which does have the airport card installed. I've got it working with the iPad over WiFi, etc. The problem is that my main DAW is a Macpro that doesn't have any kind of wireless/Wifi abilities, and I just want to get it going on the same network.

Is what you're saying about getting a router and setting it up as a hotspot still apply?

[PlatinumSamples]

This should work: Amazon.com: Apple MB363Z/A Airport Extreme Wireless Upgrade Kit - network adapter: Electronics

Email the seller to confirm... We have an Airport Extreme in our Mac Pro 1,1

Rail

[Leechlife]

HI

So I haven't found any good wireless option for the mac pro, so you have to go via the ethernet port.

There a few options in ur case.

1. The problem u have is that the airport express does not have any ethernet ports, cause if it had that you could plug the macpro straight in and you be done.

So you can upgrade ur wireless network base station to any base station that has some ethernet ports.

If in addition to that if you have some trouble running the cable all the to the base station then you can look at ethernet over power options as well. (E.g I use that to run ethernet from upstairs to the downstairs router.)

2. you can buy a wireless bridge. Even some routers can be run like that. That means you but that device close to the mac pro, connect it with the mac pro via ethernet cable and that router/bridge is simply joining the other wireless network.

u can google about both options to find more details

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by PlatinumSamples

This should work: Amazon.com: Apple MB363Z/A Airport Extreme Wireless Upgrade Kit - network adapter: Electronics

Email the seller to confirm... We have an Airport Extreme in our Mac Pro 1,1

Rail

I think I'll give this one a shot. Thanks for the link... but it's your head if it doesn't work.... I kid I kid. Thanks again.

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by Leechlife

HI

So I haven't found any good wireless option for the mac pro, so you have to go via the ethernet port.

There a few options in ur case.

1. The problem u have is that the airport express does not have any ethernet ports, cause if it had that you could plug the macpro straight in and you be done.

So you can upgrade ur wireless network base station to any base station that has some ethernet ports.

If in addition to that if you have some trouble running the cable all the to the base station then you can look at ethernet over power options as well. (E.g I use that to run ethernet from upstairs to the downstairs router.)

2. you can buy a wireless bridge. Even some routers can be run like that. That means you but that device close to the mac pro, connect it with the mac pro via ethernet cable and that router/bridge is simply joining the other wireless network.

u can google about both options to find more details

Thanks for the info. However, I'm already using the ethernet port as it's the only reasonable way to use the iMac as a second monitor using Screen Recycler w/JollysFastVNC. Pretty dumb, but it's the only way I could get it to work.

[Leechlife]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

Thanks for the info. However, I'm already using the ethernet port as it's the only reasonable way to use the iMac as a second monitor using Screen Recycler w/JollysFastVNC. Pretty dumb, but it's the only way I could get it to work.

Mmh, so first of all a Mac pro has 2 Ethernet cards, 2nd ever heard of switches?


Also now I don't get at all if u have an iMac there, where is ur problem?
iMac has airport? Yes? It is connected via Ethernet to ur macpro, ... Get what I am pointing at? You can share ur iMac Internet connection/wireless network access with ur Mac pro. There a few ways to set that up!

[grawk]

All 3 airport expresses I have have ethernet ports, and can definitely be used as wireless bridges.

[zephonic]

There are several companies who sell OEM mac components. They'll juice you for it, but getting an airport card for an '06 MacPro is not hard. Just pricey.

[jimmymio]

I had the same problem getting internet from my home computer to my 2008 MacPro which is in my studio out in my detached garage. I already have a wireless router and I bought one of these:Cisco-Linksys WET610N Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter. It receives the signal from the router and then i run it via ethernet into the Mac.
Set it up in a few minutes and it has worked great since then.

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by Leechlife

Mmh, so first of all a Mac pro has 2 Ethernet cards, 2nd ever heard of switches?


Also now I don't get at all if u have an iMac there, where is ur problem?
iMac has airport? Yes? It is connected via Ethernet to ur macpro, ... Get what I am pointing at? You can share ur iMac Internet connection/wireless network access with ur Mac pro. There a few ways to set that up!

You learn something new everyday! OK, I got internet sharing going.., but the problem I'm having now is I'm not sure how to direct the iPad to the Macpro.

At the moment all I have for the iPad is the free version of V-Control. In the V-Control settings, there's a window to choose which computer you want to connect to, and it still only sees the iMac.

Any suggestions?

[mattg082]

I have the same mac and bought this recently to get the internet working... works really far as I'm picking up wireless 2 apartment complexes down the street from a friends house. I thought about the airport kit, but that was more a bitch and didn't reach as far. $59.95

I have my xbox routed through ethernet with it as well. Simplest cheapest way I've found so far with no hassles. i searched for a good bit!

AftertheMac n300SL USB 802.11n Wireless Adapter