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Gary King

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 14, 2004
495
1
How do I give a Mac Mini wireless capabilities?

I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to this (networking things.) Well, not a COMPLETE newbie - but I just don't spend too much time in this part of things.

Anyways, what options do I have if I want to connect a Mac Mini to my wireless network?

I currently have 2 laptops that are wirelessly connected to my Linksys wireless router, and 2 more PCs that are wired to it.

What is the, erm, cheapest way to allow a Mac Mini to wirelessly connect to the wireless network that I have? And what other options do I have?

Thanks in advance! :D
 

redeye be

macrumors 65816
Jan 27, 2005
1,138
0
BXL
Pistol Pete said:
BTO add on from apple
or you could connect another wireless router (like the linksys, or an airport Extreme) to the ethernet port of the mac. The router will wirelessly connect to the rest of your network.
BTO will be the preferable option though (unless you have other plans for that specific location than just having a mini there).
 

toddya

macrumors newbie
Jul 23, 2002
21
0
USA
Adding Wireless to a Mac Mini.. There are other ways.

First off. You can buy the BlueTooth and Wireless UPGRADE daughterboard from a Apple specialist. I bought mine from the Apple store and convinced them to sell it to me "at my own risk". It costs $99.00. Part #M9870Z/A

"Airport and Bluetooth Upgrade" is what its named in their system.

I read somewhere (here) that others have done it too.

You need to open your MacMini, pull "off" the optical drive/hard drive "chassis" (don't forget to pull off the tape on the side of the chassis or you might tear off the grounding wire) and then "plug" the daughterboard on. Screw it down with 2 screws. Then put it all back together.

The trickiest part is figuring out how to route your antennas (there are two) and where to place it. Quick hint. The Bluetooth Antenna goes towards the DIMM module then "clips" onto the top of the drive chassis, and the Airport Extreme Antenna goes "right" and clips near the backside of the drive chassis. You can see the "space made for it" on the bottom of your MacMini cover when you pull it off. Its quite obvious..

If you are too scared to do it, You can have your apple specialist do it. One here wanted $100 to do it! Ugh. And they wouldn't sell it to me at all. So I went to the Apple store and bought 3 of them. The first upgrade takes the longest, about 30 minutes. The 2nd was easy, so i'd say 15 minutes.

OTHERWISE. the otherway to do it which MIGHT give you better reception.
Purchase the DLINK 802.11G GAMING Wireless USB device (DWL-820G). It works GREAT. I used it on my MacMini until I got the Apple solution. The only reason I replaced it was because it was a pain to configure and it made the area "messy" with more cables and a stupid box sitting next to the Mini which is the size of two packs of cigarettes.

All you do is use your web browser to configure it and you're done. This costs about $89 street price. It worked very well and then you can use it on your game system too (XBOX, PS2, Game Cube).

The other solution that works is some other third party USB Wireless 802.11G device but it looks much uglier than the DLINK and its harder to find (at least where I am). It might be easier to configure however.

Anyway those are 3 options for you. I've tried the first two. Both work great.

Laters

Todd
 

TMA

macrumors 6502a
Jan 6, 2003
933
1
England
We do this upgrade after market, I think we're offering the service for £99 inc parts and fitting. I'm sure other Authorized resellers with service centers could do something similar for you.
 

blodwyn

macrumors 65816
Jul 28, 2004
1,147
1
Portland, Oregon
I took my sons Mini to the local Apple store where we bought it, and they fitted the airport/bluetooth card for free. Just cost us the $99.
 

xli_ne

macrumors 6502a
Mar 3, 2005
790
0
Center of the Nation
blodwyn said:
I took my sons Mini to the local Apple store where we bought it, and they fitted the airport/bluetooth card for free. Just cost us the $99.


damn... at compusa its a 100 charge to install that puppy, plus another 100 for the airport/bluetooth card.
 

blodwyn

macrumors 65816
Jul 28, 2004
1,147
1
Portland, Oregon
xli_ne said:
damn... at compusa its a 100 charge to install that puppy, plus another 100 for the airport/bluetooth card.

That constitutes price gouging. It's no more than a 10 minute job for someone who knows what they're doing.
 

smokeyrabbit

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2005
327
0
Escape from New England
Gary King said:
How do I give a Mac Mini wireless capabilities?

I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to this (networking things.) Well, not a COMPLETE newbie - but I just don't spend too much time in this part of things.

Anyways, what options do I have if I want to connect a Mac Mini to my wireless network?

I currently have 2 laptops that are wirelessly connected to my Linksys wireless router, and 2 more PCs that are wired to it.

What is the, erm, cheapest way to allow a Mac Mini to wirelessly connect to the wireless network that I have? And what other options do I have?

Thanks in advance! :D

So, you don't have your Mac mini yet? Then you just need to order it with the airport extreme card in. Turn it on, it will find your network .
 
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