add n-wireless to mini?

[thumb]

Hi all,

i like the idea of adding a n speed router to my network with external hard drive attached.

is there anyway to replace teh current mini's airport card for an n card? i would frequently be moving large-ish photo and video files to mini to work on them.

cheers

[ftaok]

Originally Posted by thumb

Hi all,

i like the idea of adding a n speed router to my network with external hard drive attached.

is there anyway to replace teh current mini's airport card for an n card? i would frequently be moving large-ish photo and video files to mini to work on them.

cheers

The easiest way would be with a 11n USB adapter. Not sure which ones would be compatible. Wait a month and I'm sure there will be more talk about this very topic.

ft

[elec999]

Originally Posted by ftaok

The easiest way would be with a 11n USB adapter. Not sure which ones would be compatible. Wait a month and I'm sure there will be more talk about this very topic.

ft

Im sure apple will release a airport N card. But is it really worth upgrading.
Thanks

[ftaok]

Originally Posted by elec999

Im sure apple will release a airport N card. But is it really worth upgrading.
Thanks

I'm not so sure about that. Apple left a lot of users out in the cold when they switched from Airport to Airport Extreme when they switched from PCMCIA to PCI connections. Maybe it had something to do with bandwidth, but I doubt it as other manufacuturers were making 11g cards with PCMCIA connections.

As you can tell, I'm still a little upset about that. That was 5 years ago. I really gotta learn to let things slide.

ft

[4JNA]

intel just introduced the card, but is has not been released to the hardware channel yet. details HERE.

i have one on order, and as soon as they start shipping, i will test it out. the previous intel a/b/g worked in my mini, and the mini card worked in my windows laptop, so i would expect this to work as well.

[roland.g]

Originally Posted by 4JNA

intel just introduced the card, but is has not been released to the hardware channel yet. details HERE.

i have one on order, and as soon as they start shipping, i will test it out. the previous intel a/b/g worked in my mini, and the mini card worked in my windows laptop, so i would expect this to work as well.

I don't know if that will fit in a Mini, and even if it did, I don't think the Mini has all the necessary antennas, as it is my understanding the n uses more. Which is why Apple may not be able to issue a replacement part for any Core Duo or older Macs. I am assuming that a usb n adapter however would have them built in to it.

[wmmk]

hmmm...
wondering the same the same thing about my CD MBP.
I know internet wouldn't be affected much, but I actually wirelessly access files on my mom's computer quite often, and I'm sure n would help with that.

[zap2]

Hmm...I'll be watching eagerly as solutions begin to become more common...not doubt I'll be needed it for my Mac Mini..or I'll update it

[Sun Baked]

For desktop users with older machines, a revamped Airport Express-n might be a decent choice.

Problem with Apple and wireless cards are, that generally they do not use the same standard module -- since they tend to change the shape and mounting points to reflect the machine it will go in.

So while the modules are generally the same technically, they tend to look a little different and might not fit in another machine.

Of course I really haven't compared the new mini-PCIe modules.

[4JNA]

Originally Posted by roland.g

I don't know if that will fit in a Mini, and even if it did, I don't think the Mini has all the necessary antennas...

it will fit just fine. look at the intel link i posted, and then look at the mini upgrade thread from when i bumped my mini to c2d. same card, same connector, and should work fine.

a/b/g (current) only has 2 antenna leads, and the new card (n) has 3 so an additional antenna lead will be needed. planning to make one as a temp fix, but sure that an apple part will be available when the next mini upgrade rolls around. either way, home made or apple part, should work fine.

edit: just saw the tv shipping soon story on the front page. want to get one apart as i expect that it will have the card/antenna that could be used in the current mini as well. only question is layout and cost. apple is always really proud of their repair parts!

[elec999]

Originally Posted by 4JNA

it will fit just fine. look at the intel link i posted, and then look at the mini upgrade thread from when i bumped my mini to c2d. same card, same connector, and should work fine.

a/b/g (current) only has 2 antenna leads, and the new card (n) has 3 so an additional antenna lead will be needed. planning to make one as a temp fix, but sure that an apple part will be available when the next mini upgrade rolls around. either way, home made or apple part, should work fine.

edit: just saw the tv shipping soon story on the front page. want to get one apart as i expect that it will have the card/antenna that could be used in the current mini as well. only question is layout and cost. apple is always really proud of their repair parts!

Is it really worth it going to pren. Will pren actually offer better bandwidth, and also can the mac mini hard drive even offer enough io for fast transfers.
Thanks

[4JNA]

Originally Posted by elec999

Will pre-n actually offer better bandwidth, and also can the mac mini hard drive even offer enough io for fast transfers.
Thanks

from the intel link: Data rates up to 300Mbps offer major improvement over today's 802.11a/g products that deliver 54Mbps.

and up to twice the range, and requires less power which will mean better battery life for the mobile crowd. 300Mbps is still less than the onboard gigabit connection (1000Mbps), so yes, the mini can handle the data just fine!