Which Mac had the best WiFi signal?

[AphoticD]

I’m intending to repurpose one of my old Macs to setup internet sharing from Ethernet to WiFi and was wondering if anyone had tested their old Macs for best WiFi signal strength?

My available options range from iBook G3 12” or 14” (original Airport) or iBook G4 in 12” or 14”, TiBook, PowerBook G4 12” or 15”, MacBook A1181 and white unibody or Mac mini early 2009.

My reason for setting this up is as a low security WEP bridge for my PowerBook 1400cs which I just expanded with an Orinoco Gold 802.11b 16-bit PCMCIA Card - so speed is not a priority...

I have read that iBooks often had better reception than PowerBooks. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[eyoungren]

I can't tell you which one was the best (or just had better). I can tell you however, that the TiBook should not be an option. The TiBooks were known for their terrible reception (as I discovered at one point when I got my first Airport card for mine).

In fact, there was an external antenna that was sold for them to improve their reception. The problem was that all that metal interfered. Obviously, Apple had solved this problem by the time of the AlBooks.

Is this simply a matter of using what you have? I ask, because if you are already running a cable to a Mac, why not pick up a $20 router and use that to provide WiFi access to your network for the older PB?

 

[AphoticD]

I can't tell you which one was the best (or just had better). I can tell you however, that the TiBook should not be an option. The TiBooks were known for their terrible reception (as I discovered at one point when I got my first Airport card for mine).

In fact, there was an external antenna that was sold for them to improve their reception. The problem was that all that metal interfered. Obviously, Apple had solved this problem by the time of the AlBooks.

Is this simply a matter of using what you have? I ask, because if you are already running a cable to a Mac, why not pick up a $20 router and use that to provide WiFi access to your network for the older PB?

Thanks Erik, that does narrow things down slightly. Yes, I intend to use what I've got instead of buying another device. I will probably need to make some time to test out a few different models. I had quickly setup a PB 12" last night (because it was at hand and fit neatly on the shelf next to the modem) and found the signal kept dropping out for me a couple of rooms away.

I have a feeling that the iBooks or polycarbonate MacBooks are likely to be the winners over all the aluminum models...

 

[Project Alice]

I’m intending to repurpose one of my old Macs to setup internet sharing from Ethernet to WiFi and was wondering if anyone had tested their old Macs for best WiFi signal strength?

My available options range from iBook G3 12” or 14” (original Airport) or iBook G4 in 12” or 14”, TiBook, PowerBook G4 12” or 15”, MacBook A1181 and white unibody or Mac mini early 2009.

My reason for setting this up is as a low security WEP bridge for my PowerBook 1400cs which I just expanded with an Orinoco Gold 802.11b 16-bit PCMCIA Card - so speed is not a priority...

I have read that iBooks often had better reception than PowerBooks. Can anyone confirm this?

I’ve done this only with an iMac G4. It worked great for me.

Out of your list, I think the 2009 Mini will be the best option. That thing has a modern wificard in it that has better range than any PPC Mac regardless of antenna strength.
For a more long term solution, I’d buy some powerline adapters. They’re cheap and faster than WiFi.

 

[bobesch]

I'd prefer a cheap Wifi-Ethernet-bridge. Once set it can be plugged into any old device and there's secure connection instantly without any extra device that draws power ...

 

[swamprock]

I use my Mac Pro 2,1 for WEP connections, but running Elementary OS with its Hotspot feature rather than macOS. They removed WEP connecting from internet connection sharing in macOS anyway. I spend most time in eOS on that machine since it's a supported, up to date OS.

In any event, I can pick up the connection from my garage, and my Mac Pro is in my basement office, on the opposite side of the house, detached. The Pro has a great antenna, plus all of that aluminum...

 

[Project Alice]

I'd prefer a cheap Wifi-Ethernet-bridge. Once set it can be plugged into any old device and there's secure connection instantly without any extra device that draws power ...

Powerline won't use anymore power than a Wi-FI ethernet bridge, and will probably be more reliable. And certainly use less power than even an 09 Mac Mini running.

 

[AphoticD]

Powerline won't use anymore power than a Wi-FI ethernet bridge, and will probably be more reliable. And certainly use less power than even an 09 Mac Mini running.

In my setup I don’t have a need for the network to be always on, so power consumption is low on the list of priorities. I really am just looking for the strongest signal using my existing hardware. Also to delegate the job to a machine that wouldn’t get much use otherwise.

 

[weckart]

For the sake of being ridiculously paranoid about the low security to be employed, I would go with one that doesn't necessarily have the strongest signal, so that your neighbours or any other passing hacker (because they are everywhere, right?) don't benefit from it. Any of the iBooks should do.