WiFi Antenna for Mac G5 Tower ??

[fab5freddy]

i installed an Airport Extreme Card in my G5 Tower,
but am missing the external antenna that plugs in the back of the tower.....

the range is pretty bad without the external antenna...

Would it help with the range to get the external antenna ??

thanks !

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

Yeah I installed an AP card in mine too. I have good range with the side panel off but I just took a safety pin and stretched it out and put the needle side into the AP antenna place. I get great reception with the side door on. There was a guy selling them on ebay for $15 shipped a few months ago but some guy bought them all out, probably to resell them @ $25+ each as that's what they typically go for.

If you don't mind going the "ghetto" route, the safety pin works amazingly well!

 

[fab5freddy]

Cool ! i'll try the ghetto method.

but it's weird how the range is really bad without the external antenna !

i wonder why the Mac Pro's don't need the external antenna ?

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

I think they already have an external antenna installed. The aluminum casing of the G5's/MP's kills the wireless signal so without some sort of external antenna, you won't get any signal.

I just searched ebay and there are a few for around $15 shipped.

 

[fab5freddy]

i guess any kind of metal pin like
device would work as an antenna ?

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

i guess any kind of metal pin like
device would work as an antenna ?

Yeah. Just make sure it's inserted into the middle of the airport port.

 

[Earl Urly]

If you don't want to go through eBay but don't mind spending $19:

http://www.dvwarehouse.com/Antenna,-AirPort,-External-for-G5-A1066-p-33986.html

MacPros have a built-in Airport antenna, it's located on the bottom of the case