PCI-Express Wireless Solutions - Wireless-n (read below)

Same problem here, need help!

Use DPCI Manager and see which VendorID/DeviceID it has.

Sorry to be such a n00b, this is my last step for a perfect hackintosh!
How can i tell which is the Vendor and the Device ID from this:

[i]PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_1033147B&REV_01\4&3736C399&0&00E1

google is your friend: http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us&...168C%26DEV_001C

Whoa! Blast from the past!  ...what a trip. this is some major resurrection action going on, you can find some answers on these following threads:

What network cards work?, List your network card that runs native.
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?sho...mp;#entry448953



PCIe Wireless card
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?sho...&hl=airpace

Abit Airpace wifi for Mac Pro
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?sho...&hl=airpace

Atheros 5006EG
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?sho...=51382&st=0


Atheros AR5007EG
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?act...lite=%2Bairpace

like macgirl mentioned, google is your friend


*If the above threads don't suffice, you could always implement this: http://www.s155158671.websitehome.co.uk/wi...ssnonahack.html

On that page it says that the Dell 1390 works with a PCIx1 adapter. Can it work with a classic PCIE adapter (on my P5B running 10.5.2)? Just asking this because of the price. My local computer store sells PCIE to mini PCI adapter for 14.99$. Thanks.

If you're going to go with the adapter route, I would go with an actual airport extreme wireless card (but that's only because I prefer having the apple product instead, but yes the Dell is probably the same anyway):

+



$14.99?!?! for the MINI-PCIe to PCIe x1 adapter? is that in USD? They cost about $80 USD over here, you have a link? Get back to me

So PCIx1 and PCIE to miniPCI are the same! Thanks. Here is the link to my adpater:

http://1000ordi.ch/productsDisplay.php?pro...productID=17421

Here is a picture:



It cost 18 CHF (swiss francs); us yahoo finance to convert to $, it should be like 15 - 16 $. My local computer store sells it for 14.99 CHF (swiss francs, not $). Still cheaper!

^That is NOT the same card as the pci-express to mini-pcie card. The mini-pcie card will not fit in this.

Luckily I paid $10 for my mistake (i bought 2). I'm using the PEX1-MINI adapter ($104.00 USD) with a $35 generic Atheros 5008 card I got from ebay. The card came with 3 antenna wires that I run outside my case. I will have to go to storage and find an old pci card bracket with a small opening so I can replace the bracket on the PEX1-MINI... it didn't have any holes to run the antenna out so I will have to replace it or drill a small hole on that bracket.

I plugged the card into the adapter and started my machine up. The mini-pcie card is recognized as an airport extreme (a/b/g/n). Works flawlessly.

I believe this is the one of two manufacturers that makes this type of card, hence it is so expensive. I did an extensive google search and found it after changing my search parameters several times.

I beleive you but that is what is written on the product page i posted before. What is it then?

It it for this kind of cards:

^Now if you use that wireless mini-pci card with the $15 adapter, then it will work. The combination that gramarye posted wouldn't work nor would using a mini-pcie express wireless card with a pci-to mini-pci adapter.

Some people get confused over that because it isn't really clear until you have the two in your hand. The adapter I'm using for wireless is still expensive because of the small number of vendors, but I have the same capabilities of the wireless laptops in my desktop hackintosh. I guess with slowdown in pc desktops, no one is making the same wireless adapters as are available for laptops.

I'm a bit confused, the card AndreaGalileo posted is a PCI card, I'm not interested in a PCI card, and I had no idea AndreaGalileo was original
y not interested in one. I can say that is why the card is $15 because it's PCI also, it is not the same slot as the MiniPCI-Express to PCIe x1 adapter.

AndreaGalileo, if you're just settling a wireless-G network connection and a PCI card, why not just get a compatible Wireless-G PCI card that already works? (Instead of all these adapters and conversions)


terrancew_hod, thanks for the comments/feedback. This whole time I was basing off of aquamac's hack: http://www.s155158671.websitehome.co.uk/wi...ssnonahack.html
If my combination doesn't work, than what will work with that adapter? Is that Apple Airport Exreme Wireless card an Apple proprietary card, and is not compatible with any adapters we may find? By looking at its dimms, it looks compatible with the MiniPCIe to PCIe x1 adapter, but not AndreaGalileo's PCI one. I'd like to hear back! 

Trust me, I've been scratching my head over that one as well. I spent days looking for the right adapter!

Right now I have a generic atheros 5008 installed in the adapter that I installed yesterday. I purchased that from ebay for about $50 from china. Upon booting, Mac OS recognized it as 802.11N (a/b/g/n) without any addtional drivers. Look on ebay for that card or even the Dell 1500 wireless, which uses the broadcom chipset found in the macbooks. It also supports 802.11N (a/b/g/n) without drivers in os x. Just make sure you buy the antennas if they aren't included. I saw a few of these cards left on ebay for $35 USD + $4 shipping. These are basically the same as (atheros that is) ones supplied by Sonnet (Aria Extreme) for about $120, Quickertek for $89-179 and Fastmac for $89. You can also get an original airport express card from ifixit.com for $99.

But right now, it looks like this is the best (and maybe only) way to get the 5ghz 802.11N connections in a desktop pc for Airport Extreme and I believe Netgear's new router. This is something you want to consider if you're also thinking about purchasing an Time Capsule.

So that aquamac's method is incorrect? I'm still lost. Trust me, I believe you, It just got really confusing with AndreaGalileo's PCI card in the picture, which one combination doesn't work, which one does?


Why not this:

Airport Extreme Card for $49.00 + $1.99 Firmware update to Wireless-N


http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebO...nMore=M8881LL/A


I already have an Airport Extreme BaseStation, so I'm fine with the router, just never really took advantage of its wireless-n, I guess my macbook pro detects it.

I guess I shold change this thread title to Wireless-N PCI-express Solutions (which is already around)

I guess thats the best idea if you have a laptop. Kind of expensive but you are sure its compatible. My method won't work.

@ gramarye: the picture you have posted is a mini pci wireless card that only supports a/b/g networking. The 1.99 update will not give you 'N' speeds because this is an incompatible card.

This is the Airport Extreme wireless cards for earlier macbooks and macbook pro core duo that supports 802.11N and the $1.99 update:

Click to view attachment

This one is for the Macbook pro core 2 duo:

Click to view attachment

These cards are not only smaller, but they aren't available for sale at the apple store. You can get them on ebay or ifixit.com. Most wireless cards in newer laptops support mini pci express, not mini pci.

The wireless N cards use a mini pci express slot in laptops, and the only way to use them in a desktop is to use the more expensive pci express to mini pci express (mini pcie) adapter card.

Click to view attachment

Instead of buying that card you can either buy a generic atheros 5008 card or the Dell 1500; both of those use the same chipsets as the above cards and require no drivers to use in leopard. Also generally these cards will be at least $30 cheaper than the Apple-branded ones.

The 'g' version of the airport extreme card uses a mini-pci slot and to use that in a desktop you need a pci to mini-pci adapter card which is usually between $15-25 USD. This is the adapter you need to plug into the airport extreme (802.11g) that you have posted:

Click to view attachment

The mini pci and mini pci express slots are different and incompatible. It's easy to get them confused; you just have to make sure the card is either "mini pci" or "mini pci express" and you have the same type of interface. "Express" is the keyword between the two.

Hope that gives you a better idea what to look for.

P.S. Aquamac's method is correct. Looks like he's using the "pci express to mini pci express" adapter card and the Dell 1500.

(sorry about the long post)

That card is for PowerBooks not MacBooks

I bought that for my PB12"

verywell explained, thanks for the clarifications.

Yep, thanks a lot. That helped me a lot too. Finally i understood the different between those two adapters. Thanks terrancew_hod, you are a very helpful member!

To conclude this topic, i guess there is no "driver support for the ABIT AirPace Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, PCI Express Wireless Adapter".

Yes it would be so, eventhough the chipset is supported. Anyway, I think I'll change the title of the thread, thanks for resurrecting it since I have learned quite a bit and I hope others shared this new found knowledge as well.


EDIT: *I could not find the Dell 1500 but I found a Dell 1505, you guys think that'd work?http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Dell-Wireless-WLAN...7QQcmdZViewItem

The 1505 won't work; it uses the intel chipset (got that from postings in the apple discussion forum). I looked on ebay and if you use the keywords "dell 1500 wireless" there were a few there. If not, just check everyday... more will show up.

Thanks for the tip, found a few

Is it possible that there are NO working Mini-PCI cards working well on Leopard?

I have a Mini-PCI-E card that will work straight out of the box on Leo, but I will need to buy the VERY expensive PEX1-MINI, and that is a joke.

I have a PCI to Mini-PCI converter and I'd totally love to be able to utilise any Mini-PCI card with 2 antenna plugs in my Hack.

Any suggestions? I wouldn't mind at all to fiddle with IDs etc.

I think there are just not that many PCI-express wireless cards out in the market, which may also explain why there haven't been much compatability. Like explained above, we were close, just didn't work. But I wouldn't doubt more fiddling would get us closer. Also wireless use is not as demanding as laptops in the forums, so it may be a rare occasion. cheers, and good luck, great question, hopefully we can hear from more persepectives.

Thing is, I'm pretty held up on the matter. Since I am using a G5 case I can use unly a M-ATX board, and that one sport only 1 PCI-E connector which I'd rather use for a good RAID5 card.

Furthermore, the case comes with a really sexy internal antenna with 2 connectors, hence why I wouldn't use a PCI-PCI-E card with some ugly antenna sticking on the back of the case.

Last but certainly not least, the price of the Mini PCI-E to PCI-E adapter is simply silly.

What is the actual status for Mini-PCI cards? I see there is some support for Atheros chipped cards and there appear to be also some Broadcom based ones..

Which one to go for? I would be using the card on a password protected home network.

Bump!

So what exactly are you asking for? With your motherboard you have some hard decisions to make based on what you already have. If you want to use the internal antenna with you mini-pcie card you have, then you're gonna have to fork over the money for expensive adapter. It's expensive because it looks like it's only two vendors on the web that offer it; simple supply and demand issue.

If you don't want to use the PCI express slot, then you have the PCI slot; but I'm guessing you have a firewire card in that slot. So either you're gonna have to pull it, use the firewire port already available on the board and find some card that will fit. There are 802.11N PCI cards available for macs ruing the ralink chipset from various vendors... just look in the wireless section at macsales.com or http://www.oxfordtec.com/uk/ for info. I doubt anyone should care that you have the antennas hanging out the back; desktop wireless N choices for mac are limited.

You can also use a wireless N usb card as well. There are cards available on that same macsales.com or http://www.oxfordtec.com/uk/ websites.

So basically those are your choices for mac, although you're only gonna get 2.4ghz wireless. Most wireless N vendors seem to be focusing on the mini pci express format for their wireless solutions, especially at the 5ghz range, so either you have to get that "silly" adapter or get the Netgear gaming adapter that plugs into your ethernet port.

So are there any non-apple made Wireless-N Mini Pcie cards working out of the box?

What about PCI- E to Expresscard adapters?

http://www.pcie-to-expresscard.com/

Surely there are some working expresscard wifi adapters for mac os x?

Look in my previous post for the links. Not sure if you actually looked before you posted.

meansizzler: You'll have to do some google searches for that, besides, that's kind of off the topic for this thread.

Sorry if this has been asked else where, but is there any reason the AirPort Extreme Card (ATHEROS AR5008E-3NX), card would not work?
Apple doesnt use proprietary connections or anything with its cards?

I have a Dell XPS M1530
With the intel 4965agn
and I have a WUSB54GC USB both of which are problematic in Leo (both work awesome in Ubuntu tho..)

I have looked , I just couldnt find a definitive answer

Thanks

Cameron

Not to be mean, but did you even look at page 1 of this thread?

Hey
yeah, i looked at the first page of the thread, and they are using the Airport Extreme wireless card, but using an adaptor for a desktop (as far as I can tell), apologies if I am mistaken.
Also *gramarye* seemed to ask the same question , but seemingly was not answered?

It was answered.

But I'll say it again.

the Atheros 5008 mini pcie, whether it's from apple or generic can be used. The conversation dealt with how to use that N card in a desktop machine. They are basically the same chipset with the company's name slapped on it; hence the the difference in prices. If you have the choice between the generic and apple, save yourself a few bucks and get the generic (see my signature for my configuration.. I have generic 5008 and it is recognized as Airport Extreme). There was confusion on the adapter card. Mini pci goes with pci, mini pcie goes with pci express... you have to use the same type.

If there's a compatibility issue it will come from your laptop; some OEM vendors block you from using other cards with the mini pcie slot. If that's the case, then you'll need to look at the Dell 1500 (not the 1505) and see if that works. Otherwise you're stuck with the card that the laptop came with or USB.

If you need PCI, the DLink DWA 552 works out of the box in Wireless N.

See signature.

I think I previously asked if this card supports the 5ghz range. Does it?

I'm thinking it doesn't even though you would think it supports the same chipset. I couln't find a Mac compatible pci card that would allow me to go into this higher frequency. My configuration is more expensive but I'm connected with Time Capsule at 5ghz 802.11N. I started backing up my entire system before I left for work. I'm out of the interference of the other wireless networks near me.

I believe this would be the card we're looking for MiniPCIe to PCIe:




Apple AirPort Extreme b/g/n Card for iMac & Mac Pro

This airport extreme is a networking for the iMac and Mac Pro.

This is a New, Apple original part.
Apple Part Number: 661-4060, MA688Z/A

http://www.mac-pro.com/Apple-AirPort-Extre...or-iMac-Mac-Pro


+




The prices come out to close enough for me to rather buy the apple product instead:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Dell-Wireless-WLAN...7QQcmdZViewItem


terrancew_hod, your thoughts?

^That combination will definitely work for you. Just make sure you buy antenna wires for the card, as I don't think they will come with it.

These antenna work in both the 2.4-5ghz range:

http://www.oxfordtec.com/us/p120/Laptop-In...oduct_info.html


This card will also work for you as well, it's the same chipset as those found in the newer macbooks and mac pros. I think this one has better wireless range than the one you picked out... which is based on the first 'N' cards that came out for the macs.

http://www.oxfordtec.com/us/p126/SparkLAN-...oduct_info.html

But to keep the confusing down for you, just get the one you selected.

As usual, thanks for the reply.

5GHz in PCI-express would be awesome!


I noticed the links you've posted were in UK Dollars and Euros.

Would any of the following work? The problem is, I'm not sure which antenna I'm looking for. And the antenna is absolutely required right, and if that's so I want to make sure I order the correct compatible one (if they're all the same, than I guess less worries):

EDIT: Or even better, what should I search on ebay?
http://www.s155158671.websitehome.co.uk/wi...ssnonahack.html


@ Mac-Pro
http://www.mac-pro.com/Mac-Pro-Online-Stor...airport+antenna

@ ApplePalace
http://www.applepalace.com/scripts/prodlist.asp

The link I gave previously had both sites for UK/Europe and the US sites. They basically give you the type of connection, which I believe is U.FL... Also the screenshot on that site shows the connector that will need to attach to the wireless card and the other will be for a antenna, which I believe is included with that particular wire.

If you need more sites, I believe you can google for U.FL antennas and you should get more sites. I actually did a search on ebay which gave me a few sites, but it seems most of them are in china which isn't too bad, but I have 4 antennas sitting in customs for two weeks waiting to come out... luckily I only dropped about $20 on them, but the guy was short one (originally ordered 5) and he for some dumb reason put some money as a refund into the package... hopefully the package doesn't "disappear" on me.

And yes, you do need the antennas in order to get the reception. There will be too much interference inside the machine for the card to operate without the antennas.

Actually, thanks for these links, the place is in fact located in CA, which is a lot closer.

If I do order the card, I'd get the antenna as well.


For anyone that may be interested in just an antenna alone with low shipping charges, I found a few here via ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-pair-Internal-Ante...1QQcmdZViewItem


http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-Internal-Antenna-...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Internal-Antenna-for...7QQcmdZViewItem

hi Terrance ..i bought one of those generic atheros-based 5008 mini-pci for use in my dell xps m1530, but OSX86 10.5.1 (Kalyway & Leo4All) didnt recognise it (in Windows it works no probs). You mentioned it worked straight out of the box for you ..which is what I thought since it is the same chipset used on the actual Airport Extreme N in the MBP. I even tried to install the 802.11N enabler but strangely says my machine is incompatible because (I am guessing.. but could be on the wrong track) system profiler has identified my system as a "Mac Pro" and not a "Mac Book Pro". I'm at a loss for the moment ...

daz311, in their signature says that it needs 10.5.2 to be recognised without tweaking.

i'm wondering if the similar type DWA-556 (http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=549&sec=0) can be use directly through PCI-E 1x and work in osx86. since many of u use Mini PCIe to PCIe converter, i assume that the PCIe 1x slot in the motherboard works well in osx86.

but it's running single band 2.4GHz. I'm also currently looking for PCI/PCIe 1x wireless N that can run native airport extreme @5GHz.

The only dual band card available is Linksys WUSB600N (USB Interface). It uses Broadcom Intensi-Fi but no idea about the exact type.

I'd also be interested in whether the DWA 556 works.
I haven't yet upgraded to 10.5.2, though. How much of a hassle is it to get the card working under 10.5.1?

Right now I am running the vanilla version of os, so I'm not sure about the other versions. Maybe it has something do to with the actual mini-pcie port on your laptop; with the windows drivers it is fine but the driver on OSX doesn't properly manage it. (Maybe the card isn't properly turned on in Leopard). I read something to that effect on this forum (something maybe about using tape on one of the pins), but I'm not sure where.

I can only speak from my setup where I'm using a desktop and an adapter card. It's basically a passthrough card so the OS recognizes it. I also bought the Dell version of the 802.11n card and installed it on my roommates Mini and Macbook pro without issues.

I can guarantee this card will work and it is Broadcom based, if you ask "chrand" he will confirm that this card does in fact work since he just bought one of my new wireless adapters.

I've seen and tried that PEX1-MINI card, only works in regular style cases, wasn't specifically designed for wireless and wont fit low profile (SFF) cases and buying this adapter, a wireless card that supports 802.11a/b/g/n and antennas that support 2.4ghz and 5ghz (there is a difference) put the price over $200.00

Here's what ASUS does for me in regular and low profile bracket, here is the low profile bracket version with enough resolution that you can examine the card close enough to almost smell it.


Sadly enough these cards cannot be purchased from ASUS by anyone but me (I'd sue them) so your chances of obtaining one directly from them is zero unless I give it up (not likely to happen).

I wont be selling the cards alone, they will be available complete with wireless card and antenna, all components are new and cost including shipping to your door (in continental US) is $140.00.

Hopefully someone who recently bought one will post a comment on the adapter in the near future.

Yes it works, doesn't support the 5ghz band so you wont get a connection greater than 130mbps in OS X.

Depending on the card, it may not be the same chipset as used in the Apple cards and the miniPCI version of the card does not support the 5ghz band.

Hi Buildsmart!

Thanks for posting the image of the Asus PCI-express adaptor. I'm wondering if:

a) There's a combination of both wifi+bluetooth module (EDR 2.0) on a mini-pci-express card which can be slot into the Asus card?
For newer cards, which normally comes with 3 antennas, I suppose the Asus card is able to support all 3 antennas?

Please advise.

Thanks!
perimbean