Attn Geeks: Help!

[Gubb]

The missus bought a G4 Mac Powerbook from a mate of mine for $200. Bloody brilliant at what we want to use it for.

Went out today and bought a Wireless Router (DSE XH9950), Dongle (DSE XH9947 WLAN 802.11g).

My computer is running XP w/SP2, The lappy is MAC OS X 10.3.9

Set up the router with the PC OK, it's all working sweet as, (obviously if I'm on here all the bloody time).

Set up the Dongle on the Mac, seems to pick it up no worries, but the internet won't work on the laptop.

I know stuff all about Macs, anyone out there with some helpful tips, or even wants to come have a look for a few beers?

Cheers.

[RantyDave]

Ah, yes. I spent a goodly long while trying to make a shit cheap 802.11g dongle work on my daughter's G4 desktop. The chipset *seemed* to have a driver but on closer inspection it hadn't been updated since Queen Victoria had it hacked together under a royal commission and hence it basically wouldn't go. Different version of the chip, different version of the OS - who gives a shit, the point is it wouldn't go.

Even if you do find a wireless dongle that works you're 99% likely to be stuck with some shitty vendor made "connect me to the interdweeb" application rather than the 'proper' airport menu.

The best thing to do is take the dongle back to Dicks' before you throw the packing away. Unlike what I did. Then find out what kind of Mac you have (look here - http://www.lowendmac.com/powerbooks.html), see what kind of AirPort card it takes and try to score one off TradeMe. I'm surprised it doesn't have one already to be honest. The other thing you can do is go to http://www.macwireless.com/ and get something off them. Or just buy a f'n big chunk of cat 5 and wire it up that way.

I went the "AirPort card off TradeMe" route and everything went swimmingly, including getting a GST receipt from an Indonesian restaurant. Some time spent trying to work out just how the damn thing plugs in (manual lost long ago) but then it just came up and went perfectly, like Apple things do.

Sorry man, wish I had some better news. On the plus side, if anyone wants a crap and presumably PC only wireless dongle I have one free to a good home.

Dave

[RantyDave]

Sorry, quick heady-thinky-thing:

Set up the Dongle on the Mac, seems to pick it up no worries

Really? Wow. What do you mean by 'pick it up'? Does it work from the AirPort menu? Did the box actually say "works on a Mac, no, really" on it? Can you post a screenshot? (http://www.skitch.com/).

Dave

[Gubb]

Sorry about the lack of clarity. No, it doesn't go through the AirPort menu, I encountered that on a few walkthrough websites, but couldn't find anything about it on the Lappy.

Perhaps it's not a Dongle, the Manual states "DSE XH9947 WLAN 802.11g USB Adaptor". Discovered how to alter the network settings (Why are Macs so foreign to a PC-dullard?), set up the WEP security keys, and it seems to go.

Router and Adapter cost $157 all up, with two free 2Gb Flash Drives.

'tis quite slow though, much slower than the connection on the PC, even when the G4 is sitting on the same desk.

[CookMySock]

Router and Adapter cost $157 all up, with two free 2Gb Flash Drives. 'tis quite slow though, much slower than the connection on the PC, even when the G4 is sitting on the same desk.

These cheapo combinations are usually asking for trouble. Buying a cheap router is like putting chinese tyres on your bike, but its much worse, since this router never wears out.

Spend some money and get a badass semi-professional router.
http://www.gowifi.co.nz/products/vmc...ts-802.11.html

As for macs and wireless cards - same story with Linux and wireless cards - choose your gear carefully.

DB