Can I improve the wireless card on my PowerBook G4?

[Steven Lambion]

Well If your friend is allowing you to use their network then you could get an Airport express and link it to your neighbors network, there is also an external antenna from QuickerTex that can trible the strength of a Powerbook G4, go to https://www.quickertek.com/PBConnect.php

Video Specialist
Apple Developer
Owner of GranitWorks

[13]

[Sales Dude McBoob] “There are plenty of people who don’t block their neighbors out on purpose. Maybe these folks fall into that camp. Who knows? There a half dozen wireless networks that are all blocked, but they did not block their own. Maybe they are generous. It isn’t bad karma until you know you are doing something wrong. There is nothing wrong with sharing.

Cable modem installation is $150. Internet service is then around $70 a month. That’s a huge bite. I wish there was more competition in the ISP world. I have no other chioce except for Verizon DSL. I had that for four years and the quality of the connection and especially the quality of their customer service went way way way down hill.

The fewer modems and wireless routers that are running all day long, the better it is for the planet. I’m trying to save the world from global warming, one modem at a time. You can’t knock that! “

Those are still not good reasons for you to mooch off of others, and saying that you are doing it to save the planet, PLEASE, you are just to cheep to pay for it yourself.

[Chuck Reti]

[Sales Dude McBoob] “Can I improve the wireless card on my PowerBook G4?”

To just answer the question, no, you can’t improve the internal card/antenna.
But, you can purcase a third-party wireless PC Card that in most instances will provide much better performance. Some cards also offer a connector for an external antenna. Check online retailers like OWC (macsales.com) or macwireless.com for some product choices.

[Sam Mallery]

Thanks Chuck!

I emailed the question to macwireless.com

I also stopped by Tekserve here in NYC last night. A tech there said the only real option was to have my internal card removed, and to install a 3rd party card in the PCMCIA slot. It’s a gamble though, because there is no way to tell if it will actually improve the reception. The labor cost to remove the card is $130.

[Chuck Reti]

…A tech…said the only real option was to have my internal card removed, and to install a 3rd party card in the PCMCIA slot. It’s a gamble though, because there is no way to tell if it will actually improve the reception. The labor cost to remove the card is $130.

You DO NOT have to remove the internal Airport card!! Someone wants to rip you off, or simply just doesn’t know his stuff. You can plug in a 3rd party PC Card in the slot (that’s pretty much the hardware “install” part), install any needed software drivers. Make sure it’s a card that’s known to play nicely with the Powerbook and OS X – some don’t. You will be able to decide whether to use the internal Airport wireless or the PC Card wireless. They’ll have to be properly configured as Locations in your Network settings in System Prefs. It’s been a couple of years since I briefly used the dual system TiBook i mentioned earlier, so I don’t and won’t remember the specifics of setup.
Of course it’s a gamble. But there is a reasonable possiblity the PC Card will perform better .
As others here have mentioned, seriously consider getting your own internet connection, for technical and ethical reasons.

[Sam Mallery]

Thanks again Chuck. I’ll seriously consider giving this a go.

I just got this email from Macwireless.com:

“Hi McBoob,
We have cards, boosters, and antennas that would help, but you may want to try this first.