[arenson]

Hi.

About a year ago I had a 17 inch Powerbook with wireless (I had one of those base stations to go with it and it worked). Then I moved to a new place (one room, no need for wireless, sold my Powerbook and base station, got a G5-- I am not sure if it has a wireless card in it or not....not sure what i ordered and how to check ).


Well, I have moved to a yet another place, with 3 rooms. Internet access is starting next week.

It is VDSL fiber optic (Japan). The rouetr is connected to something called a home gateway and gives me TV, Internet and and Phone service.


They said if I want to use a computer it has to be in the same room, or use a LAN cable.


I assume that I can connect wireless to the home gateway or whereever the Lan cable would normally be connected. I will ask the company rep when he or she comes to install it (if anyone is in Japan, this is the company KDDI).


What I want to know is:

(1) In the last place with fiber optic I never even had to add the settings as they seem to have already been in the router when the company installed it. The computer figured it out. Perhaps it will be the same with the new company. But if not, I am not sure---do we, in order to use wireless, install those settings into the wireless card that is installed in the computer, into the computer, or into the base station that is connected to the
fiber optic line?

(2) How can I tell if I have a wireless card in my Mac. I hear you open up the side panel.


(3) Assuming no, do I just add the Airport card or are there other options? I hear in the Windows (and possibly Mac) world, one can plug in a wireless card via USB. if this is an option is it a good idea?

(4) Do I get the base station or the Express? My girlfriend MAY want to plug in her Windows machine into the wireless network as well. I assume that the Extreme has room for many computers, the Expressonly one?


(5) I hear the Extreme also has ports for DSL or Cable. If there are any differences in Japan, I will find that out from the sales people, but want to see what is what in the US first.. As noted, I will have VDSL and it will be fiber optic 100Mbs (common in Japan)).

Thanks in advance.



paul

[ghporter]

1) Every router and "residential gateway" has its own quirks; don't expect two different boxes to come from the factory with all the same settings. If you post what EXACTLY the hardware in question is, someone is sure to be able to help you with it.

2) Try looking in your Preferences. If you have an AirPort card installed, you should see it in Network Preferences, along with the built in ethernet card.

3) Search the Apple Knowledge Base for "dual G5" and "airport" and you'll find the instructions for how to install an AirPort card in your computer. You are basically right that you open the cover and there it is, but there are a few details you'll want to pay attention to.

4) The way you described it, the home gateway has wireless in it-am I not understanding what you said? If so, your girlfriend will just need a wireless card for her machine. It's pretty simple for Windows machines to connect wirelessly.

5) An AirPort Extreme has two ethernet ports; one that's best used for the broadband connection, and another that lets you plug in a computer. If your "home gateway" doesn't have wireless, the Extreme is a good option for you because it's flexible. However, you don't NEED to buy an Apple product to connect your Mac wirelessly-all WiFi networking is built to meet international standards, so any WiFi compatible third-party wireless router will do the job too-and cost you a lot less cash. Further, most third-party wireless routers offer more than one wired computer connection (often 4) so you can add other computers or even a networked printer to your network.

[arenson]

Thank you for the helpful comments. VDSL will be installed tomorrow so I will post back after that
if I still have questions since I have to write from an Internet cafe until then.



Paul

[arenson]

Welll internet worked right off the bat. No A Express card so wentout and bought Airport Extreme Card, found ou the Internet how to take side panel off and then tried to install. But below sheet metal where antenna is clipped, there is a metal protrustion that LOOKS like you just slip the card in there to connect to the Aciport connector below (dual 5). But the card does not fit. If I try to put the card in the socket directly, it is at a diagnonal. Strangely, Apple pages say nothing about this.


Thanks in advance

[arenson]

The manual i am using is THIS one--->

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/Pow..._UserGuide.pdf

On page 66 it shows the place where to insert the card (I have a Dual G5 tower).


And there is a piece of metal that looks like the card should fit though it (under the metal sheet divider where the antenna wire is)....and then go into the slot, but it seems not to fit. I can email a photo of the inside of my machine.

I have the Apple Extreme card.

"Someone told me in another forum : "When you are done installing the card keep in mind there are two antenna connections:
- the internal cable connection to the card itself

That I see.

- a T-shaped antenna (that shipping in the box with the G5) that must be attached to its own socket on the outside rear panel of the G5.


That I am not sure I see.



Looking at my machine on its side--->
metal sheet under which antenna wire is clipped


Then this thing hovering over the Airport Extreme card slot (I think)
------------
under this metal piece seems to be the place
------------- to plug in the airport extreme card.

other slots for memory



Is this wierd or am I misreading something????

[arenson]

I was not pushing hard enough...all worked well. Thanks!


(Had to go out and get another external antennna since I threw the original that came with the Mac away, thinking it was some non important part).