Alex Oughton Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 The enterprising (and brave) people over at Hardmac have discovered a method of enabling 802.11n support on Core Duo-based MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The original series MB and MBP shipped with an Airport Extreme card supporting 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g, but not the new 802.11n draft spec employed by the new Airport Extreme base station, providing increased range and bandwidth. Hardmac's method employs the Airport Extreme card available for the Mac Pro (available from here), which features the same bus connection and number of aerial connections (two) as found in the Core Duo Apple laptops. The method is not compatible with the card found Core 2 Duo Macbook and MacBook Pro, which uses three aerial links. Once installed, 802.11n can be enabled by using Apple's official 802.11n enabler utility. Instructions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiaboliK Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 also find a atheros XB72 in the wild and have it for your hackintosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takuro Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I guess the only catch is you have a Mac Pro in the first place, then you need to be willing to rip the Airport card out of it. I don't think many people would be willing to do this. On that note, is there any 802.11n WiFi card that can fit into a standard PCI slot and work with Apple's newest Airport Extreme? I'd sort of like one for my 2004 Sony Vaio, but I'm a total WiFi n00b. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Oughton Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 I guess the only catch is you have a Mac Pro in the first place, then you need to be willing to rip the Airport card out of it... Well, no. My article includes a link to the spares service, which will sell you a card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KanadaKid Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Not to nitpick (who am I kidding, I am nitpicking) but replacing an airport card isn't a hack. You're upgrading apple hardware to be compliant with apple software... there's no hacking there. Otherwise, great post! /Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Oughton Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 Ah... But.... It needs a screwdriver....... So...... Oh never mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KanadaKid Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) Ah, I see what you mean. In a normal situation it's an upgrade, but in a mac it's a "hack" since you use tools. Well my desk chair is getting a little wobbily, so I think I'll tighten the screws do some hardcore chair hacking, to the xtreme. /Scott Edited February 21, 2007 by KanadaKid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampidire Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 You can also order the Airport Kit for the MacPro from smalldog.com for 49.00 which is nice, but they're backordered right now. It went out of stock earlier today before the sales person responded to me in e-mail saying that yes this is the Mac Pro Airport Card and is compliant to 802.11b/g/n with the appropriate driver. http://www.smalldog.com/product/41116 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Oughton Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 ...Well my desk chair is getting a little wobbily, so I think I'll tighten the screws do some hardcore chair hacking, to the xtreme... That's the spirit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_4e Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Thanks for sharing Ampidire. I'll consider looking into that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swad Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 I think a "hack," in the sense that it's used these days, means using one fully functional thing in place of another... but only if someone said it wouldn't work in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i1sam Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Me too... looking forward to this hardware upgrade/hack... even its a hack or something, it nice to know my macbook CD can still be current on some component/s.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alloutmacstoday Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 this really would be cool on my macbook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac-mini Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 (edited) will it work on mac minis Edited February 22, 2007 by mac-mini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 will it work on mac minis It (most likely) works on any Intel Mac with an airport card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampidire Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 I found the same card from another website for 59.99 and have placed my order. Smalldog.com was backordered and wouldn't let me buy it unless I was a prior customer of theirs. http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/r...u&sku=24364 That's where I ordered mine with ground shipping. Should be here middle of next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Oughton Posted February 25, 2007 Author Share Posted February 25, 2007 I don't suppose anyone has found a good UK/Europe source of these cards, have they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFuzzemz Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Would these same cards perhaps work in a hacbook? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hi, I ordered this card from the local shop, for $59.99. I have a CD 2.0ghz Macbook Pro, so not like the article describes, but I got brave in May :-) I opened up the machine and replaced the card and put everything back together again. After installing the software that comes with the Airport Extreme N, it recognizes the card as Airport (a/b/g/n). I setup the Airport Extreme to work in 2.4ghz N mode using wide channels, I was able to connect at a link speed of 130kbps, when I configured the Extreme N to work in 5ghz N mode using wide channels, I was able to connect at a link speed of 270kbps, and throughput seems to be wonderfully fast, although I haven't timed it yet. The purpose of this port is to let everyone know that this card swap works in the first gen macbook pros as well. For me, a nice $60 upgrade. cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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