User-agent: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0 (Windows/20041206)
Ahh I have to laugh
When I got my airport extreme card I thought the same thing, that it
was Weak compared to the the old airport card and I was as disappointed
as you are. Many of the other G4 iBook had the same problems but there
was one 14" that worked fine.
Then I ran into someone who seen the same thing in many different
schools and the solution was simple.
The antenna plug where it plugs into the airport card HAS TWO CLICKS
to be in properly
EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED IN I PUSHED IT IN VERY FIRMLY TILL IT WENT CLICK
Bang -- Perfect signal
Worked on every G4 iBook
Never a problem since
Try it, Push the antenna plug in till you get that second click.
I thanked him profusely. These cards are as good as the old airports
as long as the antenna is in properly.
Cheers
Phil
Sherwin Smith wrote:
An update! On Wednesday, January 26, 2005, I wrote:
"At my University, we have a wireless "cloud" that blankets most of the
campus, using "Cisco 1200 IOS AP" access points. Short version: I get
no signal no matter what settings I try. ...When I say "I", I
actually mean,
"everyone I know with an iBook G4, running OS 10.3.x, with an Airport
Extreme Wireless card".* ..."
With no solutions to "weak signal w/ Airport Extreme Card" on the
Apple Support site (but many similar complaints on the Discussion
Boards), I had to conduct further research through other means. As a
result I've come to the conclusion that the "AirPort Extreme Card
(Part Number: M8881LL/A)"- is a piece of junk in comparison to the
"old" "Airport" Wireless card:
- This morning I went down to the Network Services office. With my
laptop sitting 2 feet away from an enterprise level access point, they
measured my signal strength with their fancy test equipment- I got
less than 50% signal...
- In one on-campus location widely known as the "strongest" signal
on-campus, I get "1 bar...", at my desk, I get zero (note- on my other
laptop w/ the "old" Airport Card, I would receive 100% at both
locations).
..
- Numerous entries on numerous forums (incl. "Apple Discussions")
discussing a weak signal w/ various routers and the Airport Extreme
Card..
.
The only "solution" found-- extending my network w/ "Dr. Bott's
Antenna" or Airport Express APs- both useless suggestions for my
campus in which I have no control over their network, and where I use
my laptop the most. Apple Tech Supports suggests I find an Apple
Store and have them test the card on their network.
Any other thoughts from the Mac-contingency?
(NOTE: I take back my earlier statement that "...This (iBook G4)
laptop connects flawlessly to my network at home (Belkin Router) and
at my friend'
s house (Linksys Router)..." After it was mentioned that, within a
20 foot radius, if I'm not getting 100%, thats not very good.)
