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    Can I change the WIFI card on my new Macbook?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by lebsoljah, Mar 17, 2008.

  1. lebsoljah

    lebsoljah Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm looking for wifi power/range and replacing the card would probably be the best way... Is there a way to change the internal card? Google was not helpful this time...
     
    lebsoljah, Mar 17, 2008
    #1
  2. ryan27406

    ryan27406 Notebook Consultant

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    No, i believe the Macbooks wifi card is soldered to the motherboard
     
    ryan27406, Mar 17, 2008
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  3. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    I don't believe many of the laptops can have their cards changed these days. I think ryan is right that they are generally soldered on, or more likely, built into the mobo.
    Their antennas may not be though.

    But why would you want to replace it? It's a fine card. If you want to increase the range, you will need an external card that has the ability to add an external antenna. At least, to get a significant increase in range.
    OTOH, it's better to increase the power and range of the WAP than try to increase it from the laptop.
     
    hollownail, Mar 17, 2008
    #3
  4. lebsoljah

    lebsoljah Notebook Enthusiast

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    I hate bad news like this...

    I sometimes wonder why I've spent so much on something so restricted

    At least I can resell it at a descent price
     
    lebsoljah, Mar 17, 2008
    #4
  5. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    DON'T YOU EVER CALL A BROADCOM A FINE CARD!

    Dear lord, wtf is this man thinking?
     
    Lysander, Mar 17, 2008
    #5
  6. xprohx

    xprohx Notebook Evangelist

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    The first revision Core Duo Macbooks have replaceable wifi cards because many people have upgraded it to wireless N.
     
    xprohx, Mar 17, 2008
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  7. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    Hrm.. didn't realize that broadcom made the atheros cards. But yeah, it's not a bad card. Not the best, but I have no problems with it.
     
    hollownail, Mar 17, 2008
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  8. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

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    yes you can... though i'm not sure if changing to another brand other than apple is a good idea.

    http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacBook-Core-2-Duo/Airport-Card/116/10/

    yeah, i haven't have problems with the macbook wireless card... i agree though... why would you want to change it? you wouldn't see significant boost in range/speed with changing the card. in fact; you might create more problems..
     
    wobble987, Mar 17, 2008
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  9. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    Interesting. thanks for that link!

    But it still brings the question to table, can you put another card in there, or is it proprietary? Can you drop X brand in there?
     
    hollownail, Mar 17, 2008
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  10. SsuRReaLL

    SsuRReaLL Notebook Consultant

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    SsuRReaLL, Mar 17, 2008
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  11. SsuRReaLL

    SsuRReaLL Notebook Consultant

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    Too bad the graphics card is not replaceable.
     
    SsuRReaLL, Mar 17, 2008
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  12. lebsoljah

    lebsoljah Notebook Enthusiast

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    Good link wobble, thanks alot
     
    lebsoljah, Mar 17, 2008
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  13. panteedropper

    panteedropper Notebook Deity

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    lol intel isnt much better.
     
    panteedropper, Mar 17, 2008
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  14. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    Broadcom and Atheros are two different companies.

    Id take Atheros first, but Intel beats Broadcom by over nine thousand percent.
     
    Lysander, Mar 17, 2008
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  15. mpullen

    mpullen Notebook Enthusiast

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    For the love of all things holy, someone answer "Why would you want to do this?"
     
    mpullen, Mar 17, 2008
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  16. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    Cause the wireless cards shipped in the Santa Rosa MacBooks are steaming piles of you know what, and some people want something better.
     
    Lysander, Mar 17, 2008
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  17. Jokkon

    Jokkon Notebook Evangelist

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    streaming piles of what? i am curious cuz I have a SR mb too
     
    Jokkon, Mar 17, 2008
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  18. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    ****e, to put it bluntly.
     
    Lysander, Mar 17, 2008
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  19. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

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    you're welcome :)
     
    wobble987, Mar 18, 2008
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  20. Jokkon

    Jokkon Notebook Evangelist

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    lol I still don't know what that is hahhaa
     
    Jokkon, Mar 18, 2008
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  21. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    Then become an hero.
     
    Lysander, Mar 18, 2008
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  22. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    Hrm... curious because it's identified as an Atheros card in XP.

    But I still don't see why you call it a bad card.
     
    hollownail, Mar 18, 2008
    #22
  23. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    if you are sure that its an atheros card in xp, its an atheros card.

    its not magically changing to broadcom or anything.

    be wary because the driver install for bootcamp in windows will still mention both atheros and broadcom (and ATI and NVIDIA) regardless of what hardware you have.
     
    masterchef341, Mar 18, 2008
    #23
  24. sulkorp

    sulkorp Notebook Deity

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    I always used to see these ads in the back of the free macworld magazine that they send out. But basically this company says they sell wireless cards and stuff that increase the range for macs. The way it looks is that they basically sell usb wireless dongles, posibly with better antennas.

    But heres the link in the ad, they say macpower increases the range, and I have no idea if theyre any good or not
    www.macsales.com/wireless

    might help, might not
     
    sulkorp, Mar 18, 2008
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  25. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Compared to Intel and Ralink wireless chipsets, Atheros is a steaming pile of hooey. The Atheros chipset in my MBP is slower and has less range than the Intel card that was in my old Compal notebook and the Ralink (Hawking-branded) one that my desktop PC uses. Performance is acceptable in Mac OS, but it's really flaky at times in XP. Problem is the Windows XP drivers installed via Boot Camp are the most recent (at least that I could find), and older Atheros drivers I've tried are even worse.

    I'm seriously tempted to upgrade my cell phone plan to include data so I can use a separate wireless access card.
     
    saturnotaku, Mar 18, 2008
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  26. Lysander

    Lysander AFK, raid time.

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    Wanna trade?
     
    Lysander, Mar 19, 2008
    #26