Comments on: How To: Installing an Airport Extreme Card in an Intel Mac Pro

By: Kenny

Kenny — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:39:58 +0000

That’s very helpful that you’ve offered this information. I wished I’d found it back when I was trying to install mine. I documented a very detailed “how to” instructions here: http://tr.im/diymacpro

By: Kirk West

Kirk West — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:02:51 +0000

Thanks for the info. Most helpful.

By: Michel Boutot

Michel Boutot — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:16:42 +0000

Hi,

I installed a Extreme PCI-E card in my MacPro early 2009. I bought this card from FastMac. It works but it shows as a bluetooth PAN in the network preferences. I changed the wire from 1-3 to 1-2 and it game me the same result.. What shall I do? Try the next 2-3?? wires???

By: Antoon Jamné

Antoon Jamné — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:17:26 +0000

Thx for the info, one of the antenna leads of the card came didn’t connect well, fixed it with your post & photo’s.

Antoon

By: Earl Moore

Earl Moore — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:46:46 +0000

Congratulations to all those having success with installing their Airport Cards themselves and I’m glad this post is useful to you! Thanks also to all those who have commented here and shared their experiences.

By: Pacey

Pacey — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:03:39 +0000

Just installed my card thanks to your tutorial, the wires were really hard task but everything works perfectly

Thanks a lot for helping

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:36:06 +0000

Just installed on my Mac Pro 1,1. I used wires 1 and 3, and am connected with a full signal to my network (router is about 35 feet away, plus several walls). Attaching those wires was a pain, I found it was easier to attach wire #3 to the bottom of the card before inserting the card. Wire #1 is shorter, so it was easier to find the proper fitment after the card was screwed down. Patience is key.

Purchased my airport card off eBay for $18…

Couldn’t have done it without this walkthrough! Thanks.

By: David Tannahill

David Tannahill — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:20:17 +0000

Thanks for the advice. It encouraged me to by a card for around £23 off ebay. Mounting the cards and screws was ok. The antennae wires were a bit harder. You do have to push quite hard to make them seat otherwise it is quite easy. I also unplugged the power connector for the graphics card to give a wee bit more room. I used wires 1 and 3, I have an old macpro 2x 2.66 Dual Xeon, system 10.62

By: ScottNYC

ScottNYC — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:49:40 +0000

oh damn, i just received the mac pro airport extreme upgrade kit and i read that if i ever want to utilize my warranty in the future i need to have the receipt that states the card was installed by an apple certified technician. looks like ill be bringing it to the apple store after all.

By: ScottNYC

ScottNYC — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:55:06 +0000

oh yeah I ordered a new “Apple Airport Wireless Card for Mac Pro – Network adapter – 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n (draft)” is this card ok to use with the 2009 mac pro? you can see the card here http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Wireless-Card-Mac-Pro/dp/B0012YYITW/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1 I sort of blindly purchased it hoping it was the right one. Ill be getting it tomorrow.

By: ScottNYC

ScottNYC — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:51:05 +0000

getting my card in the mail tomarrow and sweating thinking about this installation lol, dont wanna mess anything up or drop any screws

By: Gary Davis

Gary Davis — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:39:01 +0000

Success! Thanks to the suggestion of JRC I purchased some laptop screws and they did the trick. It *is* fiddly to get everything in place.

In my case (the original Intel MacPro model) the only label on the antenna wires was a 3 with two wires coming out of it. I attached the shorter to the upper post and the longer to the lower and I’m getting great reception. I did attach the longer to the card before inserting it in the slot as recommended by Don Giller. I tried the same with the shorter and eventually gave up, attaching it after seating the card. As Don said, the 90° mark is critical. I happened to have on hand a good pair of forceps with an angled grip. I held the wire with it and pushed the clip down with a chopstick. I don’t think I could have done it without the forceps. My hands are too big.

Thanks to everyone for the info and for giving me the confidence to try it. I’ve got extra screws, having had to buy 15. If anyone needs some, email me and I’ll be glad to send a couple.

Gary

By: JRC

JRC — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:08:39 +0000

Gary,

I had the same problem. Ordered the card from ebay, but no screws. Not sure if you have an old laptop or other computer around but these small screws are used a lot for various computer parts. I used the casing screws from an old laptop to do the trick. Hope that helps.

By: Gary Davis

Gary Davis — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:58:19 +0000

The instructions and comments here are great and I figured I wouldn’t have any trouble. Except…When I started to install I discovered I had no screws. I had gotten a card cheap on eBay. Does anyone know what screws are needed and where I might obtain them?

Thanks.

By: nithin

nithin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:31:37 +0000

thanx a million .. my wifi indicator doesnt show any activity though . hmmm i ll check after having installed the n updater