wireless and Bluetooth problems on a g4 mac mini

nidgemo · nidgemo #1 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 04:44 PM

hi everyone - hopefully someone can help!

I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck!

I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available?

second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port?

all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help!

any suggestions, links etc appreciated!

nidgemo · nidgemo #2 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 04:51 PM

also worth noting - I'm an experienced mac user and generally know what I'm doing but all the same, try to make any instructions as clear and step by step as possible! thanks

nidgemo · nidgemo #3 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:05 PM

hi everyone - hopefully someone can help!

I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck!

I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available?

second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port?

all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help!

any suggestions, links etc appreciated!

nidgemo · nidgemo #4 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:07 PM

hi everyone - hopefully someone can help!

I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck!

I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available?

second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port?

all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help!

any suggestions, links etc appreciated!

nidgemo · nidgemo #5 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:07 PM

hi everyone - hopefully someone can help!

I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck!

I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available?

second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port?

all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help!

any suggestions, links etc appreciated!

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #6 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:44 PM

An Airport Extreme Card will be the shot. They are quite cheap on eBay. The card is an 802.11b/g. The Bluetooth dongle needs to be a D-Link as many others are not compatible. Never found any WiFi dongle that works with a Mac yet and tried for years. problem seems to be drivers.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #7 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:48 PM

This is the Airport Extreme Card you will need:-

NEW Airport Extreme Card A1026 Powerbook iBook eMac iMac PowerMac MacMini, G4 G5 | eBay

Never got a wireless dongle to work yet with a Mac of any description. Drivers seem to be the problem. A D-Link USB dongle may be the shot for Bluetooth.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #8 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:48 PM

This is the Airport Extreme Card you will need:-

NEW Airport Extreme Card A1026 Powerbook iBook eMac iMac PowerMac MacMini, G4 G5 | eBay

Never got a wireless dongle to work yet with a Mac of any description. Drivers seem to be the problem. A D-Link USB dongle may be the shot for Bluetooth.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #9 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:48 PM

Do not double post. Staff do NOT like it!

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #10 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 05:49 PM

And to say nothing of triple posting!

nidgemo · nidgemo #11 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 06:03 PM

thanks mate - unfortunately, from what I have seen, the airport cards are a nightmare to install on the minis, so I was hoping for a dongle solution first!

Hopefully someone else has an idea I can try out before having to go down that route.

Cheers

nidgemo · nidgemo #12 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 06:03 PM

thanks mate - unfortunately, from what I have seen, the airport cards are a nightmare to install on the minis, so I was hoping for a dongle solution first!

Hopefully someone else has an idea I can try out before having to go down that route.

Cheers

nidgemo · nidgemo #13 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 06:10 PM

As for the dongle - I have one OK, it even claims to be mac compatible, and instructions simply say plug it in, go to "bluetooth" in the preferences - and that's as far as I can get, as I don't have the bluetooth preferences pane - I'm really more wondering how to get this - can I install it seperately, even though the mac doesn't think I need it as it's detecting no bluetooth?

nidgemo · nidgemo #14 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 06:10 PM

As for the dongle - I have one OK, it even claims to be mac compatible, and instructions simply say plug it in, go to "bluetooth" in the preferences - and that's as far as I can get, as I don't have the bluetooth preferences pane - I'm really more wondering how to get this - can I install it seperately, even though the mac doesn't think I need it as it's detecting no bluetooth?

nidgemo · nidgemo #15 (**permalink**)

02-09-2012, 06:27 PM

OK - wireless sorted!

I had my encryption set on my router at TKIP, changed it to AES and hey presto, up it went.

Hopefully this can help someone else looking for a cheap wi-fi fix - certainly not bad for £5! I bought it here...

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Now, if I can just get the bluetooth prefs avaioable for me to turn on and set up, I'll have a fantastic media centre!

harryb2448 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-09-2012, 05:44 PM An Airport Extreme Card will be the shot. They are quite cheap on eBay. The card is an 802.11b/g. The Bluetooth dongle needs to be a D-Link as many others are not compatible. Never found any WiFi dongle that works with a Mac yet and tried for years. problem seems to be drivers. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-09-2012, 05:48 PM This is the Airport Extreme Card you will need:- NEW Airport Extreme Card A1026 Powerbook iBook eMac iMac PowerMac MacMini, G4 G5 \| eBay Never got a wireless dongle to work yet with a Mac of any description. Drivers seem to be the problem. A D-Link USB dongle may be the shot for Bluetooth. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-09-2012, 05:48 PM This is the Airport Extreme Card you will need:- NEW Airport Extreme Card A1026 Powerbook iBook eMac iMac PowerMac MacMini, G4 G5 \| eBay Never got a wireless dongle to work yet with a Mac of any description. Drivers seem to be the problem. A D-Link USB dongle may be the shot for Bluetooth. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-09-2012, 05:48 PM Do not double post. Staff do NOT like it! *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-09-2012, 05:49 PM And to say nothing of triple posting! *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

wireless and Bluetooth problems on a g4 mac mini

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nidgemo #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 04:44 PM hi everyone - hopefully someone can help! I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck! I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available? second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port? all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help! any suggestions, links etc appreciated!
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 04:51 PM also worth noting - I'm an experienced mac user and generally know what I'm doing but all the same, try to make any instructions as clear and step by step as possible! thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 05:07 PM hi everyone - hopefully someone can help! I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck! I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available? second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port? all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help! any suggestions, links etc appreciated!
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 05:07 PM hi everyone - hopefully someone can help! I have recently been given an old mac mini g4 ppc 1.25 which I thought I would use as a handy media centre... however this thing is as old as the hills and as such doesn't even have built in airport or Bluetooth - I was going to use it with the wifi and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so bought a USB wi-fi dongle and a USB Bluetooth dongle, thinking I could just plug them in and I'd be up and running. no such luck! I'll start with the Bluetooth - the spec says its mac osx compatible but as the machine has no Bluetooth built in there is no Bluetooth section in the prefrences - I'm guessing if I had this I could turn Bluetooth on and set it up? how do I get this? I tried installing Bluetooth 1.5 from the apple site but it told me my machine did not need it. any ideas how I can get this preference installed or available? second, the wifi - it came with a disc with a mac installer and installed a wi-fi utility, the utility does open and detects my network but there are a load of options available - it does appear to auto detect everything but on putting in my password does not connect. if I go into preferences it seems to be picking up the USB dongle as an Ethernet port? all help and suggestions appreciAted - any questions or requests for screenshots I'll provide people with anything they need to help! any suggestions, links etc appreciated!
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 06:03 PM thanks mate - unfortunately, from what I have seen, the airport cards are a nightmare to install on the minis, so I was hoping for a dongle solution first! Hopefully someone else has an idea I can try out before having to go down that route. Cheers
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 06:03 PM thanks mate - unfortunately, from what I have seen, the airport cards are a nightmare to install on the minis, so I was hoping for a dongle solution first! Hopefully someone else has an idea I can try out before having to go down that route. Cheers
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 06:10 PM As for the dongle - I have one OK, it even claims to be mac compatible, and instructions simply say plug it in, go to "bluetooth" in the preferences - and that's as far as I can get, as I don't have the bluetooth preferences pane - I'm really more wondering how to get this - can I install it seperately, even though the mac doesn't think I need it as it's detecting no bluetooth?
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 06:10 PM As for the dongle - I have one OK, it even claims to be mac compatible, and instructions simply say plug it in, go to "bluetooth" in the preferences - and that's as far as I can get, as I don't have the bluetooth preferences pane - I'm really more wondering how to get this - can I install it seperately, even though the mac doesn't think I need it as it's detecting no bluetooth?
	QUOTE Thanks

nidgemo #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2012 Posts: 12	02-09-2012, 06:27 PM OK - wireless sorted! I had my encryption set on my router at TKIP, changed it to AES and hey presto, up it went. Hopefully this can help someone else looking for a cheap wi-fi fix - certainly not bad for £5! I bought it here... eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace Now, if I can just get the bluetooth prefs avaioable for me to turn on and set up, I'll have a fantastic media centre!
	QUOTE Thanks

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