Wireless N PCI adapter, Snow Leopard, 64-bit

paulscode · #1 06-03-2010, 03:20 AM

A search of the forums didn't reveal anything useful, so I'll start a new thread.

I am looking to buy a new Wireless N PCI adapter, and I want to get one that will work out-of-the-box in Snow Leopard, 64-bit (preferably one that is compatible on Windows XP and Linux as well). Any recommendations? I don't mind running an installation package or dropping in a kext, but the simpler the process the better. And please confirm if you've tried it first-hand, as well.

Bettarg · #2 06-03-2010, 10:23 AM

Hello,

afaik , no. There are a few cards working under 32bit, but not under 64bit.

A few USB Sticks come with 10.6 64bit Drivers, but they are not native reco. as Airport.

When u really want native 64bit N Wifi u must go the long and hard road. Buy a Pci-Mini to PCI Card and a PCI-Mini Card for a Macbook. ( like this one : http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/...Card/IF186-084 ) There have no Antenna, so u have to hack something.
This is not really cheap, and a lot of Work.

I dont do it for my self, but a few friends did it.

Happy Hacking

U wait.... i dont think that this will work like this. I think the Original Apple Card has no Mini PCI Slot. Can someone confirm this?
There are a few Mini PCI Cards for other Laptops, like Dell, with the same Broadcom Chip like the Apple Cards. i will try to find more information.

Bettarg · #3 06-03-2010, 10:42 AM

Ok, found one! In the Mid 09 MBP is a Broadcom BCM94322 Chip. Like on this board : http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-Broadcom-BCM9...-/320520045587 With this chip u will also have 5.0 ghz Wifi... awesome

U need a MiniPCI-PCI Card also.

This SHOULD work! Maybe (!!) u will have problems with the Device ID. I cant say that. When there have a different Device ID u must put your ID in the Broadcom Kext. But i dont think this will be necessary.

Ps: Sorry, my english is not that good

Imkantus · #4 06-03-2010, 02:17 PM

There are also n-Draft capable Broadcom based PCI cards, that don't require this kind of MiniPCI to PCI tinkering, like the Netgear WN311B which uses BCM4321 Chipset. All you need to do is adding <string>pci14e4,4329</string> to AppleAirPortBrcm4311.kext to make it work on OS X.

howoarang · #5 06-03-2010, 03:41 PM

Yes, I have miniPCI-express with chip broadcom BCM4322. It is dual band wifi card, supports a/b/g/n standards of 802.11. it is cheap and working perfect under MacOSX 10.5, 10.6 (32+64bit), Windows and Linux Ubuntu 9.10, too. In some laptops, card is recognized as Dell Wireless 1505 wifi card.
(pci14e4,4328)

paulscode · #6 06-10-2010, 04:34 AM

After a little research, I decided to buy a TP-LINK TL-WN951N. Others have reported it to work out-of-the-box in Snow Leopard, but for me it wasn't quite plug-and-play to get it running in 64-bit mode. I eventually got it working after fiddling around for a couple of hours, as mentioned in this thread. It was just a matter of finding the right .kext's to make it work, nothing too difficult. I would definitely recommend this card as a relatively simple PCI wireless option for 64-bit Snow Leopard.

Wireless-N networking was the last thing I needed to figure out - my Hackintosh is now fully operational.