An air card provides a wireless Internet connection from anywhere, anytime, as long as a signal is available. Air cards are inserted in a laptop and generally provide coverage wherever a signal is available for cell phones or PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant). Although air cards often have a good signal range, connection speeds vary.
Sierra Wireless AirCard 881
The Sierra Wireless AirCard 881 was the first air card to connect to HSUPA (High-speed Uplink Packed Access) technology, which is used to provide high-speed connectivity and includes advanced graphics and applications. The Sierra Wireless AirCard 881 can upload at speeds from 400 to 800 kilobits per second (Kbps). The card is available in 2G and 3G modes and is compatible with Microsoft XP and Vista. It will support Mac OS laptops with a PC card slot adapter. Users can include attachments to their emails, upload and transmit data quickly with secure access and strong performance even in areas with weak or noisy conditions.
Option GT Ultra
The GT Ultra AirCard is in the AT&T family of mobile devices. This small air card comes equipped with a SIM card slot, an external antenna port and a flip-up antenna. It should easily fit into the ExpressCard slot of a laptop. The card comes with AT&T's Connection Manager software, a free program, Windows or Option's GlobeTrotter Connect, the equivalent for Mac OS X users. The GT Ultra integrates AT&T's 3G BroadbandConnect and Edge Networks, allowing users to access business applications, surf the Internet and email from throughout the world.
Novatel V740 PC/Mac Wireless Broadband Card
The Novatel V740 is a sleek and portable device offered through Verizon that is compatible with PCs and Macs and operates at 3G speeds. The small broadband device allows users to surf the web, email, upload files and send pictures and multimedia messages. Users can also access corporate networks via VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Merlin C777 by Novatel Wireless
The Merlin C777 is a 2-in-1 compact 3G broadband card offered through Sprint PCS. The 2-in-1 feature includes PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) and ExpressCard Wireless Mobile Broadband, compatible with most computers that have wireless capabilities. The device also comes with GPS-compatible features.
How to Identify an AirPort Card
Quickly identify which AirPort card you have.
Most Macintosh computers these days come with a built-in AirPort card. This card is a wireless adapter that allows your computer to connect to wireless Internet networks. The three types of AirPort cards are AirPort Card, AirPort Card Adapter and AirPort Card Extreme. Identifying which card is on your computer is a matter of only a couple clicks.
Instructions
1
Click the apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2
Click "About This Mac."
3
Click "More Info."
4
Scroll down to "Network." Click the arrow next to it if it is not already pointing down.
5
Click "AirPort Card." All the information you need is right there, including card type and software version.
How to Install an AirPort Card on a Computer
How to Install an AirPort Card on a Computer
Apple's AirPort card is a wireless Internet card, first manufactured in 1999 along with the AirPort Base Station, that was discontinued in 2004 in favor of the more advanced AirPort Extreme card. The AirPort card was offered as an optional feature for Mac models such as the iMac, Power Mac G4 and iBook. If you still use one of these models, you can install an AirPort card and receive wireless Internet from any Base Station or router using the 802.11b signal.
Instructions
Slot-Loading iMacs
1
Shut down the computer and unplug all peripherals, including printers, keyboards and any other cables. Please note that the 350 MHz Indigo iMac, manufactured in 2000, does not include an AirPort card slot.
2
Lay the iMac face down on a soft cloth and open the panel by turning the access door (which resembles a large, gray screw) with a coin and raising the panel. The access door appears along the bottom center of the device.
Unplug the computer's power cord and locate the AirPort card case, which looks like a small rectangular slot with a small antenna hanging from the outside.
4
Slide the card into the case with the AirPort logo facing up, making sure to line up the pins with the slots, and attach the antenna to the small hole on the card. After determining that the AirPort card is firmly fastened inside the case, reassemble your iMac.
iMac G4
5
Shut down the computer and unplug all peripherals, including printers, keyboards and any other cables.
6
Lay the iMac face down on a soft cloth and loosen the five screws along the base of the computer using a Phillips #0 screwdriver. Remove the bottom plate from the base of the iMac.
7
Slide the AirPort card into the rectangular AirPort case inside the base of the iMac and connect the antenna to the small hole on the AirPort card. When inserting the card, the slots should align with the pins in the case, and the bar codes should face you.
8
Reassemble your iMac.
Power Mac G4 Cube
9
Shut down the computer and unplug all peripherals, including printers, keyboards and any other cables. Wait about five minutes for the Power Mac to cool down before proceeding.
10
Turn the computer upside down and remove the power cable. Slide the core free by pushing down on the latch and pulling the internal casing from the enclosure.
11
Slide the AirPort card into the rectangular AirPort case along the side of the Power Mac core and connect the antenna to the small hole on the AirPort card. When inserting the card, the slots should align with the pins in the case, and the AirPort logo should face you.
0 comments:
Post a Comment