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 Wireless reception: Mac Pro Vs My Macbook Pro 
 
 
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Old 29-07-2008, 09:14 PM
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Wireless reception: Mac Pro Vs My Macbook Pro
Hi guys,

i just acquired a Mac Pro, with an airport extreme card in it.
Can someone tell me why my Macbook Pro can pick up the signal 3 bar strength
but my Mac Pro cannot (or occasionally can but drops out)?

Is the wireless better in the notebook?


Cheers



Brad
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Last edited by Currawong; 29-07-2008 at 09:31 PM. Reason: Edited title for clarity.
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Old 30-07-2008, 09:16 AM
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Some older Mac Pros had the antenna cables switched around internally, which led to reception issues.

If yours is brand new then it shouldn't have that problem though...
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Old 30-07-2008, 09:57 AM
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well it's 1 day out of the box!
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Old 30-07-2008, 09:59 AM
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I'm not 100% sure, but I remember the G5 PowerMacs having an external antenna you had to install:

Click the image to open in full size.

It may be the same for the Mac Pro.
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Old 30-07-2008, 09:59 AM
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I was always led to believe that because the Mac Pro antenna is buried in the case that reception isn't as good as a laptop, which generally has the antenna in the screen bezel behind plastic/rubber.
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Old 30-07-2008, 10:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leon View Post
I was always led to believe that because the Mac Pro antenna is buried in the case that reception isn't as good as a laptop, which generally has the antenna in the screen bezel behind plastic/rubber.
That's right - hence why Apple made a little antenna that sticks out of the case, otherwise you get bubkus reception due to the big metal cage that is the Mac Pro
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Old 30-07-2008, 10:32 AM
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The antenna should be on the bottom of the Mac Pro. If your reception is really bad you could open the case and make sure that all of the wires are connected to the airport card and the antenna. One of them may not be connected properly or could be loose.
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Old 30-07-2008, 11:02 AM
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they are all connected i already checked.
Is there like an Ariel add on you can get for the card?


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Old 30-07-2008, 11:27 AM
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Maybe try turning on interference robustness to see if that improves your connection stability. Is there anything near the Mac Pro that could be causing interference? Portable phones? Are you running an "n"network, or using an Apple Airport Extreme basestation?
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Old 31-07-2008, 07:55 PM
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nope just the Mac Pro,
in my room....

Thanks for your help
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Old 03-08-2008, 01:00 PM
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There's no external antenna with the Mac Pro.

Where did you buy it from? If a store, they may have installed the AirPort card themselves and accidentally clipped the antenna cable incorrectly. If from Apple directly, then the issue was in the factory.

Either way, as a Mac this new, get in-touch with the place of purchase and they'll sort it out...
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