I have my quad 2.66 mac pro hooked up with an ethernet cable, but I want to move it upstairs. What sort of a card would I use? Would any of these do it?
Wireless Cards : Networking - Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/category/wireless-cards/19997.aspx?path=13858fda637fe7f08f24fb5eb6e7b895en 01)

I'm pretty sure your Mac Pro has Airport in it. I'd be shocked if it didn't.

I'm pretty sure your Mac Pro has Airport in it. I'd be shocked if it didn't.

How would I find out?

airport cards and bluetooth modules were optional on first gen Mac Pros (which is what i'm guessing you have).

You can get the optional card (which attaches to the logic board) but an easier/cheaper solution would be to get a USB wifi adapter.

airport cards and bluetooth modules were optional on first gen Mac Pros (which is what i'm guessing you have).

You can get the optional card (which attaches to the logic board) but an easier/cheaper solution would be to get a USB wifi adapter.

How well do these work? Is there anything in particular I need to look for or stay away from?

The wireless card is the same card that was in the similar generation iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook pros. They a still available online in a number of places and go for roughly $80-90. You might be able to find one used for cheaper. I actually lucid out as my sister fried a MacBook with tea so I stole the wireless card from that which was not destroyed. Installation is fairly easy and all the antenna wires are previously ran in the case so it is basically plug and play.
http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-802-11n-Airport-Extreme-Card/IF185-038#.T-KGYRB5mK0

If you don't have an airport card then I would also suspect that you don't have Bluetooth and the bluetooth card is a similar card just smaller with less antennas that plugs into the logic board.

Some USB WiFi sticks are compatible with Macs, some aren't. Its not the brand that makes the difference, but the chipset in it.
A better solution may be to set up a Wireless Access Point (wireless bridge), which your machine will hook up to by Ethernet cable, and the access point will then WiFi to your router.

Access points are $40 - $70, plus inexpensive WiFi routers can sometimes be set up as an access point by a setting in their admin interface. The Asus RT-N12 has a handy hardware switch on the back of it to switch between router, access point and repeater mode. Most routers have four Ethernet ports on the back, so you could also have a network printer andor other machines upstairs.

airport cards and bluetooth modules were optional on first gen Mac Pros (which is what i'm guessing you have).

You can get the optional card (which attaches to the logic board) but an easier/cheaper solution would be to get a USB wifi adapter.

they were optional up until the 2010 model IIRC

my 2009 QC 2.66 doesn't have one.

How would I find out?

Try turning on the wireless airport. If you have airport/bluetooth card installed on the motherboard you should be able to turn it on (either from the symbol in the top right of the screen) or the networking control panel.

You could also check system profiler, it should tell you.

You should see the wifi icon in the top right area of the screen, if its off, should look like this:

+1 on this solution.

I bought a really cheap wireless n router from Future Shop. It was a horrible router, dropped connections etc., but in "bridge mode" it works as a wireless access point for my Samsung home theatre. Samsung has a proprietary wireless USB dongle for $140, which is insane.


A better solution may be to set up a Wireless Access Point (wireless bridge), which your machine will hook up to by Ethernet cable, and the access point will then WiFi to your router.

Access points are $40 - $70, plus inexpensive WiFi routers can sometimes be set up as an access point by a setting in their admin interface. The Asus RT-N12 has a handy hardware switch on the back of it to switch between router, access point and repeater mode. Most routers have four Ethernet ports on the back, so you could also have a network printer andor other machines upstairs.