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| - I've heard that there's a difference in Airport Base Stations (ie. Rev 1.0 versus Rev 1.1 versus Rev 2.0). What does this mean exactly? Does this mean that certain updates from Apple that take advantage of Rev 2.0 are not compatible to Rev 1.1 base stations? I realize that Rev. 2.0 base stations have better security encryption and two Ethernet ports. Is there any reason not to buy the Rev. 1.1 base station at a discounted rate to gain Airport functionality? |
Rev 2.0 have 1 more antenna inside the basestation, thus better transmit signal.
Recently, there was a firmware update for the new Airport basestation only, probably pertaining to extra security measures.
Otherwise, like you said, encryption...which if you don't care for, and uses an iBook, I guess it's alrite to get the older one...but if you use a TiBook, I've heard the new basestation makes a lot of difference...
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| - Is there a significant difference in Airport cards? Meaning are there different versions of the Airport card that are incompatible with the different base stations? Or buying one Airport Card gives you compatibility with all updates? I've seen some airport cards on the cheap ($49), and was just wandering if they are obsolete. |
All the ones you buy that's called an "airport" card are the same part from Apple...or should be at least...I wouldn't be surprised if the older one were Silver as opposed to gold, since the Original Basestation uses the Silver card, thus no need for Gold Lucent card on the receiver...not sure on this though...
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| - What do you guys (gals) think will be happening with the supposed updates coming from Apple with improved Airport (IEEE 802.11g) functionality? Does this mean new airport cards and base stations? Or would it be a firmware upgrade? |
802.11g is not "improved airport." It is a new protocal developed by Cisco that is backward compatible with the Lucent technology otherwise known as 802.11b. As such, you cannot do a "firmware upgrade" on the 802.11b parts to make it g. the difference between g and b is that g supports 54(55?)MB/sec as opposed to 11 allowed by the current ones Apple uses...I recently read somewhere some company managed to get 22MB out of 802.11b, but I doubt we'll see that on an apple part...
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| - Does anyone know what's entailed with installing an airport card inside a G3 iMac (350 MHz)? I remember mention awhile back that a bracket had to be also purchased to mount an airport card inside the iMac. When I opened my iMac I saw a connector to attach the card, but have no clue other than that fact. |
Airport cards should all come with an adapter for iMac installations...I had to put 1 in the iMac 500-Sage, and it was pretty easy. goodluck with it.