2010 Mac Mini + Win 7 = No 5ghz WiFi

[Pd1]

For the life of me, I can't figure out how to get the mini to connect to my 5ghz network while running Windows 7 (x32). If I boot up to Lion, which has all the latest updates, I can connect to the 5ghz network, so this must either be a driver issue or a settings problem within the Windows 7 environment.

It appears that the Mac Mini uses this Broadcom adapter (BCM943224PCIEBT)

I have the latest version of Boot Camp (v3.3) installed, but the WiFi driver contained here is one from 2009. So I upgraded the WiFi driver to 5.100.235.19 for BCM43xx to no avail. The adapter still won't log into the 5ghz network. To be clear, I can see the network broadcast, but get a message "unable to connect."

I had the same problem in Lion before installing the latest updates, so something in the latest updates fixes this problem on Lion but Apple is yet to roll out this fix in the Boot Camp drivers.

- Router: WNDR4500 (N900)

- Network has all encryption disabled

Huge thanks to anyone that can solve this riddle.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

It appears that the Mac Mini uses this Broadcom adapter (BCM943224PCIEBT)

I have the latest version of Boot Camp (v3.3) installed, but the WiFi driver contained here is one from 2009. So I upgraded the WiFi driver to 5.100.235.19 for BCM43xx to no avail. The adapter still won't log into the 5ghz network. To be clear, I can see the network broadcast, but get a message "unable to connect."

Do not download software from non-trusted third party websites! This site says:

Includes the BCM2070 and BCM43224

Which means you have probably not the correct drivers. Windows can help you to find the correct drivers for your devices.

- Network has all encryption disabled

Are you crazy? Encryption disabled? And even if it is enabled you use probably some weak password instead of a proper passphrase!?

 

[Pd1]

Which means you have probably not the correct drivers. Windows can help you to find the correct drivers for your devices.

Are you crazy? Encryption disabled? And even if it is enabled you use probably some weak password instead of a proper passphrase!?

1) The driver was selected by Windows automatically when I pointed the search utility to the downloaded folder...so Windows is happy with the updated driver.

2) The driver is working fine for 2.4ghz network access, and I seem to be no worse off with this driver than the one included in Boot Camp from 2009.

3) I'm not crazy. I'm temporarily eliminating unnecessary complexities in order to troubleshoot this issue. For what it's worth, I have disabled the SSID broadcast. When the issue is resolved, I'll lock everything down.

 

[Pd1]

Update:

I called Apple today and they suggested upgrading to Boot Camp 4.0 -- which I wasn't aware was released.

Boot Camp 4.0 included yet another Broadcom driver update (5.100.198.22), but I still have the same problem. "Windows was unable to connect to <5ghz network name>"

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Pd1]

I'm seeing listings online of an even newer Broadcom driver (BCM43xx 5.100.98.78) but have not been able to find it for download.

 

[sascha h-k]

with airport extreme, win7 & 5ghz now "wifi" no problem.

 

[Pd1]

with airport extreme, win7 & 5ghz now "wifi" no problem.

Thanks, sascha.

I actually have an Airport Extreme that I just replaced with this N900 from Netgear. It was a good idea to try THAT 5ghz network and sure enough, I can connect to it on Win 7.

So it seems this is a compatibility issue that can EITHER be worked out with a driver update OR a firmware update from Netgear.