Connecting Mac Mini to current Wireless network

[GeeH]

Hi there, I'm a complete newbie to Macs as you will tell. I bought a Mac Mini to use as a media centre connected to my downstairs PC. On the Apple sight it says that "AirPort Extreme lets you connect Mac mini to any industry-standard, 802.11g-compatible wireless network.". I just cannot get my mini to do this. I presume that there is an Airport card in my mini (2nd hand off Ebay), as I can access the airport application and search for airport devices, but I just cannot find how to get the machine to search for a standard wireless network served up by my Linksys wireless router - HELP!

By the way, lifelong PC/Windows user here, I'm absolutely loving the Mini .

 

[elfin buddy]

Hi there, I'm a complete newbie to Macs as you will tell. I bought a Mac Mini to use as a media centre connected to my downstairs PC. On the Apple sight it says that "AirPort Extreme lets you connect Mac mini to any industry-standard, 802.11g-compatible wireless network.". I just cannot get my mini to do this. I presume that there is an Airport card in my mini (2nd hand off Ebay), as I can access the airport application and search for airport devices, but I just cannot find how to get the machine to search for a standard wireless network served up by my Linksys wireless router - HELP!

By the way, lifelong PC/Windows user here, I'm absolutely loving the Mini .

Might be a good idea to check for sure that you have an Airport card.

Open up System Profiler...it should be in your Utilities folder. Scan through the list on the left and click on "Airport". It should comfirn whether or not you have a card.

Also, make sure that the card is turned on. There should be a little Airport menu at the top of your screen next to the date and time.

Hope that helps!

 

[macpastor]

Knowing which model you have would help also... But as the previous poster said, you can check to see if you have AirPort that way. Should you not have Airport, you could upgrade, or sell the mini you have and buy one with Airport

 

[GeeH]

Thanks for the help guys - really is appreciated. It seems that I don't have an airport card installed after all; the system inspector thingy showed "no information" on the Airport tab. DO I have to buy an airport card to get the Mini onto a wireless LAN? I was hoping to use a USB Wireless network card that I already have but I'm guessing its not going to be as simple as that. Could an Airport card be installed by me at home? I have an excellent knowledge of PC architechture but obviously no knowledge of Mac workings.

I really appreciate all the advice!

G