So, I am finally able to get my new Mac set up and it has Bluetooth...well, Charter Communications says that the Bluetooth does not work with their wireless routers. Then I was told to hook up AirPort...well, then I find out that Mac's won't work with their wireless routers????? WHAT? Then I asked can you come and install another outlet and I will hardwire..."no" he said I would have to pay for a whole new internet package! I mean, come on. Surely other people out there use Mac and PC in the same house don't they?

I'm no expert, but that doesn't make any sense.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't use Bluetooth to connect to the internet with a mac, you use airport, which most likely your computer already has internally. We have mac and PC in our house, and our ISP needed to know which computer was the primary one because the set up is a little different. Jumping onto a wireless signal has little to do with mac vs. pc.

I only use bluetooth for syncing my phone to my mac and such, not for anything having to do with the internet.

I don't know how to tell you to fix it, but I know that hope is not lost.

Jess

I agree Jess..it doesn't make sense. I will call Mac tomorrow and take it from there. I am just impatient as all get out! Oh, love the avatar

As long as you have an Airport wireless card installed then it should work just fine with any wifi system. If you got a computer recently then I believe they all come with wireless cards built in except for a MacPro tower.

Lisa, you have a router through Charter? i didn't know they offered them. It should be working. Don't pay attention to charter, they have no idea what they are talking about.

Laughing really hard right now...you are right Jason and it seems to be getting worse!!!!

Oh..S..T !!!! Did you say that the MacPro tower won't work? That's what I have. It was a gift and so I didn't design the tower. I was told that it was set up for wireless...

Man...I just looked at the invoice and it says Bluetooth but not Airport Extreme. Now what? Can I install on my own somehow?

You'll need to check with an Apple store. I didn't realize that it didn't have wireless when I bought mine as well, but I haven't looked into a wireless card because we are hardwired in our office. You will have to call Apple if you don't have a store nearby.

Thank you so much...man, where is that magic wand when you need it???!!!

cheapest solution is to get a USB wireless card that is Mac compatible. Even if you were to get the Apple airport card it is a pain in the ass to install on a Mac pro.


something that looks like this but again.. make sure it says it's MAC compatible.

Paul, is the wireless card as fast as the AirPort? I can only imagine how tough it would be to install...that tower is like the stealth bomber! WAYYYY COOOL though.

Thank you

you can only go as fast as the router you have..

Your router will probably be a B and a G spectrum. B is slower and older than G so check to see if it is a G, then get a card that is G.You'll be save with a G card as they are backward compatible with B. Apple airport cards are B and G currently until N gets sorted out, but you definitely don't have an N.

I bought a USB wireless thing for one of my other computers. It actually works really great. I bought a cheap one too.

Don't listen to Charter. You can use any wireless router...BUT you may not be able to control all the router units with yor mac. The current standard is/will be IEE802.11n which is included in all new macs. But, most wireless routers are still only g which was the previous slower standard. You can always plug your MacPRo into the router via the ethernet cable port that is always included. IF your Mac doesn't have an internal wireless card, you can buy the Airport Extreme card for it for only $49 http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebO...;nplm=M8881LL/A and have it installed. It's not terribly difficult really. But, even though Apple sells a Wireless N standard router, the extreme cards are still only g enabled-but here's the kicker- you can enable wireless n IF you BUY the download...for $1.99! WHY?!!! would they charge $1.99 when they should just be adding it for free...

Anyway, it shouldn't be a problem...don't listen to whoever is setting up your wireless, do it yourself.

Thanks so much everyone. Man, I get a different answer every single time I call Charter So, I appreciate the tips. I did find that I only have Bluetooth and I talked to Mac today and they said to just have the Airport Extreme card installed. But am I reading it right by saying that it isn't the best way to go? I am SO new to Mac and the accessories.

I think that's your best bet. The Extreme Air card from Mac is only $49 and you won't have to worry about any 3rd party drivers or anything once in and it will work with any wireless network...despite what your network provider says.

Call or better, go in to your Apple store and ask them how much to have it installed and if it's not too difficult to do it yourself. Shouldn't be a problem. If they say they have to send it off somewhere, call around your town and see who does mac repair in your area (we have a bunch around here)...there's bound to be some Mac geeks that could probably install it in a few minutes for a 6 pack or something.

+1 get the apple one if it's that cheap.

If you feel comfortable doing it yourself I'll give you the Apple instructions from their tech site.

Super...ok, off to call around. Thank you again!

I think I might take that back. The fine print says that it does not work on the new mac pros. So if that's what you have now, not sure where you'd go. The more I look into it, the new Mac Pro and all MacBook Pros all have a different wireless card than the Airport Extreme that you can get for $49 from Apple. I would go in or call them and tell them what it is you are looking for. Ask them what wireless card they can put in a Mac Pro without one.

Thanks again. Nothing is more frustrating than having something new that is so cool, but cannot be fully used for a short bit. ARGH

Try this.. for $5 you can't lose.

http://dealnews.com/D-Link-802-11-b-g-Wire...ate/199858.html

The D-Link USB sticks are fine, but if you're going to put anything in your MacPro, get the apple AirPort card and have it installed. It will be covered by Apple's warranty should anything go wrong, and it will also support the new standard 802.11n wireless signal, which is something like 5 times faster for file transfer than 802.11g.

Thanks everyone. I talked to Apple's support yesterday (which I LOVE) and they told me to order the card and it was just less than $50 and I found I can have it installed for $30...SOOOOO...I should have this puppy running in about a week! yahooo:)