Mac (Under) the Knife: Small, Silent, and Spouse-Sanctioned....The Sequel

Continued from 'Mac (Under) the Knife: Small, Silent and Spouse-Sanctioned'….

This Mac mini doesn't have the optional WiFi-and-Bluetooth module; one of the original aspirations for this project was to install Linux, and I knew ahead of time that Broadcom doesn't supply WiFi drivers for Linux. Plus, I felt that Apple charging $100 extra for wireless capability on a $500 computer was unconscionable. However, realize (as I did when I made this decision) that the Mac mini is not intended to be user-serviceable and, therefore, the wireless module is not normally available as an aftermarket upgrade (although some vendors appear to list it under part number M9870Z/A). Initially, I used a RF-based wireless keyboard and mouse from Logitech, the MX Duo set. They functioned well, which isn't too much of a surprise, given that I'd already, successfully tested them on a living room PC project (although that system was Windows-powered). The keyboard is designed for dual Mac-and-Windows usage, and Logitech supplies Mac OS drivers that enable you to configure mouse button and scroll wheel functions, along with customizing various keyboard buttons.

For network connectivity, I'm using a US Robotics model 5430 Ethernet-to-802.11g bridge, which worked like a champ once I configured it with my WiFi network's SSID and encryption key. To save space, I've also tried using several USB2-to-802.11g adapters, but without complete success to date. D-Link doesn't supply OS X drivers for its DWL-G122, but postings on macosxhints reveal that hardware revision B1 is based on a Ralink RT2500 chipset, for which drivers are available. Once I install them, plugging in the adapter brings up a configuration utility and I'm able to connect to my network. However, if I put the Mac mini to sleep and wake it up again, the WiFi adapter isn't recognized until I unplug it and re-plug it in. Similarly, if I cold-boot the Mac mini, the DWL-G122 isn't available until I go through the un-and-re-plug sequence.

Belkin supplies OS X drivers for its v2 F5D7050, but they appear to simply be Belkin-branded Ralink drivers; the Belkin adapter has the same issue as the DWL-G122. I have a Hawking Technologies HWU54G adapter in-house, which a macosxhints posting suggests is based on a Zydas ZD1211 WiFi chipset. Zydas, too, offers Mac OS X drivers on its website, but I haven't yet tried them. Hawking's HWL2A is a combination of high-gain WiFi locator and USB adapter, and Hawking supplies Apple drivers for it. Again, it's on my to-test list; its locator feature is overkill for this particular application, although it'd be useful with a roaming laptop.

I've had better luck with D-Link's DBT-120 USB-to-Bluetooth adapter, which I've recently seen for under $20 after rebate. Mac OS X has built-in support for the DBT-120, and if you run the Firmware Update utility (warning: which purges the ability to run the adapter with Windows) and Bluetooth Software Update utility, you can wake the Mac mini from sleep using Bluetooth peripherals such as a keyboard or mouse. Speaking of which….I'm using the Apple Bluetooth wireless keyboard, but since I'm fond of multi-button mice, I've chosen RadTech's BT500 mouse. I can't recommend Targus' Bluetooth Mini Mouse; after it's paired with either the Mac mini or my PowerBook (which has built-in Bluetooth capability), it frequently loses connectivity after power-off or sleep cycles and requires manual re-pairing before it'll work again. What's the point of a wireless mouse if you have to retain a wired mouse as a just-in-case backup?