Adding Wi-Fi to my Mac SE/30

[bibilit]

I have made some tests yesterday, connected to my powerbook 3400.

Using one of those Portable cell power banks got me online right away.

Many sites are not able to cope with old browsers, but i was able to surf a bit and even download some files.

i have modified this morning the card to accept a Molex plug, so almost ready for the SE/30.

 

[ants]

Great to see you got it working. I love the theme on your powerbook - what do you use to do that?!

 

[bibilit]

I love the theme on your powerbook

I love it as well.

this is one of the themes (drawing Board) included in the "Copland" SSW and never released.

https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2549-mac-os-8-9-themes

 

[razo]

I would like to add this wifi to my Compact Macs, but the Vonets VM300 Wi-Fi Module  seems not to be available anymore. Are there other similar WIFI modules that may work?

 

[Crutch]

Amazon has them for $28 with Prime shipping. I just bought one a few weeks ago. https://www.amazon.com/Vonets-Repeater-Professional-stablest-Amplifier/dp/B01FJJODQI

 

[ants]

FYI for everyone following this thread, you can also use an OpenWRT based router such as the GL-iNet AR300M. It's a little bit more work to set up, but these routers are faster, more robust and more flexible than the Vonets.

More info on setting up an OpenWRT router can be found here: https://github.com/antscode/MacWifi

Also, the MacWifi system extension is also available for download here: https://github.com/antscode/MacWifi/releases. This extension adds a Wifi menu to System 7 so that you can connect to networks directly from your Mac:

 

[razo]

but these routers are faster, more robust and more flexible than the Vonets

Thanks for your work When you say the other is more robust, does that mean the Vonets will loose connection to the router more often or otherwise be less reliable?

 

[ants]

@razo sorry I should have been more specific. I've listed the issues I'm aware of with the Vonets in the MacWifi readme here:

https://github.com/antscode/MacWifi/blob/master/README.md

But in regard to keeping a connection with a router, I've had no problems.

 

[Edge Connector]

I'm looking for the PDF template for the bracket and can't seem to find it. Can someone give me a pointer?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Bigmessowires started a thread that turned into a listing/history/roadmap to Macintosh Technical Tomes by Apple from Addison-Wesley.



Much has become available in PDF over the last seven years. Designing_Cards_and_Drivers_for_the_Macintosh_Family_2ed_May90 has the specs that you need and a source for it at the Macintosh Repository is linked at near the end.

Don't expect the PDF of the plate to be to scale, but you can usually open any given page in Illustrator to check it to use as is or as a template.

 

[ants]

I'm looking for the PDF template for the bracket and can't seem to find it. Can someone give me a pointer?

Sorry I forgot to attach it to my original post. Below is a link to download the template for the Wifi Antenna Bracket (I couldn't upload it to this thread for some reason):

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ak8iQs7xV3NBkbEo7qfAaEldnq4agQ

 

[razo]

I will try to install the Vonets in my SE/30 now. As far as I understand the Vonets is able to connect to modern highspeed WIFI routers via wireless, but I have understood that the old Asante Ethernet card in the E/30 is not able to connect to the modern fast WIFI routers via cable, but requires an older slower router too work - correct me if I am wrong.

Since I only have my modern WIFI modem and I have installed the Asante WIFI card in the SE/30 (but not tested/connected it to a router via cable yet); what would be my best option to make this whole work: 1. install the Vonets and test the whole system "in one go" OR 2. first buy an older slow-speed modem, try to get the SE/30 to see my router via cable and then finally install and test the Vonets with my high-speed WIFI router?

Thanks.

 

[ants]

@razo what you said is correct. I wouldn't mess around trying to source an old router since you already have a Vonets card - just make sure you select 10mb/half duplex in the Vonets setup (although it could be full duplex on your Asante card)

 

[razo]

@ants Just a small report from me so far : I got it working as a WIFI bridge on my OSX iMac. It is really very simple: I used an antistatic wristband to be sure, just mount one of the the antennas to the board and plug in the wires, then plug Ethernet and usb cables from the VM300 into the computer. Type 192.168.254.254 in the webbrowser addressfield, then log in with user: admin and pwd: admin. Choose your WIFI network from the Hotspots pane, then "next", type password. Here I unchecked the "Hotspot" option, click Apply. Now, do not - important: do not - press the "reboot"  button on this page (as you are asked to do), there must be a bug here because if you do the VM300 will freeze and you must do a Factory reset to obtain contact again. Instead click on System Settings pane on the left and reboot/reset from this page (at least this is what solved it for me). You can see if the VM300 reboots by it lightning green for a moment. If VM300 freezes use this to restore: http://www.vonets.com/serviceView.asp?D_ID=213

It seems that the VM300 bought recently had the latest firmware and the pane "LAN Setting-Ethernet port" had the pull down menu list with half duplex option. I will try getting my SE/30 on the network tonight. (Written via VM300 WIFI bridge  ).

 

[mePy2]

Really really cool! Great job!

 

[Bolle]

I was able to source a few AUI-twisted pair transceiver ICs and ordered a batch of test boards to build my own transceiver board to include a mPCIe slot for the VM300 to drop right in:

If it works this will come along with the MacCon clones I am going to build for the SE/30.

As can be seen the breakout board also features a DB15 port that you can connect to whatever graphics card you might have in the SE/30 using jumper wires.

Two mounting holes for antennas are also there.

 

[maceffects]

I was able to source a few AUI-twisted pair transceiver ICs and ordered a batch of test boards to build my own transceiver board to include a mPCIe slot for the VM300 to drop right in:





If it works this will come along with the MacCon clones I am going to build for the SE/30.

As can be seen the breakout board also features a DB15 port that you can connect to whatever graphics card you might have in the SE/30 using jumper wires.

Two mounting holes for antennas are also there.

This is, perhaps, one of the most exciting news of 2020!

 

[cheesestraws]

I was able to source a few AUI-twisted pair transceiver ICs and ordered a batch of test boards to build my own transceiver board to include a mPCIe slot for the VM300 to drop right in:

This is insanely cool.

 

[nickpunt]

Fantastic @Bolle! Many/most of us run SCSI2SD, wondering if there's a way to make room for a SD card or USB header so we don't have to open the case to swap data? 

 

[pb3623]

Fantastic @Bolle! Many/most of us run SCSI2SD, wondering if there's a way to make room for a SD card or USB header so we don't have to open the case to swap data? 

I use this microSD extender and actually thought it would be neat to thread it through the security lock slot (which you have to do from the outside) to minimize slack or pinch points. Just make sure you remember to disconnect it from the SCSI2SD before you rip the bucket off!

https://www.amazon.com/LANMU-Extension-Flexible-Monoprice-Raspberry/dp/B01D9JIUU0/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=micro+sd+extender&qid=1581536701&sr=8-2