Mac OSX. Airport card problem

Factual Questions
1

I am putting this in IMHO as a start. If it is better elsewhere – Mods please place as appropriate.

Macbook with OS X.5.8 (yes, old, but runs a programme I really need - if said programme ever gets updated, then so will my macbook*).

Last few days my airport card seems to be dropping the connection with regularity. I also cannot turn airport on/off from the menu bar.
Internet provider says that all is well on their end, all other stuff (routers etc, all seem to be fine).
Is this perhaps the airport card getting old and worn out? Or maybe something else.

I am really a techno-dummy. I like when things just work.
Any advice welcome before I take the laptop to the Mac tech. If nothing other than to make me look less dim when I talk with him.

Couple of other points; I really need this laptop to be very reliable. It is my field unit that I use in some very out-of-the way places and if it is fast on the way to being unreliable then I need to consider replacing it.
Also, really would like to think this may be a relatively cheap fix. Any chance of that?

Thanks in advance for any and all insights.
*Specialized scientific programme – I wish I could find one better.

2

May I please bump this.
Anyone with a similar problem?

3

A typical problem with old MacBooks is the antenna cable gets broken as it passes through the hinge (the Airport antenna is in the screen frame). I would be willing to be this is your problem. One possible solution is to get a PC card WiFi adapter and use that.

The model MacBook would help.

4

I wonder how I might get this info to help you tell what is going on with my Macbook??

5

“About this Mac” -> More Info.
(Or use System Profiler)
Either the model or the serial number.

6

Tech help goes in GQ, you’ll get more help that way.

Moved from IMHO -> GQ.

  • Gukumatz,
    IMHO Moderator