802.11n Airport Extreme upgrading your duo core mac

First something needs to be clarified, Apple has used to different versions of the intel chip set commonly referred to as the "duo core" and the "Core 2". The "duo core" Intel powered Mac Mini & iMac & MacBook & MacBook Pro are officially not upgradeable to 802.11n wireless speeds. The "Core 2" Intel powered machines are supported. If you are not sure which MacBook Pro you have you might want to consult my guide on identifying which model MacBook Pro you have by clicking here

The wireless card found inside MacBook & Macbook Pro are different, the "duo core" has a mini pcmcia card with 2 antenna connectors, the "Core 2" has a mini pcmcia card with 3 antenna connectors. Hence ordering using a "Core 2" mini pcmcia card might work but which antenna connectors would be used, how would one route or install an antenna for the third connector.

The answer has been found in using the wireless upgrade kit supplied for the MacPro Tower MA688Z/A or the newer MA688Z/B , it also is a mini PCMCIA wireless card and features 2 antenna connector and it supplies the 802.11n bandwith. I have so far upgraded a few MacBook Pros, a MacBook and a 17" iMac all very straight forward. It is worth noting to remember which antenna connector goes onto which side. The MacMini only has 1 antenna connector hence installing the card into a MacMini should be possible but coming up with a second antenna is very adviseable,  I have not done a MacMini yet.

As far as Apple's claim to 2x the reception range this seems rather far fetched, my own testing and some feedback from my customers suggests speeds to be much faster but range to be about identical. I have for example tested different apple notebooks side by side and found old white ibooks to have by far the greatest range achieving 4 bars when titaniums or aluminums only achieved 2 bars(except of course they are not ncard compatible).