USB WiFi Dongles - The Thread

[chexee]

I've seen a bunch of threads about various USB Dongles for wifi, but I think having an aggregate thread about which ones work and which don't (and the processes to make them work) would be helpful. Let me know if a thread like this exists. I looked around but I might have missed something.

Here are the one's I've seen documented that work:

RALINK - Edimax EW7717UN USB Wireless - $25
http://www.amazon.com/Edimax-EW-7717Un- ... B001AIJX54

RALINK - Monoprice USB Wireless Lan 802.11G/N - $10-$20
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

RALINK - D-Link DWL-G122 - $20
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DWL-G122-C ... 806&sr=1-1

RALINK - Belkin F5D8053 N Wireless USB Adapter - $45
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5D8053-Wi ... B000RMRU5Y

RALINK - Hawking HWUG1 Wireless G USB Network Adapter - $35
http://www.amazon.com/Hawking-HWUG1-Wir ... 306&sr=8-1

RALINK - ASUS USB-N13 Network adapter - $25
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-USB-N13-ASUS ... =de_a_smtd

RALINK - NewerTechnology Maxpower 802.11n/g/b Wireless USB2.0 stick adapter & extension cradle - $38
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20 ... P2802NU2C/

RALINK - Sabrent USB-802N Wireless 802.11n USB 2.0 Wifi MIMO Network 300Mbps WLAN adapter - $27
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-USB-802N- ... B001D2MSUO

RALINK - TP-Link TL-WN321G USB 2.0 802.11g - $20
http://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-WN321G ... B000FO6QYU

RALINK - Linksys WUSB100 Rangeplus USB Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Refurbished-Links ... B001LP8PJG



Realtek - AirLink 101 AWLL3028 54Mbps 802.11g - $35
http://www.amazon.com/AirLink-AWLL3028- ... 306&sr=8-2

Realtek - Monoprice USB Wireless Lan 802.11N1 1T1R/1T2R Adapter - $10-$14
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

Realtek - Sabrent Wireless 802.11n Wi-Fi MIMO Network USB 2.0 - $35
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Wireless- ... B0028QQC0Q

Realtek - BlueProton High-Gain BT3 23dbm Wireless G USB 2.0 - $7
http://www.amazon.com/BlueProton-High-G ... 713&sr=1-1

Realtek - USB Wireless Lan 802.11N1 1T1R/1T2R Adapter - $10-$14
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

--

Airport Compatibility
agrajag has reported incompatibility when using RALINK chipset devices with Apple Airports:

I was using a TrendNet branded USB wireless-N adapter (ralink chipset). It worked OK when I had my Netgear N router (the ralink software interface leaves something to be desired but it did work). However when I changed to an Apple Airport Extreme router (current version), the trendnet/ralink dongle caused problems. I could see in the router log file that the adapter was connecting/disconnecting from the router every 6 seconds or so. Suffice to say I could not get usable transfer rates this way.

Utility Applications
With all of these dongles, you need to run the utility at least once every time you start up OS X to establish a connection. For the time being, there is no way around this. My experience with the Realtek utility is that its best to leave the utility running for a consistent connection, while you can quit the RALINK Utility once the connection has been established.

RALINK
NOTE: The devices marked RALINK, along with their N/G/etc variations all use the same RALINK chipsets. ALOT of USB and PCI wireless cards use this chipset (documented here: http://ralink.rapla.net/) so, in theory all of them should work with an running hackintosh.

Drivers can be found here: http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=3

It installs the RALINK application in your Applications folder. You need to launch it once to define your preferred network and get it going. You can quit it and still remain connected.

Cakemonster wrote a more detailed post with screenshots about the RALINK utility using the EDIMAX dongle here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1277

There are also a few people that I've noticed are going out of their way to find the EDIMAX, as its no longer sold on Newegg or Amazon except used and is one of the few USB dongles with a confirmed working thread. ALL OF THE DONGLES ABOVE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. Monoprice sells the 802.11G for $10 + $6 overnight shipping if you live on the far west coast. If the dongle is on this list: http://ralink.rapla.net/ it probably works.

Realtek

The same concept goes for Realtek devices. It hasn't been documented as much as Realtek, but there are a lot of reports from Hackintosh users that Realtek chipsets work great.

List of Realtek drivers: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dow ... loads=true

Post if you'd like to add what device your using or if you know any other USB WiFi devices that work. I'll update the list :]

 

[tonymacx86]

I don't use wifi on my rigs since they're connected to ethernet, but there are some USB Wifi devices that show up as airport natively. I'll see if I can dig a few up.

 

[smiledrs]

I am using the Asus USB N-13 with 10.6.4 and it installs it's own wireless utility software.
Can be found on Amazon for around $25 http://www.amazon.com/Asus-USB-N13-ASUS-Wireless-N-Adapter/dp/B002UVNW5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1283139929&sr=8-1

 

[etherealglimpse]

woot I love you man. great thread. I just happen to have an edimax in my palm and i was like damn this pos doesn't work and now i know why and how to get it working! wooot!

 

[kube]

Heya there,

has someone made some xp with this tiny beautiful dongle:
http://www.amazon.de/Edimax-EW-7811UN-W ... 495&sr=8-1

I would love to know if this one works ...

Thanks!

 

[Connie Mac]

You can add the NewerTechnology Maxpower 802.11n/g/b Wireless USB2.0 stick adapter & extension cradle from Other World Computing. It has the Ralink RT2870 chip.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20 ... P2802NU2C/

 

[etherealglimpse]

Ah almost lost this thread. I want to confirm that the Realtek - Monoprice USB Wireless Lan 802.11N1 1T1R/1T2R Adapter - $10-$14
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2 does indeed work! hoorah. I don't know what the difference is between the ralink and the realtek but it works great so I really don't have any complaints. The software they make you use is shitty and looks crappy but again it works.

 

[jorpe]

USB\VID_148F&PID_3070&REV_0101

http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0311865

I can't get this to work. It has the RALink chip in it.

help?

Installed the drivers from the ralink website and it worked after a restart

 

[chexee]

USB\VID_148F&PID_3070&REV_0101

http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0311865

I can't get this to work. It has the RALink chip in it.

help?

Installed the drivers from the ralink website and it worked after a restart

Does that mean you got it working or do you still need help?

 

[chexee]

Ah almost lost this thread. I want to confirm that the Realtek - Monoprice USB Wireless Lan 802.11N1 1T1R/1T2R Adapter - $10-$14
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2 does indeed work! hoorah. I don't know what the difference is between the ralink and the realtek but it works great so I really don't have any complaints. The software they make you use is shitty and looks crappy but again it works.

Mostly just has to do with which drivers you need to nab :] Thanks for the update!