Realtek PCI wireless card problem in Quicksilver

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Level 1

49 points

Realtek PCI wireless card problem in Quicksilver

Hi all, I wanted to upgrade my Quicksilver's wireless from original Apple 802.11b 11mb/s to a 54mb/s PCI card option. I got hold of a suitable card with a Realtek RTL8185L chipset that was advertised as supporting Mac OSX 10.3x to 10.4x. However after loading the drivers and opening the "Realtek WLAN Client Utility" I get a message to "Please enable the WLAN card". I go into Network settings and the card is seen as an Ethernet connection option, NOT WIRELESS, and there is no way I can find to turn the ***!!!* wireless ON in the Network configuration settings. I have googled around and found that others have had this problem, but found no solution that has yet worked for me. If anyone has any suggestions that may get it working before I decide to return this card, that would be appreciated. If I can't get it to work, I will go for the MacWireless PCI card that uses the Airport drivers.

PowerMacG4 "Quicksilver" OS 10.4.11/OS9.2.2 + Macbook Pro 2.4Gz HiDef 17" screen, Mac OS X (10.4.11), + Powerbook 145B OS 7.0.1 + Mac SE OS 6.0.4 + Mac 128k /ext floppy/Imagewriter

Posted on Mar 28, 2009 5:17 AM

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Answer 1

kmac1036

Level 4

2,370 points

Apr 3, 2009 8:22 AM in response to Ian Ross

where did the drivers come from? a CD or their site?

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=1&PFid=1&Le vel=6&Conn=5&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true#357

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Answer 2

Ian Ross Author

Level 1

49 points

Apr 3, 2009 8:33 AM in response to kmac1036

I first loaded the driver from the mini CD that came with the PCI card. When I had no luck with that, I did an uninstall, and searched for the latest drivers from Realtek. I found the page you indicated in your link and downloaded that driver (which had the same version number) and the same situation occurred with the card being identified as an ethernet connection, and no way of activating the WiFi through the Network prefs in OSX 10.4.11. The card seller is trying to sort a solution for me, but if it doesn't work, has offered to replace it with a USB WiFi dongle. Thanks for your suggestion!

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Answer 3

kmac1036

Level 4

2,370 points

Apr 3, 2009 11:49 AM in response to Ian Ross

Ian Ross wrote:
I found the page you indicated in your link and downloaded that driver (which had the same version number) and the same situation occurred...

**scratches head** I bought a gigabit PCI ethernet card for $15 that uses their chipset, installed the driver from the site... unless the DRIVER is telling it to be a wired connection.

Curious tho on the fix.

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Answer 4

Ian Ross Author

Level 1

49 points

Apr 3, 2009 8:48 PM in response to kmac1036

I think that it must be a driver issue, and how the driver "talks" to the OS about how to communicate with the card.
Some references to a similar problem I have found are :
http://my.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyEbay&gbh=1&_trksid=m38
+"But every time I start the Realtek USB WLAN Client Utility, I get the message "NOTICE: Please enable the WLAN card in the Network item of System Preferences". Under network preferences, I don't see the WLAN card on the left. Instead, I only see "Ethernet" and "Built-in Serial Port (1)". I made sure that the wifi was enabled in the bios. Any help/suggestions??"+
. . .and from another thread . . .
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t29797-50.html
+Jan 18 2008, 06:04 AM+
+I installed the latest drivers, but when I boot, it says "Please Enable the WLAN Card" it says it should be under system preferences in "network"+
+But I don't see how to enable any wireless device under the new Leopard (10.5.1) Network Preferences pane. wtfff?+
pippodark
+Jan 18 2008, 01:16 PM+
+In preferences Network, click on + and you can see ALL ethernet that you have, enable ALL ethernet, do not touch anything, restart the PC.+
+On restart you can see the realteck connected, at restart Leo or tiger use the DHCP but after you can change what you like.+
+This is an mistake of Apple, that Does not recognize the USB network card+
aphextom9
+Jan 22 2008, 01:38 AM+
+looks like that worked...haven't been connected for long though, we'll see...+
aphextom9

I tried a fresh installation, and rebooting after each step, but still no change to my system reporting that the WiFi card is an Ethernet connection and the Realtek WLAN Client Utility giving the message "Please enable the WLAN card in the Network item of System Preferences"

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