Can I replace the ethernet card on my Feb 2005 eMac?

Thanks for your reply and sorry to be so long getting back (other issues with my home network, now resolved!)

OK I went to my wife's Feb 2005 eMac (yes I know, an upgrade soon… but love this eMac!)-- and checked first the "Service Order"--- it was already set for Ethernet at the top.

I am considering a bearextender mini for Mac-- but will try an ethernet to USB first as this Mac is NOT portable and ethernet cable is at the eMac.

New Location: OK I can make a new location entitle "eMac Home" for example -- but what do I change vs. the "automatic"?? I still want this eMac to be able to use FireWire for the Apple video camera for SKYPE… What do I do / change / set in this new "eMac Home" location to make it different than Automatic?

NOTE: This eMac does NOT have WiFi -- but already I see that in the automatic setting there is (advanced button, DNS tab: the numbers you suggested: (Since I don't have WiFi on this eMac, does that mean I should DELETE these DNS numbers?)

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

Thanks for any additional comments.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Monday 14 January 2013

I went ahead and spent €30 (about $40) on a "hama" brand "Fast InternetU SB 2.0-Adapter". It said OK for Mac 10.5.x and came with software. I loaded this, restarted and plugged-in the ethernet cable to one end, the other end (USB) I plugged directly into one of the 3 USB ports on the eMac.

NOTHING.

Downloaded the "latest" software but still nothing.

49244 Hama USB 2.0 Fast Ethernet Adapter, 10/100 Mbps

Have eMailed "Hama" - no reply yet.

Any ideas? In Network preferences there is no choice "USB"…

The adapter has a MAC number written on its side-- how to input that or should I???

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Thanks for your reply.

"hama" is a major German company that supplies all types of replacement cables, adapters, camera batteries and so much more. You can google them or I think it is just hama.com or hama.de

The Apple salesperson recommended this "hama" over the similarly priced Apple adapter-- he said the Apple ethernet to USB was just for the MacBook Air. (But I think it would work on pre- Mac OS 10.6.6 systems…)

I will keep trying-- once out of the welded blisterpak I am almost certain they won't take this back! AND it should work - let's see if I get a reply from hama.

Regards,

Steve

Thursday 17 January 2013

Thanks - but "no" I did not get a message of "New Port Detected". In fact, I am not sure where the "show" is in Network preferences to which you are referring.

I open System Preferences on the eMac running Leopard 10.5.8 - and I see the various possible connections (Ethernet, FireWire and Bluetooth) - but nowhere do I see a "SHOW" button that I can click -- I see advanced and location…

Any additional details would be great. I will go do a restart and keep trying.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Thursday 17 January 2013

I did that a while ago-- there is no choice for this new "driver" - but when I get a chance I will get back to it and try to understand it. "hama" has not replied to my eMail so I sent another… We will see and I'll test on my PBG4 with Leopard as well.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Saturday 19 January 2013

OK I got the "hama" USB2 to Ethernet adapter to work. Had to delete their older software, install new and then attach PRIOR to restart, restart and voilà the new USB-Ethernet-1 was in Network preferences.

BUT IT IS SO SO S-L--O---W…………… I tested it on both my PGB4 and the eMac:

Power book G4 results:
1. Ethernet connection: 1.8 to 2.2 Mb per second downloads of actual files

2. Wi-Fi at a long distance from the Wi-Fi router: 900 kb per second

3. The hama USB – ethernet adapter: 300 kb per second - again, downloads of actual files.

I repeated these tests and also downloaded a 50 Mb file which took less than 30 seconds with the ethernet connection and about 4 to 5 minutes with the hama USB – ethernet adapter.

eMac results:
1. Ethernet cable: 2.2 Mb per second downloads of actual files

2. USB – ethernet adapter: 400 kb per second file downloads

3. Another type test with ethernet cable: Ping 30, download 18 Mb per second, upload 2.32 Mb per second.

4. This same test using hama USB – ethernet adapter: Ping 28, download 4.66 Mb per second, upload varies 0.6 to max 2.08 Mb per second.

Again these are averages as I did the tests several times each.

I guess I did not expect the USB to ethernet adapter to be from 5 to 10 times SLOWER than the standard ethernet in my house.

Wonder if the WiFi (external) would be faster? But if the USB port is the limiting factory, maybe not… (How does the external WiFi connect?)

Any comments welcome--- I've also written to hama (they helped a lot earlier today) so maybe tomorrow some feedback.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Thursday 24 January 2013

It is definitely USB 2.0: (But 100 Base-T)--Mine is the 160 gb HD model

Are you thinking / saying that USB2 should be faster than I'm showing?

THANKS for any feedback and again, perhaps the hama-guy will reply tomorrow.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Thursday 24 January 2013

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eMac (2005) - Technical Specifications