USB to Ethernet adapter woes

Question

Level 1

4 points

USB to Ethernet adapter woes

Hey all,

The ethernet port on my Mac Mini stopped working last week, so I bought a Rocketfish USB 2.0 to ethernet adapter from Best Buy in hopes of a solution. I've installed the drivers, reset PRAM, repaired disk permissions, swapped ethernet cables, tried it in a few different locations and so far I've had no luck. Under "USB Ethernet" in my Network sidebar it says "not connected", and in the main window is says cable unplugged. Typically we've been running a long ethernet cable from a router in an adjacent building, but it's too far away to pick up the WiFi signal. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Mac Mini Server 2.0ghz quad core i7

OS 10.8.5

Posted on May 12, 2014 6:46 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

May 13, 2014 2:35 AM in response to meetch25

Can you test it on another Mac? Maybe it is defective.

Racketfish only says it will not work with one model Mac,

MacBook Pro 13" Retina (A1425)

Also, as a test can you test it with a shorter ethernet cable (move the Mini)

Yo did download the Maveric drivers, right?

http://www.rocketfishproducts.com/products/computer-accessories/RF-PCC132.html

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Answer 2

meetch25 Author

Level 1

4 points

May 13, 2014 10:01 AM in response to lllaass

I have tried a shorter cable. I've also tried using the Mavericks drivers, but I couldn't install them since I'm on OS 10.8. I'll try using it with my first generation MacBook and see if the result is any different.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

meetch25 Author

Level 1

4 points

May 13, 2014 7:07 PM in response to meetch25

I tried the adapter on my MacBook tonight, and same result. The adapter was an "open box item". I'll exchange it tomorrow for a new one and report back.

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Answer 4

meetch25 Author

Level 1

4 points

May 15, 2014 4:03 PM in response to meetch25

I exchanged the adapter for the Apple one to see if that would make a difference. I tried it on my MacBook first, and it worked great. Just tried it on the Mac mini and I'm getting the same result as I did with the first adapter. Really frustrated at this point. Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks,

M

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