How to Install Alfa AWUS036H on Mac OS X 10.6

This guide is to help new users install the Alfa AWUS036H USB Network Connector on Mac OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard.

PDF download of these instructions: http://www.4shared.com/document/_u5TsURF/howtoinstallalfaonmac.html?cau2=403t...

Basically what the problem is is that there is no Realtek RTL8187L driver for OS X 10.6. The 10.5 driver does work, but the installer doesn't. Using some simple command line work, we can fix the install so that you can use your Alfa USB with 10.6.


STEPS:

1) Download the Realtek RTL8187L from this link: http://www.4shared.com/file/pydSlS39/036_MacOS105_Driver1315_UI157.html?cau2=...
If you download from another link, be sure you are downloading 8187L, NOT 8187B. 8187B will not work in this case.

2) Unpack the RAR file using a program such as Zipeg (my personal favorite unarchiving tool for Macs - Google it for a download link). Once unpacked, double-click the install.pkg file to begin the installation, and proceed through the installation as you normally would. Restart your computer.

3) Once rebooted, open up a Terminal window. Then type in the commands listed below in that order (leave out the #, they are simply indicators of commands). When using sudo you will be prompted for your password, so be prepared to enter it.
# cd /System/Library/Extensions
# sudo chmod -R 755 rtl8187l.kext
# sudo chown -R 0:0 rtl8187l.kext
# exit
Close the Terminal window and once again reboot your computer.

4) Plug in your device via the USB connector. Then open up Terminal once more and type:
# sudo kextutil -t -v /System/Library/Extensions/rtl8187l.kext
# exit
Close Terminal.

5) At this point the Mac Network window will open and you if you want to accept a new interface. DO NOT TOUCH ANY SETTINGS JUST YET, just accept it. Realtek should then open and assign an IP address to your Alfa device.


That's it! You're done. To connect to a wireless network, plug in your Alfa device and open up the Realtek application. Go over to the "Available Network" tab and choose the network you want, then click connect. Input the password if necessary. And your connected! You can shutdown the Apple AirPort service if you so choose and make your Alfa device your primary wireless interface.


TROUBLESHOOTING:

- Check to make sure the chipset is rtl8187l, NOT rtl8187b, as this chipset requires a different driver and is not covered in this guide (though the same basic steps should in fact work).

- In Terminal, type:
# sudo rm /System/Library/Extensions.mktext
This will reset all of the kept caching done by OS X. Reboot your computer.

- Ask in the comments. I will see what I can do.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• alfa
• awus036h
• osx
• mac
• 10.6
• snow leopard
• install
• usb
• network
• connector
• 500mw
• wireless

[XgusX]

Is there any posibility to use the AWUS036H on the new OS X 10.7 Lion update?.

[Cloos01]

@maestrosteve I found the solution for Mac OS X Lion :D Just put this command into the terminal: "sudo systemsetup -setkernelbootarchitecture i386" (To set Lion in 32bits mode), reboot, install the driver (For 10.6 on alpha website), reboot again, and tadaaaaa :D

Désolé pour mon anglais, je parle français. (Sorry for my english, I speak french).

[Stectech]

I followed your tutorial but I cannot simply load realtek util after a computer reboot. I have to run the # sudo kextutil -t -v /System/Library/Extensions/rtl­8187l.kext command every single time i start up my mac in order to use the adapter. Is this normal?

[MrEricoucou]

@paskalfari Vous etes sur Lion visiblement. quel type de machine avez vous?

[paskalfari]

Bonjour,

Visiblement vous avez réussi a installer un chipset Realtek8187L sur macOS 10.7 ?!!

Par-contre, je ne comprends pas très bien la marche a suivre, je viens juste d’acquérir un Mac...

Pourriez-vous m'expliquer en détail svp, la manipulation ?

Merci, bien cdlt.

[Psss76]

@NapalmCandy Hey I googled and I found this post... may I have the link now? :D

[cristianoneto7]

@Cloos01 it still doesn´t work :S and i have snow leopard :S what is the reverse command to put things again normal ?

[gokhmer]

Thank you this works, after changing to 32 bit, I was able to complete the installation.

[12monosxs]

is the same on Alfa NHR for osx 10.6 ????????

[ibraulio1]

hi everyone, i need some help, i've done the whole process and i've got the icon of the realtek usb wlan but it won,t start. any idea why?? or what i did wrong?? thanks...