Hey guys,

One of the beauty of Open Source Drivers that it would work just about any platform. Thats the beauty of Ralink Drivers [RT2500-USB]. It works on Linux , MacOS X and of course on Windows. But there were few problems on the MacOS X port , particularly on hackintohses . Certainly it had some good stuff , enabled us to connect to Wireless Networks , but then the GUI was sort of crippled and it lacked the 'Airport' thingy , the cooling icon. So what I did was to modify the GUI , the driver and added RT2500Replug so that all these issues would be fixed and we could enjoy a better Driver !.


Features :-

1. A New Makeover

The USB now comes with new makeover. Now I have fixed some of the problems in the GUI and edited the menu preferences [removed all the unwanted stuff such as preferences] and I also have changed the Icons and the application Icon to be like OSX Style [a la Airport/OSX Style]. These are little cosmetic changes. More to come of course !


2. RT2500Replug - Fix It !

I have included the in-famous RT2500Replug that fixes the USB Plugging-in and Plugging out dilemma for RT2500-USB Users. So , you dont have to re-plug it each time you use OSX. It would just work instead. Its a pretty nifty patch , of course you got to thank the original developer.
http://mitglied.lycos.de/thomsmac/RT2500Replug.html


3. Packet Compression

This is something new to the RT2500 World. The driver actually supports Packet Compression , but it was not implemented for a reason. So I fixed it by turning it on and adding an option in the GUI. Certainly , it helps to 'speed' up the overall network performance.It does it by sending the data packets in '1Mbps' Mode. Certainly its not ideal for transferring large files. But if your Signal Strength is low , then you might want to try to use Packet Compression. Oh yeah , you might have occasional kernel panics , thats one of the drawbacks. -----USE THIS AT FEATURE AT YOUR OWN RISK--------


4. Airport Detection [Menu] - BETA-

This is something new , many of us do want that cute little tiny Airport logo in their menu bar. So I have included it in my package installer. Notice that its still new and beta , and sometimes it does not work right. I am working on it. It might work or might not for you

5. SuperG+ [BETA]

This enables SuperG+ Mode on most [err just about any supported RT2500 Devices]. It gives you 108Mbps/72Mbps/22Mbps [Theoretically]. Pretty much it boosts network transfers on supported routers only






How-To

1. Download the program from

http://rakis.net/~prasys/Ralink%20Wireless...Wizard.mpkg.zip


2. Install it. Once its done , repair its permissions using disk Utility . Once its fixed , you would need to build kext-cache back [To do this , press F8 before the Darwin X86 booting screen and type -f in the boot prompt]

3. Download the V 1.5 from http://www.rakis.net/~prasys/ralinkv015.zip

Alternate download location:
http://rapidshare.com/files/99361138/ralinkv015.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/99361102/Ralin...Wizard.mpkg.zip

Change log

Changelog - version 0.15
1. New Ralink Tool [A Total New Look]
2. 802.11G+ [enables 802.11G+ Booster]
3. Optimisation ....A lot of them this time. It should be much much more faster on SSE2 Hackintoshes. More to come
4. Leopard Ready - Thats right , it works with Leopard [with some kernel panics]

Changelog - version 0.12
1. Added Linksys WUSB54GC Support [Thanks SilverTab and Simania_NL] and wrapped with the new RT7 Series Driver
2. RT2500's Driver version has been upgraded from 1.1.3 to 1.1.5 [Thanks toshi for the drivers]
3. Fixed Airport menu thingy [For now it should at least show up the Airport icon but I am not too sure if it really works or not. This is the first stage getting the Airport logo Icon thingy working]
4. Added lots of optimisation to the code to make it even better


KUDOS

I would like to thank :-

nVidia_user - for testing it
toshi - for the new driver thingy
Simania_NL - for the Linksys WUSB54Gs support thingy !


Q/A

If you're having any problems , feel free to send me a PM or meet me on IRC - macspeak , #scripts. Oh yeah if you like to support me [to pay up my Tuition fees , then you could PM me ]. I will be working on other stuffs as well. Just a guy who is helping the OSX86 World !

hey, nice work

i was just cheking out your driver.
unfortunately the airport-thingy doesn't work.

quick question: remove the previous rt2500 driver before installing yours?

will you keep us updated on your development via this thread?

thanks

Yes , for thats for sure and I am hoping to start a X-Labs Project on this. Plus I might be working on some extras to give some extra umph

Here you go the airport menu thingy , its still in beta.

http://rakis.net/~prasys/Airport2.menu.zip

How to install , well simply put it to /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras and then from that folder drag it to the menubar to test it out. Oh do not forget to fix its permission. Its still work-in-progress thingy

for me it only display an icon : no quality link sensor .. and when i click on the icon i can see waiting for menu and Open preferences.That's it..Is it normal?.

Again , its still new

Waiting for menu - I am fixing the bug and it might take sometime. I am doing this without any pay plus I need to pay up my tuition fees for my U and I got my studies as well . So do expect some 'slowness' on this project. Not ranting what-so-ever. Just explaining my situation right now !

Good work on the RT2500-Home style driver. (I have yet to try it)

I thought I may be able help a little. I have a driver from RA-Link that's only 6 weeks from their development house.

It's reliability is excellent as is it's thruput. NO MORE replugs required with this beasty for me.

Let me know this one helps!

Toshi

I am very confused. I have a linksys WUSB54GS v2.1. The vendor id is 13b1 in hex so that should be 5041 in Decimal. This thread http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=33913 talks about the WUSB54GC. It shows the same vendor ID. Does that mean mine is ralink or does that 5041 refer to the manufacturer (linksys)? Also, in mac os, system profiler shows my device and says the manufacturer is broadcom. The product ID is 0x0014. Anyone know what I should do?

Hey dude! The new drivers and software is working like a charm.... thanks so so much on it!!! U're the man!!!

Well, for wish list, i was hoping to get a new revamp on the GUI..... the current GUI looks quite boring... maybe u can help spice it up?? maybe make it look more integrated with the OS... more Appleish or something....

Thanks!! Will be willing to beta test all versions for you if neccessary......


EDIT: Just my 2 cents worth... maybe the dock icon could be designed to look cool too... currently its just using airport config util icon....

toshi: I'm currently unable to test the driver you supplied since I don't have an adapter but I'm curious, does it register as "airport" in MacOSX with that driver?

I need someone to make the Icon , at the moment I am re-doing the whole thing. So I need someone who is good at making icons and graphics to help me. I will integrate the latest driver as well and include a fix for WUSB by Linksys as well

oh yeah , sambo60 yours is Ralink !

darn, i'm not good at graphics..... i only know basic photoshop and some 3d modelling skills..... fairly pathetic....

all i can help is to beta test....

oh, it would be nice if the menu bar icon could be integrated... like a real airport.... haha... jus a wish list.... anyway, keep up the good work.. post new stuff here and i'll beta test and report back for u...

@Prasys

Awesome driver package - well done, rock solid performance and extra thruput again me thinks with the "compression box checked"

Also I installed the Airport2.menu - It works great - looking forward to rev2 for more functions.

@Tomtefar

No it does not register as a true airport - but Prasys homebrew & Airport2.menu is the next best thing.

At first I would like to say that my product ID is 0x0020, but I'm not sure that it's the only version that works.
*edit: your product ID is 0x0014 = 20 decimal so change 32 for 20 in the info.plist and try again.
Just follow the thread and please report the outcome, in the case it won't work we can try to find a solution.

@Prasys
I'm pretty good with Photoshop, please sent me a pm about what you're looking for.
Continue with your great work and hopefully you've full WUSB54GC support as well.

I tried it but it doesn't recognize the device at all. Are you guys sure that the vendor id 5041 doesn't just mean linksys made the device? I ask this because System Profiler says the manufacturer of my device is Broadcom!

Is this for the USB ralink adapters only or does it work on the PCI variety as well ?

testing it with my USB adapter right now, but would love to use my PCI linksys adapter.

Plugged in my DWL-G122. It found the device and wep worked (didnt with the drivers from the ralink site).
Thanks now i just need to get the audio working an i will be happy

Good to know , I will be adding more stuff in. Just trying to make the driver even better for us all. Making it usable for all

Oh , I am looking for someone to donate their PCI card or I might have to fork out to get some. I will do my best for PCI Support , but first USB. Plus I might have to 'pause' the project for a while as I have my studies [need to pay fees and stuff like that]. So I hope , I will resume it back once I get everything kickin'

sure thing!!!! ok, manage to fiddle the driver and the utility around last nite at home, admist my studying for my exams this monday...

apparently the packet compression can be checked, but it cant be applied.... the appy button is greyed out even if i made those changes.... the other two check buttons trigger the apply button well, but the packet compression doesnt....

is it me or is the wireless disconnecting at a rate of once every two or three hours? cos i'm connected to my sch network which says 99% signal strength and yet it disconnects once every 2 or 3 hours.... something wierd....

as for the startup, sometimes the wireless utility startsup after login, sometimes it doesnt... i still cant determine the reasons for it not being able to start.... either that or it takes really forever to start, which happens sometimes...

this is just the results of the beta testing.... the menu airport indicator is great.... it stays active and there even when i reboot and there is no usb attached to my com... thats a bit wierd.... maybe it could detect and grey itself out if the wireless is not present or something??? hmm...

so much for this round of beta testing.... post your next build when u r free!! i will be checking back this page regularly...

cheers!!

_Prasys_ ., can you make the Belkin F5D7050 also supported ?
I've tried the driver and didn't work .. adjusted 3 plists's but didn't help
Somehow the kexts don't get loaded.

Doojse, what is the chipset inside your Belkin F5D7050? The driver here works for the RT2500 and the RT3X series....

Apparently i went to the website to check, only the Belkin F5D7050 V2000 has the RT2500 chipset.... if your hardware revision is not that, then i'm sorry, this driver might not work for you...

Prasys I adapted the RT2500Replug so it works with with the WUSB54GC from linksys, I think all RT73 usb sticks can work with the RT2500Replug since it's only a USB-thingy, not an actual driver.
The change I made in the Info.plist:
<key>LINKSYS</key>
<dict>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>ch.walter.thomas.RT2500Replug</string>
<key>IOClass</key>
<string>ch_walter_thomas_RT2500Replug</string>
<key>IOKitDebug</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>IOProbeScore</key>
<integer>100000</integer>
<key>IOProviderClass</key>
<string>IOUSBDevice</string>
<key>bcdDevice</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>idProduct</key>
<integer>32</integer>
<key>idVendor</key>
<integer>5041</integer>
</dict>
If you would like to use it with your WUSB54GC just go to: RT2500 Replug
Download the kext and add this information to the info.plist
If you like it donate some money to the official maker

This driver works really great for me with my DWL-G122 on WPA.

However, yesterday I tried to connect to a WPA Enterprise network and the driver said "It is no YET supported". Is there any plan to implant WPA Enterprise for this driver???

Thanks a lot for this wonderful driver

Prasys mate, any chance of releasing this driver for the PCI version ?

I've got a D-Link DWL-G510 rev C1 (based on RaLink RT2500 chipset) and i'm dying to get it to work

jhonnypolak: I'm not sure if this is what your after but I have a PCI based adaptor (that came on the laptop) with the TR2500 chipset and I just went to the Ralink website and downloaded their driver for the Mac pci. When I install the program it works great, connects to the internet etc.
The only problem I'm having is that when I restart it doesn't detect the internet until I reinstall the program (only takes a couple secs) and restart the computer.
I'm going to try the Replug driver and see if it works even though it's not USB.

Hi Prasys, and other geeks like me lol
Prasys, you advised me to get a Ralink USB wireless, actually I didnt know, but I had one already (the v2000, lucky me) which I used on another old PC...
So initially not aware of this thread, I found the Ralink website and got the latest driver (usb wireless assistant), it installed nicely, and I started getting some network connectivity.
Using the PCI NIC is useless on my system, (or maybe its only because of the NIC's I got)...
Anyhews, I finally installed your gear, and it works too.
I can network all computers, but I still can't get an internet connection through the PC, or via airport.
I can ping the PC (which has the Ralink and is connected to the internet), I can ping airport, and I can get network connections, but no DHCP or internet connections...
Any idea?
Cheers dude/s

Anyways, I sorted it out, with the Ralink usb on top...
Maybe not very efficient setting but works...
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=33904

I will find a way to patch the PCI Drivers , I will see what I can do about it and I will be working back on the project. It might take a long time as I need to focus on other stuff. But dont worry , I will turn it to an Airport-CLone !

no worry dude...
take care
&
good luck

kevin, it doesnt work for me. i think you're reffering to PCIBus driver, _Prasys_ knows what i'm reffering to.
I will be forever greatful _Prasys_ for your work if you can make the PCI cards work. And you can be sure if there is any way i can help please let me know ? Info dumps on hardware or something...... Next month when i get paid, I'll be even able to make a little donation, as an xmas gift for all your hard work ... if you accept that kinda of stuff that is

I talked too fast, Internet worked for me for a couple of days, but not anymore... Need to find out why, but until now have not figured it out... The settings were all manual, so might have changed something without knowing, but its a bummer

Info dumps for PCI card be better ...and I will be working on it

so i need your Device IDs and such...I will be doing all sorts of things , let us turn this into an airport clone !

Here are the DEV ID's and VEN ID's that you requested:

http://users.tpg.com.au/ldyjakon/DLINK_DEVID.JPG

if i'm reading it right they are:

VEN_1814
DEV_0302

Umm missing IOSuperclass , need to fix that , quite tricky

@Prasys

Bro it's been awhile but I'll be back on the scene soon...

Simple recommendation for the icon (dock) issue...just remove the AIRPORT icon from the AIRPORT package contents and remove the ugly icon putting the ripped one in its place...afterall you DO want to make it like an AIRPORT CLONE!

Hope you have time to help me remotely soon...
Have you looked at the progress of full sound support?
Your work and their work are really interesting!

Hi Prasys, All,

After a lot of fiddling, I think found a way for my system to connect to Internet and Network together...
I have no real name for what I have done, just playing with settings.

The USB Ralink Wifi I assigned IP 192.168.0.1, no routing, DNS: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.10, Domain:ISP

The Airport Base station: IP 192.168.0.10, Router: 192.168.0.1, DNS:192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.10, Domain:ISP

The Realtek 8139 PCI NIC connected to Airport Base Station: use DHCP with DNS as above, Domain:nothing
(it is just used as dummy to get the Airport working).

The mac mini: IP 192.168.0.20, Router: 192.168.0.1, DNS:192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.10, Domain: ISP

The iBook: IP 192.168.0.21, Router: 192.168.0.1, DNS:192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.10, Domain: ISP

I also used Prasys modified USBWireless detection driver for the Ralink USB Adapter.

As you see from the settings, its the USB Wifi that does much of the work.
Things would have been much easier if it was recognised as an Airport card.

It seems MAC OSX does not implement DHCP for non Airport adapters, which means they will work good with Windows (with windows taking up the DHCP side) but they won't work easily with other Airport cards/adapters.

I also activated BIND in Hackintosh, which is a DHCP server, it didn't seem to make any difference.

I hope my settings give you an idea of what is going on...

PS I am writing this from the iBook linked wirelessly to internet via Hackintosh

Yeah I noticed that DHCP bug

It looks like there is a communication break down . I am working on DHCP . Its very buggy. For some revisions such as ASUS , it works and for the rest it does not. I am creating a newer version with a new GUI.

Hi
I do not think its a bug, but a way of stopping from using Airport with non Airport adapters...

There is also the problem of network adapter assignments in Internet Sharing. It does not adapt to change of shared adapter, the list remains the same...

I will fix that , I am messing with the kext , I will add few more device IDs and then put it up here back !

Hi Prasys
Do u want my RT2500 ID's. here:
Vendor ID: 0x050d
Device ID: 0x7050
For Realtek its the usual one with Dev ID 0x8139, Vend ID 0x10EC (but a PCI), I will be very impressed if you get that one to work , I couldnt get it to co-operate even by compiling the code of its kext from the Apple Dev Site...

Several people got the RTL8139 working on 10.4.8 by either repairing permissions on the kext (sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IONetworkingFamily.kext) or by installing an older version of IONetworkingFamily.kext.

Mine:
VEN_1814
DEV_0201

RT2500 USB and PCI devices

CODE

14626834    RaLink RT2500 802.11g [PC54G2]
18140101    Wireless PCI Adapter RT2400 / RT2460    0
18140101    WiFi-b add-on Car0    
18140101    PC11B2 (MS-6828) Wireless 11b PCI Car0    
18140200    RT2500 802.11g PCI [PC54G2]    0    
18140201    RT2500 802.11g Cardbus/mini-PCI    0    
18140201    WL-130g    0    
18140201    CWC-854 Wireless-G CardBus Adapter    0    
18140201    CWM-854 Wireless-G Mini PCI Adapter    0    
18140201    CWP-854 Wireless-G PCI Adapter    0    
18140201    GN-WMKG 802.11b/g Wireless CardBus Adapter
18140201    GN-WIKG 802.11b/g mini-PCI Adapter    0    
18140201    Wireless 11G CardBus CB54G2    0    
18140201    WMP54G 2.0 PCI Adapter    0    
18140201    F5D7000 Wireless G Desktop Network Car0    
18140201    F5D7010 Wireless G Notebook Network Car0
18140201    CN-WF513 Wireless Cardbus Adapter    0    
18140301    RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI    0    
18140301    DWL-G630 Rev E    0    
18140301    DWL-G510 Rev C    0    
18140301    GN-WP01G1    Gigabyte Technology Aircruiser G
18140301    WMP54G ver 4.1    0    
18140302    RT2561/RT61 rev B 802.11g    0    
18140302    DWL-G630 Rev E    0    
18140302    DWL-G510 Rev C    0

Re. Realtek 8139, believe me brother, I tried that and much more...
it looks fully operational, but go and make it do something in OSX...
if i made it work, why would I be using a wifi usb with an airport base station?

I found a guide to use the WUSB54g from linksys, cant remember where sorry but this worked for me, i just start USBWirelessUtility when i want to use my wireless system

Step by step you have to:

1.- Donload the driver
2.- Install it
3.- Go to /System/Library/Extensions/ and find RT2500USBWirelessDriver.kext
4.- Right click or ctrl+click over RT2500USBWirelessDriver.kext
5.- From the CM choose "Show Package Contents". A new window should appear.
6.- On the new window go to Contents
7.- Open Terminal.app from the Utilities folder and write "sudo pico" (without quotes) and drag the Info.plist file to that terminal window.
8.- Find the line saying <key>IOKitPersonalities</key> and below that add:
</dict>
<key>LinkSys</key>
<dict>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>com.Ralink.driver.RT2500</string>
<key>IOClass</key>
<string>RT2500USBWirelessDriver</string>
<key>IOProviderClass</key>
<string>IOUSBDevice</string>
<key>bcdDevice</key>
<integer>4</integer>
<key>idProduct</key>
<integer>13</integer>
<key>idVendor</key>
<integer>5041</integer>


9.- Save and close the file by pressing ctrl+o and then ctrl+x
10.- Reboot
11.- Now connect your device
12.- Open System Preferences.app
13.- Go to Network? It must warn you about a new device found.
14.- Configure your network.
15.- If it's not already open, open WirelessUtilityUSB.app which should be in your Applications folder and configure your WLAN access.

Sometimes th driver is not loaded at startup, you can fix that by downloading This File. It will install a file named RT2500Replug.kext in /System/Library/Extensions/ you havo to go into that package as well and edit the Info.plist file the same way you edited the otherone but this time you have to add:

<dict>
<key>Linksys</key>
<dict>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>ch.walter.thomas.RT2500Replug</string>
<key>IOClass</key>
<string>ch_walter_thomas_RT2500Replug</string>
<key>IOKitDebug</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>IOProbeScore</key>
<integer>100000</integer>
<key>IOProviderClass</key>
<string>IOUSBDevice</string>
<key>bcdDevice</key>
<integer>4</integer>
<key>idProduct</key>
<integer>13</integer>
<key>idVendor</key>
<integer>5041</integer>

and then reboot.

The WirelessUtilityUSB.app should be fired up after every reboot now.

Hi wlcmadman,
My Ralink RT2500 is from Belkin, so I will try and adapt the method to it...
Thanx

thanks for giving me the ID Codes , and if possible billy could you post your device ID. So i can create a new kext for all !

Note: in the following:

<key>idProduct</key>
<integer>13</integer>
<key>idVendor</key>
<integer>5041</integer>

The values are decimal:

13 dec = 0x0019 hex and 5041 dec = 0x1381 hex

0x1462 hex = 5218 dec
0x6834 hex = 26676 dec
0x1814 hex = 6164 dec
0x0101 hex = 257 dec
0x0200 hex = 512 dec
0x0201 hex = 513 dec
0x0301 hex = 769 dec
0x0302 hex = 770 dec

Prasys,

Good on you for taking up the challenge for RaLink USB wireless.

I don't know if you have seen this before but I thought I'd include it just incase. (RaLink 3rd party device list)

http://ralink.rapla.net/

Kudos to you.

I gave them ID's above, they were listed under the USB adapter section like this:
Belkin 54g USB Network Adapter:

Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: Yes
BSD Name: en0
Version: 0.01
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Belkin
OS9 Drivers: No
Product ID: 0x7050
Vendor ID: 0x050d

They didnt show under CHUD though...

Keep it buzzing
cheers prasys and the gang