Can not find Alfa AWUSO36H drivers for MacBook Pro with retina

[Dayve]

Hi,
I have a MacBook Pro (retina) with processor 2.7 GHz intel Core i5 and I want to install the Alfa AWUSO36H wireless adapter. I have searched but can not find the drivers. Does anybody know where I can find them?

Thanks

 

[Slydude]

According to this page the drivers for that device only work for Macs that are running in 32 bit mode. There is a link on that page describing how to determine if your Mac is 32 bit or 64 bit. Pretty sure yours is 64 bit.

 

[Dayve]

link not available. Ive read that, also read that with some fiddling it can be accomplished.

 

[Slydude]

What version of the OS are toy running? So far I haven't seen any indication that it works for 10.8 and higher.

I had a similar problem a few years ago when an OS update broke drivers for a wireless adapter I was using. The manufacturer did not have new drivers available and showed no sign of providing one. I finally fixed the issue by finding out the wireless chipset that was used in that device and installing drivers for that chipset even though they didn't mention the specific device manufacturer
Apparently, just as with hard drives there are only a few different chips used which are then rebranded. The same chipset may be used by several manufacturers.

 

[Dayve]

I'm on 10.11.2 El Capitan. The chipset for the Alfa AWUS036H is RTL8187.

 

[harryb2448]

Send a message to the developer. The last 32bit Mac was some ten years ago.

 

[pm-r]

There seem to be drivers and some support available at their site:
http://store.rokland.com/pages/support

At least up to and including Yosemite.

But…I think I would wonder, even if there is current Mac software, how the hardware and it's capacities would hold up to todays latest in wireless, if any of it is needed.

 

[chas_m]

It is possible to run some apps in "32-bit mode" still (on some machines) in El Capitan. If I wanted to use old 32-bit plugins with Amadeus Pro, for example, I can set AP to open in 32-bit mode.

This isn't recommended and will probably be disallowed in the next OS X release or so, of course, so the real solution is to get a 64-bit driver from the developer. But in the meantime, perhaps something like the "32-bit mode" I suggested might work for you, depending on the files used to provide support.

 

[Slydude]

I'm on 10.11.2 El Capitan. The chipset for the Alfa AWUS036H is RTL8187.

That driver appears to match the Realtek RTL 8187 chipset. I haven't had time to do an extensive search but all of the drivers I have found so far have been for 32 bit OS versions. To be honest it might be less of a hassle to search for a more recent device with current drivers.

 

[chscag]

To be honest it might be less of a hassle to search for a more recent device with current drivers.

I agree. And if the OP is running El Capitan the system (SIP) may not allow him to install a 32 bit driver.