Realtek RTL8187L reaches end-of-life (EOL)

This past week Realtek announced driver support for the Realtek RTL8187L chipset has been discontinued, meaning that devices which are based on this chipset may no longer be compatible with future Windows or Mac operating system releases or updates. It also means that there will be no further bug fixes released.

This affects the Alfa AWUS036H, Alfa UBDo-gt8,  RokAir, and any other Wi-Fi adapter that uses this chipset. Windows users most likely won’t be affected until the next major release of Windows. Mac users running 10.6 may be affected now. Earlier this month we posted about Mac OS compatibility of this chipset, explaining it worked with Snow Leopard 10.6 Macs booting a 32-bit kernel but not those booting a 64-bit kernel. It appears because of this EOL announcement that Realtek RTL8187L-based devices will not be supported on 64-bit kernel Macs going forward unless a 3rd-party workaround is developed (the latter is not unheard of, but it can take some time).

Snow Leopard users booting a 64-bit kernel should consider the Alfa AWUS036NH or the Rokland n3. Note that currently the AWUS036NH model is not compatible with 64-bit kernel Macs out of the box and drivers will need to be downloaded. The Rokland n3 is compatible with 64-bit kernel Macs right out of the box.

Rokland is proud to take part in the UPS Carbon Neutral program

Last week we highlighted some changes the US Postal Service (our primary shipping carrier) has made to reduce their environmental impact. We also offer UPS shipping options, including UPS Ground, UPS 3 Day Select, UPS 2 Day Air, and UPS Next Day Air.

This year UPS launched their Carbon Neutral program, designed to help balance emissions produced by the transportation of UPS shipments. This is an opt-in program that UPS shippers can join, where we pay a per-package fee to UPS, which they use to invest in emission-offsetting projects that include “reforestation, landfill gas destruction, wastewater treatment, and methane destruction.”

Our involvement comes at no cost to our customers- we have not increased our UPS shipping fees or product prices in any way to cover the cost of our involvement in this program, and we will not be doing so in the future. Instead, our participation comes as a direct investment we are making in the future of our planet. To see other environmental initiatives by Rokland, please continue to read our blog.

Father’s Day gift idea- a long range Alfa AWUS036H Wi-Fi adapter with free clip and cup mount

Neckties, golf balls, a mediocre steak-dinner at a packed restaurant? If these are the images that come to mind when you try and think of what to get Dad this Father’s Day, consider a long range Wi-Fi adapter from Alfa Networks instead.

Whether your Dad is tech-savvy or afraid to touch any button on the keyboard other than actual letters, a long range Wi-Fi adapter could be the best product out there he does not even know he needs.

If your Dad is an RV’er or a boater, Alfa’s AWUS036H 1000mW long range USB adapter could be the difference between him getting Internet access or seeing no Wi-Fi signals at all.

If he prefers to use computers only at the home, having a product like the Alfa will likely mean he is no longer calling you to complain about how slow and spotty the Internet is.

We are now offering Alfa’s AWUS036H 1000mW long range USB adapter with a free mount set which includes holster, clip, and suction cup. This allows the Alfa to be clipped to the back of a laptop LCD, or fastened to a window for optimal range.

Rokland’s environmental initiatives post #2

Last year we wrote about some changes we made here at Rokland to help reduce our impact on the environment. From time to time we like to talk about this- not as an advertorial, but instead in hopes of influencing other retailers, or having other retailers publish what they do so we can learn from them.

Today we are highlighting some green initiatives taken by the US Postal Service, our main shipping carrier. We offer US Postal options across the board because they are generally the cheapest and most reliable for light-weight packages.

The US Postal Service recently published steps they have taken to go green. We do not wish to take credit for things they have done, but as they are our primary shipping carrier, we do want to take a moment to share this information with our readers. This information comes from US Postal Service pamphlet GG11-CCZ-TO-405. This data is the copyright of the US Postal Service, but has been shortened for this post.

Eco-friendly packaging: The US Postal Service is the first carrier to receive “Cradle to Cradle” certification for their packaging containers. This certification looks at “ingredient safety” and “reutilization potential” among other things.

Climate change: The US Postal Service is “the first federal agency to publicly report greenhouse gas emissions and get third-party verification.”

Reducing carbon footprint: “The US Postal Service has reduced its facility energy intensity by more than 28% since 2003.”

Visit http://www.usps.com/green/ for more information and some tips about what you can do to reduce your impact on the environment.

Alfa AWUS036H 1W USB Adapter and Apple Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6 64-bit kernel

Editor's update 5/30/2011: Realtek has announced the end-of-life for the Realtek RTL8187L chipset, meaning no further driver development for this chipset will take place. The Alfa AWUS036H contains this chipset, so it will not be compatible with Mac OS 10.6 64-bit kernel boot, it will only work with the 32-bit kernel boot.

The Alfa AWUS036H long range 1000mW wireless USB adapter is compatible with Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6. However it does not work with Macs running Snow Leopard that boot a 64-bit kernel.

The good news is almost all Mac models sold prior to February 2011 that run Snow Leopard boot a 32-bit kernel and all Macs (that we are aware of) sold after February 2011 can be set to boot to a 32-bit kernel.

We have created this support PDF file that details how to find out what kernel your Mac boots, how to set your Mac to boot a 32-bit kernel if it is currently booting a 64-bit kernel, and exactly what this means and how it does/does not affect your Mac’s performance.

Finding drivers/software for your Rokland.com products

We have updated the driver section of our web site to help buyers easily locate the necessary installation software for their product when they need it. You can access our driver download page by going to http://www.rokland.com and clicking on the “Drivers” link on the left, or simply by clicking here.

Most all of our products already ship with the needed drivers and installation software, but the page above contains the latest drivers for many of the products we sell (including Alfa Networks products), and may come in handy if you are attempting to install a past purchase on another computer and you no longer have the original CD, or if you want to make sure you have the most updated driver files available.

Alfa AHPE303 200mbps powerline Ethernet bridge- the best deal you can find!

If you are in the market for a 200mbps powerline Ethernet bridge, you may be scouring the net for the best deal on Netgear XAV101. Or perhaps you are trying to find a bargain on TRENDnet TPL-304E.

We’ve got some good news for you. You can now get 200mbps powerline Ethernet bridges made by Alfa Networks- a trusted name in networking technology. Just as fast as their Netgear and TRENDnet counterparts (and backed by a 1 year warranty), Alfa’s AHPE303 powerline Ethernet bridges come in at a lower price than the competition.

This is especially great news for those of you looking for multiple bridges so you can connect several devices. Click to check our prices for 1-pack and 2-pack AHPE303. Also, see this related post about how one of our employees solved their DVR connection problems using 200mbps powerline bridges.

Important notice about genuine Alfa AWUS036H casing

At the request of Alfa Networks, we are posting an important message about the casing of genuine Alfa products. Recently Alfa Networks became aware of a counterfeit version of their product that looks like this, with a “10G” logo on it. This is not a genuine Alfa product.

Genuine Alfa products have a different shape casing, and also have a “1” logo on the top. But even the original Alfa cases can be counterfeited, so here are some other ways to ensure you are getting a genuine Alfa Networks product:

1. Look for the anti-counterfeit hologram detailed in this video here:

2. Purchase your Alfa Networks products from an authorized Alfa Networks retailer such as Rokland.com. Our authorized reseller status can be confirmed by contacting Alfa Networks directly. You can also contact Alfa Networks directly to confirm the authenticity of any other vendor.

How I solved my TiVo Series 3 HD Wi-Fi problems using 200 mbps Alfa Networks AHPE303 Powerline Ethernet bridges

Have you ever heard about a best-selling author who writes book after book on marriage advice, and then ends up getting a divorce? I have worked in wireless networking for the last decade, and I have to confess, my TiVo made me feel like that guy. How could I work with wireless products every day and yet sit there and watch my TiVo stream movies using a Netgear USB stick (one of few with which it was compatible) at a 22% signal? The speed was so slow, I probably could have driven across town and rented the movie before enough data downloaded for me to be able to watch without pauses.

Like many in my position though, I became complacent. The Netgear stick was 54 mbps, and at the time, TiVo had no compatible 802.11n products. There was no way for me to add any type of an external antenna to the Netgear stick. Sure, I could have bought a repeater, but that’s another box that would have had to sit somewhere in between, taking up space and appearing out of place- and I have also read about others in similar situations who had tried repeaters with out much signal boost. Finally one day I upgraded my TiVo, and upon finding out the Tivo Series 3 HD box I bought was not compatible with my Netgear stick, I was forced into action. Out of my comfort zone, I went to the store and bought a new-to-market TiVo Wireless-N adapter. Pricey at $89.99, but it was 802.11n, and promised faster connection speeds. It did improve my connection some, but because my living room was so far from where my wireless router was, and I have a lot of interference where I lived, my speeds were still slow. And like the Netgear stick, I could not attach an external antenna to the Tivo-N adapter.

I had read about powerline Ethernet bridges a few years back, so I picked up two Linksys models from eBay and gave them a spin. They worked, but the max transfer speed was 14 mbps, just a hair above the old 802.11b Wi-Fi standard. Back into complacency I fell. The Linksys bridges were better than the old Netgear stick which was not compatible with my new TiVo box anyway, and they had cost a lot less than the TiVo-N adapter. Youtube speeds were acceptable, I would just live with what I had.

Then Alfa Networks introduced AHPE303 powerline Ethernet bridges capable of 200 mbps max transfer speeds. I didn’t even know 200 mbps powerline bridges existed, so I looked up the prices online and found the big box brand names were very expensive, like always. I got my sample set of AHPE303 from Alfa, hooked them up in my home, and was finally able to do exactly what I wanted with my Tivo. I could download movies from Amazon, and download them fast. I could stream Youtube videos- one after the other- without buffering pauses and networks lags. It is times like these that make me glad I work for a company that is an authorized distributor for Alfa Networks. I also like the fact that these Alfa bridges cost less new than their competitor’s refurbished ones!

If you have Ethernet-enabled devices in your home like a TiVo, Blu-Ray player, or even an Ethernet-enabled TV, Alfa’s 200 mbps will most likely be the fastest and easiest way for you to get them hooked up to your home network. The devices are truly plug and play and will work with any device that has an Ethernet port- even gaming consoles!

The bridges work with more than just DVRs and game consoles though, they work with computers as well. And because you don’t have to worry about interference and obstacles like you do with Wi-Fi, you can get fast speeds on all of your Mac and PC computers with zero driver installation!

Alfa U-bag neoprene carry cases/holders now in stock

New this January are red and blue neoprene carry cases from Alfa Networks. Measuring 6.5 inches by 4.5 inches, the case is just big enough to hold your Alfa AWUS036H, AWUS036NH, or AWUS051NH wireless long range USB adapter, a long with the factory 5 dBi antenna and USB cable those devices come with.

There is enough room to keep your mini-driver CD or other computing devices such as a USB flash drive or cell phone charger. The neoprene material is soft yet protective, and water resistant as well. It is the perfect size- big enough to hold what you need, while small enough to fit into your laptop carry case.

You can buy the red or blue case at our web site now, and very soon this will become part of our mega-kit over at eBay.