Speed of Apple's USB Ethernet

How fast is Apple's USB Ethernet adapter for the MacBook Air? I read on this very board that USB Ethernet adapters only go up to 100Mbps because of the limitation of USB 2.0. However, I have actually found a USB-Ethernet adapter that claims to be Gigabit speed (see: http://www.ramelectronics.net/network/network-cards/usb-ethernet-adapters/usb-2- 0-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter-ae2300/prodAE2300.html ) Given that, I'm now questioning how fast Apple's USB Ethernet adapter is.
Thanks!

The Apple adapter is 10/100BT. The limitation is due to the USB port which supports speeds up to 480 Mbits/sec. This is not fast enough for Gigabit Ethernet which is 1000 Mbits/sec. I'm not sure what that third-party adapter does to attain a speed in excess of what the USB port can sustain. However, it requires a driver that only supports Windows. It's possible that the device will not work on a Mac.

Similar Messages

Will Apple's USB-Ethernet Adapter Work on iMac

One of the pins in the ethernet port of my iMac were bent. The second I attempted to bring the pin up, it broke. So I haven't been able to use ethernet for over a year.
Will the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter work on my Late 2006 2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac? It is loaded with Leopard 10.5.5. I've read these adapters would only work for MBAir but will it work on my iMac?
I'm not looking to get back Gigabyte Ethernet capability, I generally want to use ethernet again.

I do have a Base Station the current base station.
All my stuff except my iMac & iBook is packed deep in a storage facility since I'm on a move to someplace else. Meanwhile I'm staying in a place that doesn't have Wi-FI but offers wired ethernet connection.
I have my iBook but I want to use my iMac again & that adapter is all I need to get it connected. I just want to know if it would work since it's intent is for the MacBook Air.

Can I use any USB-Ethernet adapter, or do I need to buy the Apple part?

I'm about to get an Air and do the migration from my old PowerBook. Can I use the Netgear USB-Ethernet adapter for the Air, or do I need to buy a new Apple part?

Little update for the usb to ethernet adapter is in order. Both adapters are producing Gigabit ethernet max. Keep in mind that new macbook air has the usb 3 version ports at 5 Gigabit internal speed where Thunderbolt has 10 Gigabit per chanel internal capacity. In ether case more than suficient to provide Gigabit ethernet output. Nither one will push more than that out to the ethernet. In my case the decission was made by availability. I wanted the thunderbolt adapter for the sake of keeping up with the technology but there was none on the shelf.
Just my two cents
Zoran

Does the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter work with a MacBook Air that's been updated to Lion?

I saw a comment at the online Apple store that the USB Ethernet Adapter didn't work with Lion. Anyone else have experience with the adapter?

Just point the tech rep to the apple website that lists the Ethernet to USB system requirements as:
"Overview
The Apple USB Ethernet Adapter is a simple, one-piece external adapter that plugs into the USB 2.0 port of your MacBook Air to provide 10/100BASE-T performance. Simply plug your Ethernet cable into the RJ-45 connector — no external power is required. It’s small, light, easy to install, and even easier to use.
Technical Details
     USB 2.0 with bus power
     10/100BASE-T (RJ-45 connector)
What's in the Box
     Apple USB Ethernet Adapter with built-in 4.6-inch USB cable
User's Guide
System Requirements
     MacBook Air computer with available USB 2.0 port"
Note that there is no mention of a specific OS requirement.......Cut and pasted from apple.com.

MacAir - Apple USB Ethernet Adapter Drive

Hi,
im using macair, and trying to install bootcamp for windows Vista / XP. however, im having difficulties to download driver for Apple USB Ethernet Adapter. if anyone know where to download this driver, please advise me..

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
There doesn't seem to be a clear-cut answer to this. If you read the reviews on the Apple site, some people have been able to make the ethernet adaptor work on some PowerPC Macs, and others can't even get it to work on a different Intel Mac. I know this isn't much help, but a perusal of these reviews might be the best resource unless someone else has actually done this with the same iBook that you have.
I assume you have tried a different ethernet cable?
Good luck!

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter after reboot

Hello everyone,
We have a group of 3 or 4 MBAs that are showing this same issue. Whenever we reboot we need to unplug and then replug in the ethernet adapter in order for it to connect to the network. This same problem is seen regardless of the adapter being plugged directly into the computer or through a USB hub.
It also happens when we "undock" and then dock back in from the USB hub.
Has anyone else see this issue? Have you found a solution?

Yes, Yes and NO!
What's worse is sometimes you get full 100Meg/Full Duplex and even Bonjour services, then for no reason it connects at 10base half duplex and NO BONJOUR.
I'm convinced it's the USB-Ethernet adaptor, as I get the same problem using it with a MacBook Pro, at first it works great, then you restart and it looses Bonjour and sometimes you can see all the Bonjour enabled devices drop off the Shared list in the Finder.
I've had this problem ever since I started using the MB AIr (Late 2010) model.
I don't think Apple are bothered about fixing the problem, as they seem to assume all MB Air users are on Wireless (which also has it's problems)
It remains to be seen if Lion fixes it or they just give up and go to ThunderBolt on the next generation MB Airs with a suitable Gigabit adaptor.

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter and VLAN??

Bought the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter today because my built in ethernetport on my MBP stopped working. What I know I need to replace the motherboard to have it fixed, so I thought the USB adapter could be useful until then.
But, it didn't work! I only got a "Self assigned ip-address". No matter what I do. I also entered an ip-address manually with no success.
Later at home I tested again, and Voila!! It worked perfectly!
Back at the office, same problem... I only get a "Self assigned ip-address"...
My conclusion of this is that the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter doesn't support VLAN?? Could anyone confirm that or better of, suggest a solution??
Would appreciate it a lot!
PS. Yes we do have Wi-Fi, but it's restricted and is not a solution for me. DS.

Create a new network location and try again.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2624518?threadID=2624518&tstart=45

I get the following error message when I connect a usb ethernet adapter to my new MacBook Pro: Unsupported - You cannot use an Apple USB Modem with this computer. I live were we only have dial-up and the Apple Store said this is what I need.

I get the following error message when I connect a usb ethernet adapter to my new MacBook Pro: Unsupported - You cannot use an Apple USB Modem with this computer. I live where we only have dial-up and the Apple Store said this is what I need. In addition, when I connect the phone to the connecter it falls out, it will not click in.

Why are you using a usb ethernet adaptor? Just plug the modem into the usb port.

Compare transmission speed between thunderbolt gigabit and usb ethernet adapters

As the new MBA has an accessory (Thunderbolt ethernet adapter), will its transmission speed be significantly faster than using an old USB ethernet adapter in one of the new MBA's USB ports?

An emphatic yes. The new t-bolt adapter should be many times faster, provided all the other links in the chain support it. I mean, plugging a gigabit adapter into a 10/100 router port, or using a slow internet connection will at least partially negate the advantages.

I have att u verse modem and it wifi was not working. So i got netgear wifi an d i connected my apple tv via ethernet cable to att uverse modem . i did not want slow dowm my wi fi speed. Now airplay is not working .

i have att u verse modem and it wi fi was not working. So i got net gear wi fi and connected to att modem . i connected my apple TV via Ethernet cable to att uverse modem . i did not want slow down my wi fi speed. My Apple phone is on Netgear wifi .Now airplay is not working .

Make sure that the Att Modem goes to the netgear router via ethernet cable. Then connect your Apple Tv with a ethernet cable to the back of the net gear router. Airplay wants it to both be connected to the same device, usually.

Apple USB Ethernet (A1277) not working with Mavericks on MBAir 2012

USB Ethernet works on other computers (Mac Pro) and did work with this 2012 MBAir with OS X 10.8.
Any ideas? Other brand USB ethernet adapters (Cisco and generic Ebay USB 2.0 Gigabit adapter) work fine with this MBAir and Mavericks.

That's an overly broad statement. I have a TB equipped Mac Mini and the USB Ethernet adapter works fine with it. It's only Fast Ethernet (100MB) while the TB adapter is Gigabit Ethernet (1000MB) but it does work. Also worked fine on my TB eqiuped MB Pro.
Cheers,

MacBook AIr usb ethernet slow when connected to second switch

Hi,
We have MacBook Airs with 100 Mbps Apple USB ethernet adapters.
We have managed Cisco switches for the LAN.
We experience fast speeds when a USB etherenet/MacBook Air is connected directly to the switch.
However... if we introduce a second switch between the MacBook AIr and the main Cisco switch we experience horiffic slowdowns for some (not all) network activity.
For example, we have IP phones with ethernet passthrough. They work great with iMacs and Thunderbok Macbook Airs. However, if we connect a MacBook AIr/etherenet adpater to the ethernet phone, we expereience a horrific slowdown when using Apple Remote Desktop Manage > Copy items... (and also on connectoins to an in-house database). It's probably 15 - 20x slower than when connected directly to the Cisco switch. Other network operatoins work at expected speeds an the Air.
It's not just connecting to IP phnones that causes this problem. If I use a Netgear 1000/100 switch on the desktop, set up as
MacBok Air USB ethernet > Netgear > Cisco
we have the same horrible slowdown for some network operations.
I purchased a 3rd party USB adpater, but had the same results.
Can anyone shed any light on this issue, please? Is there a setting onn teh CISCO switch that is causing the problem? Any know problmes with USB etherenet on MacBook air.
Many thanks,
b.

RonAnnArbor wrote:
Is this a question? A complaint? Nothing any of us can do about that, and this is a well-documented and well-known issue.
It doesn't effect most MBA users who most likely use wireless for most of their transactions, and the times you need to use ethernet, you are right, it will run slower.
Just curious I have a pretty fast 5N wifi network. If I'm setting up a new MB Air from another laptop is it going to be faster through the ethernet adapter or the wifi network?

I cant not get my USB ethernet adapter to work with my new Macbook Air.

So this is the second adapter I have bought and it seems to not work still. I didnt check System info on the first adapter but on the second one i noticed this. The current required mA is unknown. Is there a fix for this or should I try and get another adapter. I have the 2011 MacBook Air running lion.
Apple USB Ethernet Adapter:
Product ID:          0x1402
Vendor ID:          0x05ac (Apple Inc.)
Version:          0.01
Serial Number:          15069A
Speed:          Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer:          Apple Inc.
Location ID:          0xfd120000 / 4
Current Available (mA):          500
Current Required (mA):          Unknown (Device has not been configured)

Check System Preferences > Network > verify the Ethernet service is defined.   If not, click the "+" icon below the services list and add it.
Regards,
Captfred

Iphone 5 Apple Mobile Device Ethernet comes up as "Network cable unplugged".

I've Windows 8 64-bit and want to use the iPhone 5 as my main wireless USB dongle and I've had this problem since Windows 7 where, no matter what I do, the Apple Mobile Device Ethernet comes up as "Network cable unplugged".
I've unplugged and plugged it back in, reinstalled iTunes, reset the network settings on the phone, made sure everythings up to date and reset the service in Windows to no avail.

Yes My personal hot spot is on in cellular data on and i have a data plan that allow tethering. that problem is start 4 days before. My iphone is do this job very well few days before.

Printing to the network via USB Ethernet

I have a pair of MacBook Air's that are using the USB Ethernet adapter to connect to the local ethernet (wireless is not an option, all workstations must be wired while in-house.)
The problem I run into is that both of these MBA's will loose their connectivity to the printers, or their ability to see bonjour devices at all, or Appletalk devices. In particular, I've installed a set of OkiData printers on the network which support both Bonjour & Appletalk. When I setup the printers as IP printers, they seem to work fine. However, if they, or any other printer, is connected as a Bonjour device, eventually the MBA stops recognizing/seeing/looking up Bonjour items on the network.
Any thoughts on why this is or how to correct it would be really useful, especially since some day the users might like to do some bonjour-based file sharing.
Thanks!

I have a client with the exact same problem. No bonjour when attached via USB ethernet (Apple's own) SOMETIMES. However, I've noticed that if she unplugs and tries the other usb slot, it seems to work (immediately, no reboot). I've actually only told her to do this over the phone, but it has worked at least twice.
One problem here is that the printers are NOT accessible via bonjour over WLAN, since the WLAN is at least 2 different C class networks.
The other is that due to the setup of the printers and crap drivers from Ricoh, using personalized printer queues only works over Bonjour and not TCP. Thus, only USB ethernet can be used for printing. It would be very interesting to hear if changing usb ports might help in your case as well. This particular client has a late 2010 MBA 4G/128G, but at the same department there are at least 7 MBAs where no-one has had the same problem. Either that, or they had it but never told me.

Speed of Apple's USB Ethernet

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