[SOLVED] Firmware update for Netgear MA402 (build 8008) PCMCIA card to enable WPA2 ?

[iRonNuke]

I have an old Netgear MA402 to be used on a old retro computer, both in an Amiga 1200 as well as a older Dell laptop. I need a firmware update to try to flash it. WinUpdate says the firmware I got my hands on doesn't match the card build 8008. Is there any other firmware for this card ?

 

[COLGeek]

MA402 or MA401?

https://www.netgear.com/support/download/?model=MA401

 

[bill001g]

Can you tell which wifi chipset it is using. Guess it depends on how old windows is. It generally will tell you the chipset name it reads in the device managers. Kinda how it know if you have the correct driver.

I don't think you can actually flash the card, maybe on those really old ones you could. Generally the key functionality is built in when it is manufactured. This was done to prevent for example changing the country code and running on illegal radio bands. The old cards you could do that.

I don't know if the WPA version is a hardware feature that is built into the chip or it is loaded via the software driver. The driver for the OS has a binary "file?" inside it that it loads into the wifi chip. This is basically the OS from the wifi chip. It generally comes from the chipset vendor.

Your best option is to try to find the chipset and then go to the chipset vendor site and look for a driver. Problem is a couple of the very big wifi chipset makers were bought by others and you can no longer find any of this old drivers...at least on a offical site. They still exist on those sketchy sites that you never really know what you are downloading.

 

[iRonNuke]

MA402 or MA401?

https://www.netgear.com/support/download/?model=MA401

Sorry, mistype. I mean MA401.

 

[cruisetung]

Can't find anything about MA401 WPA2 support

Maybe Belkin F5D7011 with WPA2 support on eBay can fulfill your needs.

 

[iRonNuke]

Can you tell which wifi chipset it is using. Guess it depends on how old windows is. It generally will tell you the chipset name it reads in the device managers. Kinda how it know if you have the correct driver.

I don't think you can actually flash the card, maybe on those really old ones you could. Generally the key functionality is built in when it is manufactured. This was done to prevent for example changing the country code and running on illegal radio bands. The old cards you could do that.

I don't know if the WPA version is a hardware feature that is built into the chip or it is loaded via the software driver. The driver for the OS has a binary "file?" inside it that it loads into the wifi chip. This is basically the OS from the wifi chip. It generally comes from the chipset vendor.

Your best option is to try to find the chipset and then go to the chipset vendor site and look for a driver. Problem is a couple of the very big wifi chipset makers were bought by others and you can no longer find any of this old drivers...at least on a offical site. They still exist on those sketchy sites that you never really know what you are downloading.

Well, it's an old one and I know you could flash MA401 to newer firmware to allow it to run WPA2 in software.

The Internet and an Amiga A1200 – Prism2v2 drivers, WPA/WPA2

Commodore Amiga’s, WIFI and the internet (OH and Whoa) For some time now I have enjoyed the delights of a wireless Amiga experience. Something up until recently i assumed anyone mad or sad en…

bytemyvdu.wordpress.com

Check that guide.

The problem for me is that:

Linksys WPC11 driver doesn't seem to be compatible with my card, but I can get the card to run with Netgear MA401 driver, ofcourse. So I don't know why you should run another driver?

And the link that that guide refere is down http://linux.junsun.net/intersil-prism/

But I made it, when I careful read the last section of https://bytemyvdu.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/the-internet-and-an-amiga-a1200-prism2v2-drivers-wpawpa2/

"If you have platform 8008, then you JUST need to flash it with s1010701.hex."

Now my A1200 is connected with WPA2, all is working just fine!