rt2400/2500/2570/61/73 "legacy" code Linux drivers for Ralink wireless devices
for Puppy Linux with kernel 2.4.29 - versions 1.0.4 - 1.0.9
from http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
and http://www.ralinktech.com/supp-1.htm
compiled by tempestuous, September 2005 and July 2006.
Tested successfully with MSI PC54G2 (PCI), Belkin F5D7010rev3000ef (cardbus), and D-Link DWL-G122 (USB).
No guarantees.  No support.

These drivers are the older code versions originally from Ralink.  The rt2400/rt2500/rt2570 versions have been further developed by the rt2x00.serialmonkey project.
The new code "rt2x00" drivers are not compatible with 2.4 kernels.
Modules included in this package -

rt2400 - RT2460 PCI & PCMCIA chipsets
rt2500 - RT2560 PCI & PCMCIA chipsets
rt2570 - RT2570 USB chipsets
rt61   - RT2600/2561 PCI & PCMCIA chipsets
rt73   - RT2571W/RT2671 USB chipsets

All modules, except rt2400, natively-support WPA encryption (not tested).

INSTRUCTIONS
## uncompress the driver package from the uppermost directory
cd /
tar -zxvf ralink-legacy.tar.gz
## map the new modules
depmod

## load the driver
modprobe rt2400  # or rt2500 or rt2570 or rt61 or rt73
## if no error messages, this should create a network interface, ra0 (or rausb0 for rt2570/rt73)
## can check this by running ifconfig -a
ifconfig ra0 up  #(sometimes necessary)
## it should now be possible to use WAG (Wireless Access Gadget) to connect to a wireless network
## or continue to set up the wireless network manually -

## FOR WEP ENCRYPTION (or no encryption)
iwconfig ra0 essid MY_ESSID key 1234567890 mode managed

## OR FOR WPA ENCRYPTION ... iwconfig should not be needed
iwpriv ra0 set NetworkType=Infra
## or some users report iwconfig is necessary for mode
#iwconfig ra0 mode managed
iwpriv ra0 set AuthMode=WPAPSK
iwpriv ra0 set EncrypType=TKIP
iwpriv ra0 set WPAPSK="MY_SECRET_PASSPHRASE"
iwpriv ra0 set SSID=MY_ESSID
## some users report iwconfig is necessary for essid
#iwconfig ra0 essid MY_ESSID

## for automatic IP
## first remove stale dhcpcd file if it exists
rm /etc/dhcpc/*.pid
dhcpcd -t 30 -h puppypc -d ra0
## or for static IP
## modify /etc/resolv.conf to include your nameservers
#ifconfig ra0 192.168.0.xx broadcast 192.168.0.255 netmask 255.255.255.0
#route add default gw 192.168.0.1 ra0   # or whatever your router's IP is


MAKING IT PERMANENT
If this driver works with your hardware, you will want to have it available every time you boot up.
Save the driver tarball to your /root directory, which is persistent if you use a pupfile.
Add the uncompress and depmod commands to /root/.etc/rc.d/rc.local

cd /
tar -zxvf /root/ralink-legacy.tar.gz
depmod

This will install the driver every time you boot up, ready to load and configure as explained above.
A script for this purpose, "ralink-connect" is available.  Just modify the script to include your wireless settings.

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR rt61 and rt73
Unique configuration files for these drivers (rt61sta.dat & rt73sta.dat) can be found in /root/my-applications/
You can modify these configuration files to include your SSID and WEP key (Key1Str=), and shift them to /etc/Wireless/RT61STA or /etc/Wireless/RT73STA/
Now when you load your module, rt61 or rt73, this configuration file will be read and your wifi connection should be configured.

For WPA encryption, use -
AuthMode=WPAPSK
EncrypType=TKIP  # or AES