Raspberry Pi WiFi adapter testing

This document is linked from eLinux wiki page which lists compatible Raspberry Pi WiFi adapters:

http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals#USB_WiFi_Adapters

It contains detailed information on WiFi adapters I have tested with a production Raspberry Pi:

UPDATES:

I recommend Raspbian "Wheezy" image as most WiFi drivers and firmware are included
For Realtek RTL8188SU based wifi adapters, Adafruit Occidentalis v0.1 image includes the 8192cu driver in the kernel

IOGear GWU625 802.11n adapter

Newark element14 SKU: 31T9644
USB ID: 0bda:8172
Chipset: Realtek RTL8191S
Driver: r8712u
Manfucturer product page
Rear photo(adapter in the middle), Front photo
Test Results
- Debian (note: Raspbian has replaced Debian since my testing occurred)
  - connected OK to 802.11g WEP access point with wicd-curses
  - UPDATE: 2012-05-11 - connected OK to 802.11g WPA2 AP with wicd-gtk in LXDE with mouse and keyboard connected
    - TP1/TP2 voltage: 4.8V
    - All device plugged into powered USB hub (pictured at top of the page)
    - USB devices connected
    - Screenshot of wicd-gtk
  - UPDATE: 2012-05-15: able to stream video OK from YouTube in XBMC
  - Requires:
    - Driver and firmware included in Raspbian "Wheezy" image
    - staging driver kernel module compiled from Raspberry Pi Foundation github repo (direct download)
    - install firmware-realtek package from squeeze non-free repo
- Arch Linux
  - driver loaded ok, able to iwlist scan wireless networks ok; note: did not test associating with AP

Asus USB-N10 802.11n adapter

Newark element14 SKU: 40T5474
USB ID: 0b05:1786
Chipset: Realtek RTL8188SU
Driver: r8712u
Manufacturer product page
Rear photo(adapter on the bottom), Front photo (pictured connected to Pi at top of page)
Test Results
- Debian (note: Raspbian has replaced Debian since my testing occurred)
  - connected OK to 802.11g WEP access point with wicd-curses (haven't switched AP to WPA2 to test yet)
  - UPDATE: 2012-05-15 - connected OK to 802.11g WPA2 AP with wicd-gtk in LXDE with mouse and keyboard connected
    - TP1/TP2 voltage: 4.8V
    - All device plugged into powered USB hub (pictured at top of the page)
    - USB devices connected
  - Requires:
    - Driver and firmware included in Raspbian "Wheezy" image
    - staging driver kernel module compiled from Raspberry Pi Foundation github repo (direct download)
    - install firmware-realtek package from squeeze non-free repo
- Arch Linux
  - driver loaded ok, able to iwlist scan wireless networks ok; note: did not test associating with AP

Asus USB-N13 rev B1

Newark SKU: 86R4501
USB ID: 0b05:17ab
Chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU [note: rev A1 is different]
Manufacturer product page
Test Results:
- Adafruit Occidentalis v0.1 image [tested 2012-Aug-07]
  - Adafruit's image includes kernel with 8192cu driver built-in so Asus USB-N13 works right away
  - Based on the current Raspbian Wheezy image with Adafruit's improvements
  - Discussion thread: Re: How to get Micronext mnwd152b working?
- The 8192cu had previously been compiled as a kernel module and offered for download (8192cu.ko) but this will not work on images with newer kernel like official Raspbian Wheezy. It must be recompiled from source for the specific kernel used in an image. Therefore, I would recommend using Adafruit Occidentalis for any adapter with the RTL8192CU chipset like the Asus USB-N13

Generic/"No-name" 802,11g adapter

A friend had this so I tried it out, it had no identifying brand name on it
USB ID: 148f:2573
Chipset: Ralink Technology RT2501/RT2573
Test Results:
- Debian (note: Raspbian has replaced Debian since my testing occurred)
  - connected OK with 802.11g AP in WEP mode
  - Warning: did not test with mouse in LXDE
  - Requires:
    - firmware-ralink package from squeeze non-free repo
    - otherwise you will see kernel error that the driver can't load the firmware
    - I recommend Raspbian "Wheezy" image as most WiFi drivers and firmware are included
- did not test with any other distros

Trendnet TEW-424UB 802.11g Adapter

Newark SKU: 88C7266
USB ID: 0bda:8189
Chipset: Realtek RTL8187B
Driver: rtl8187
Manufacturer product page
Test Results
- Debian (note: Raspbian has replaced Debian since my testing occurred)
  - connected OK to 802.11g WEP & WPA2 access point with wicd-curses
  - if already associated via wicd-curses, connections stays up when launching LXDE
  - however, fails to establish new connection in LXDE with errors similar to following in log:
    - kernel: smsc95xx 1-1.1:1.0: eth0: Failed to read register index 0x00000118
  - TP1/TP2 is 4.80V and all devices are connected to powered USB hub

BlueProton High-Gain BT3 802.11g Adapter

Ordered from Amazon
USB ID: 0bda:8187
Chipset: Realtek RTL8187L
Driver: rtl8187
Manufacturer product page
Rear photo(adapter on the top)
Test Results
- Debian (note: Raspbian has replaced Debian since my testing occurred)
  - connected OK to 802.11g WEP access point with wicd-curses
  - UPDATE: 2012-05-11 - connected OK to 802.11g WPA2 AP with wicd-gtk in LXDE with mouse and keyboard connected
    - TP1/TP2 voltage: 4.8V
    - All device plugged into powered USB hub (pictured at top of the page)
    - USB devices connected

TP-Link TL-WN821N

Newark element14 SKU: 92T1493
USB ID: 0cf3:7015
Chipset: Atheros AR7010 & AR9287
Driver: ath9k_htc
Manufacturer product page
Test Results
- Debian (note: Raspbian has replaced Debian since my testing occurred)
  - connected OK to 802.11g WEP access point with wicd-curses
  - fails to establish new connection in LXDE with errors similar to following in log:
    - kernel: smsc95xx 1-1.1:1.0: eth0: Failed to read register index 0x00000118
  - TP1/TP2 is 4.80V and all devices are connected to powered USB hub
  - Requires: htc_7010.fw firmware copied to /lib/firmware
    - I recommend Raspbian "Wheezy" image as most WiFi drivers and firmware are included
- did not test with other distros

Distributions tested:

Debian
- Version tested: debian6-19-04-2012
- Source: http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
- Tip: wicd-curses was a very nice text-mode utility for connecting to wireless networks from the console (photo)
- I recommend Raspbian "Wheezy" image as most WiFi drivers and firmware are included

Adafruit Occidentalis v0.1 image
- Adafruit's image includes kernel with 8192cu driver built-in for Realtek RTL8188SU based wifi adapters
- Based on the current Raspbian Wheezy image with Adafruit's improvements (SPI, I2C, 1wire, etc)

Arch Linux
- Version: archlinuxarm-19-04-2012.zip
- Note: newer version of image is now available
- Source: http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads

Resources:

WikiDevi
- great list of specific revisions of adapters, amazing how chipset can change from revision to revision of same model
Debian WiFi driver & firmware Open Source legend
- unfortunately not too many "thumbs up"

Related posts:

- Re: Installing Kernel Headers on the Pi?
- Omer Kilic's blog: Setting up Wifi under Debian on Raspberry Pi
- RPi Foundation blog: New Debian release, Wi-Fi tutorial from Omer
  - - JamesH comment: http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/1040#comment-20025
- RPi Foundation forum:

Attachments:

Top Comments

Montala over 12 years ago in reply to dharr19

Hi David,

On the basis that it is the only one I have ever used with my Raspberry Pi, the answer has to be a definite 'yes'.

The only times I have a had a problem with repeated characters have been when testing different PSU's, which haven't provided enough voltage.

I still haven't got round to writing my 'noobies guide' to setting up the Asus USB-N10 Wi-Fi adapter, although it is still high on my "to-do" list!

Best Wishes,

David
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dharr19 over 12 years ago in reply to Montala

Hi David,

I was looking at the Logitech K400 today and was wondering if this is a product you would still recommend.

Cheers
David
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
fustini over 12 years ago in reply to dharr19

The Pi with the 0-ohm resistors? It was from MCM Electronics (http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/83-14277). I suspect all Pi's being made now are like this and it just so happened he got a very "fresh" Pi from MCM.

The hub I was talking about is this: http://www.adafruit.com/products/961
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dharr19 over 12 years ago

Where did he buy his from?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dharr19 over 12 years ago in reply to fustini

Where did he buy his from?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
fustini over 12 years ago in reply to dharr19

Usually you won't need a powered hub for just keyboard and mice as they tend too not pull too much power. Each USB host port is limited by a 140mA polyfuse, so you might have trouble with things like wireless dongles. If funky behavior ensues, then it's good idea to try using a powered hub. A guy at my hackerspace has the hub that Adafruit sells and it worked quite well (not all powered hubs I've tried have).

An interesting note, the freshest Pi's now seem to have 0-ohm resistors instead of 140mA polyfuses on the USB host ports, so the need for powered hubs may be less necessary for those units.
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dharr19 over 12 years ago in reply to fustini

When I start using the Adafruit power adapter to power the Pi will I need to use a powered hub if I want to use a wired keyboard and mouse. I'm asking because the only keyboard and mouse I have are from Apple and they are wireless so I didn't want to have to buy a powered hub unless I knew that I needed to beforehand.
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
fustini over 12 years ago in reply to dharr19

Great. Unfortunately, I've not tried out Bluetooth yet though.
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dharr19 over 12 years ago in reply to fustini

Thanks, this helps alot. I also am going to get the Adafruit power supply you mentioned The only other thing, is there a bluetooth adapter that you would recommend.

Cheers
David
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
fustini over 12 years ago in reply to dharr19

The Asus N-10 should work as it did in the previous Raspbian image. I've not had a chance to try the latest image so I can't say if the Asus N-13 now works. I've been using the IOGear GWU625 802.11n adapter lately, although I'd probably be using the Asus N-10 if I still had it since it's the most compact.
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel