Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: fustini
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated:
  • Views 22589 views
  • Likes 3 likes
  • Comments 40 comments
Related
Recommended

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:

image

image UPDATES:



IOGear GWU625 802.11n adapter

 


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)
    • Arch Linux
      • image 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:
    • image 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?
    • image 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)
      • image connected OK with 802.11g AP in WEP mode
      • imageWarning: did not test with mouse in LXDE
      • imageRequires:
        • 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)
      • image connected OK to 802.11g WEP & WPA2 access point with wicd-curses
      • image if already associated via wicd-curses, connections stays up when launching LXDE
      • image 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
      • image 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)
      • image connected OK to 802.11g WEP access point with wicd-curses
      • image 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)
      • image connected OK to 802.11g WEP access point with wicd-curses
      • imagefails 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
      • image TP1/TP2 is 4.80V and all devices are connected to powered USB hub
      • image Requires: htc_7010.fw firmware copied to /lib/firmware
    • did not test with other distros

 

 

Distributions tested:

 

  • 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)

 

 

Resources:

 

 

Related posts:

Attachments:
image
image
image
image
image
  • in reply to fustini

    Do you know is the Asus N-10 or N-13 will work with the latest Raspbian version 2012-08-16-wheezy-raspian?  Which USB adapter do you personally use for your Pi?

  • in reply to fustini

    Drew Fustini wrote:

     

                           

     

    Great to hear it worked and that you plan on documenting for others.  A good place to list devices like hubs once test is the eLinux wiki verified peripherals page: http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals

     

                       

    Hi Drew,

     

    I have finally found out how to add a 'quote'!

     

    Yes, the 4 port Netlink hub I used is actually already on the 'approved' list, although I think it was added quite some time ago before users became more adventurous.

     

    As I said, my main concern was that it only comes with a 1A PSU which I thought might be a bit 'tight' to power the Pi itself, plus a keyboard and Wi-Fi adapters.

     

    I was pleased when it all finally 'worked' though, and I found that I had wireless internet access!

     

    Cheers,

     

    David

  • in reply to dharr19

    Hi David,

     

    I've used an old Belkin one but don't have the model number handy.  Primarily I've used a GigaWare powered hub from RadioShack.  I typically look at the eLinux wiki page (http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals) but it seems the focus for hubs is powered hubs.

     

    Cheers,

    Drew

  • in reply to Montala

    Great to hear it worked and that you plan on documenting for others.  A good place to list devices like hubs once test is the eLinux wiki verified peripherals page: http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals

  • in reply to Montala

    Good point about, "Users who should be able to run 'netdev'?" with the default of "[ ] pi".  That was good to select the pi user.  The point of this is to allow the pi user to make changes to networking as normally this is something on only an administrative user can do.  Glad to see from your later comments that it worked out!

  • in reply to Montala

    Hi,

     

    Thank you for your help.   I live across the pond.  I am getting closer to gathering all the needed parts to get up and runningimage .  I hope to be able to use the Asus USB N10 wifi adapter as well. 

     

    Cheers

    The Other David

  • in reply to dharr19

    Hi David,

     

    The Hub I used was a Newlink NLUSB2-224P which I purchased from Kenable (http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5614) as I am in the U.K. but I am sure it is available elsewhere also.

     

    My main concern that it only came with a 1A PSU and the voltage across TP1 and TP2 on my RasPi was 4.84V which is probably OK, but as I planned to fully populate it I changed the PSU for one with a 2A output, although the hardest part was finding a suitable cable with a USB plug on one end and a 3.5mm o/d barrel connector on the other, without having to wait for it to be shipped from China... or paying silly money!

     

    Mind you, Newlink also do a 7 port hub (NLUSB2-227B) which comes with a 2A PSU which I haven't actually tried yet, although I have bought one (good old EBay!) which might be more suitable. I am not sure whether a 7 port hub would take any more 'power' than a 4 port one though, as some seem to be basically 2 x 4 port ones joined together internally!

     

    Anyway, the one I used worked well for me, and that was the main thing! Apart from the hub, I was pleased to be able to use the Asus USB-N10 Wi-Fi adapter without having to actually download any drivers... or run any command line scripts, which was also one of my objectives.

     

    Out of interest, are you in the U.K. or the U.S.A. ?

     

    How are you getting on with your RasPi... have you managed to achieve Wireless internet access yet?

     

    Cheers,

     

    David

     

    P.S. We are away for the weekend, but one of my aims now is to try out the other Newlink hub, starting from scratch again, using another SD card, running Raspian "wheezy" and to document the easiest and most painless way to achieve WiFi access with the Asus USB-N10 adapter..

  • in reply to Montala

    Hi,

     

    Congrats! Which Newlink powered hub did you use, this is, is there a particular model number?

     

    Cheers

    The Other David

  • in reply to fustini

    Hi Drew,

     

    I hope you had a good time at the Maker Faire, and are now back 'in harness' again!

     

    After my earlier posts, I am sure that you are all waiting with baited breath (not!) for my next update, so here it is:

     

    This morning I connected my RasPi, (using a 'Y' cable) to a four port Newlink powered hub, but with the supplied PSU replaced with a 2 A one. My Logitech K400 'dongle' and Asus USB-N10 were also plugged into the hub, but no wired ethernet connection.

     

    Using the same SD card I had prepared before I switched on, and after entering 'startx' went straight into Midori, and much to my surprise it worked!

     

    Full internet access and at a reasonable speed too, especially considering our so called 'broadband' speed is only about 1.5 Mb/s anyway!

     

    Perhaps I shouldn't have been quite so surprised, but I was, and would like to thank you again for your initial help and assistance.

     

    Cheers,

     

    David (Not the same one as in the post above though!)