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pmam
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 Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 8:16 pm Post subject: USB wifi dongle recommendation? |
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I have an old laptop (Toshiba 1135-S1553) without wifi and I want to add USB dongle -
I do not need it for long range, however it should work in home area, from room to room.
I found very cheap one here: http://www.buyincoins.com/item/48922.html#.VKRXOvEvAW0 -
Can it do the job or you have any other recommendation?
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“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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Markus09
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szatox
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| Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'm a big fan of atheros chipsets. I have bluetooth with ath3k, wifi with ath5k, wifi with ath9k and i have seen some ethernet device with atheros, all those are well supported by kernel and provide nice bonuses like working AP and monitor modes. I even had ath5k card working in client and AP modes at the same time, never tried that with ath9k.
Ath5k is pretty old, doesn't support N standard (only b/g), but it handles bad signal a bit better. |
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poncho
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Ant P.
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| Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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I'll second ath5k, it's old but reliable. I used a USB one in a hostapd router for years and it never failed me. If you want something a bit more modern Ralink is an option (rt28xx specifically).
Avoid new Atheros hardware like the plague - they got bought out by Qualcomm a few years ago and the first-class Linux support practically disappeared overnight. |
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pmam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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I am quite surprised to hear from you that Linux's compatibility is a big issue concerning WIFI USB dongle -
I was worry regarding the range and whether it will work behind a wall of the next room... my ignorance
As you can see from the attached link it suppose to work with Linux - If we can trust somehow on supplier info...
There is also a driver to download with DOS exec - Can we do something with it??
Anyway - I ordered this adaptor - not a big risk in this price. A few weeks later I will see if it worth something -
If not I will try your recommendations.
I will update here...
Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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szatox
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| Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, that's what you ment at the very begining 
I'm pretty sure anything you put there would be good enough for use within a house, unless you live in a palace, or someone stuffed tight, conducting grids in your walls (microwave's oven window, anyone?)
Anyway, in fact most of stuff lying around there works or kinda works for basic operation. Still, if you want to be reasonably sure check the chipset. Some are known for being very good, some are not known, probably for their mediocrity, while others are well known for giving you trouble. Ralinks and broadcoms used to be the latter. Honestly no idea how they are doing now. |
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keet
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pmam
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 7:37 am Post subject: |
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keet,
When you (and Markus09 here) say that you are using this dongle on Raspberry PI -
Do you install gentoo on Raspberry PI? Does it mean that if it works on Raspberry PI,
there are good chances it will work on my Gentoo's laptop?
BTW: What do you do with Raspberry PI? For what using?
Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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xaviermiller
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Joined: 23 Jul 2004
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Location: ~Brussels - Belgique
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:01 am Post subject: |
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Hi pmam,
If it works with Linux, and even more if it works on arm Linux, it should work on any Linux distribution, any arch.
So it will also work on your PC 
I used a Raspberry pi as a NAS (running Gentoo), but moved the NAS to a NUC, because the I/O are pathetic, even if the system sits on USB.
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Kind regards,
Xavier Miller |
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Markus09
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Joined: 22 Mar 2013
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I installed Gentoo on the Raspberry PI.
If you want to do it yourself too: I first created a basic system image for the sdcard, booted from it and then installed my packages from the PI using distcc ("cross-distcc") [ssh, gnu screen]
The PIs purpose is a small server to allow data access for svn, git via apache for a small group of 4-5 people.
Yes, the WiPi will definitely work on x86 platform. When I think about it, I also used it as access point on an IPFire (x86) installation.
Tested range was indoor about 10 meter. |
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CaptainBlood
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 6:41 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
I'm using TP-Link TL-WN726N v2, since my embedded chipset MT7630e isn't kernel implemented yet.
However the dongle I'm using isn't stable yet:
It has to be kernel activated via Device Drivers/Staging Drivers/Realtek RTL8188EU Wireless LAN NIC driver.
Pro: Cheap.
Con: It's prone to disconnection, although NetworkManager consequently reconnects.
Thks 4 ur attention. |
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pmam
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| Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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I just received this wifi dongle and here its details:
| Code: | | Bus 001 Device 002: ID 148f:7601 Ralink Technology, Corp. MT7601U Wireless Adapter |
I dont find its driver in menuconfig but I found these links with source - Please advise if I can use one of them:
https://github.com/rcn-ee/mt7601u
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/dkms-mt7601u/
http://www.mediatek.com/en/downloads/
How can I compile the driver?
EDIT: I need to install any firmware?
Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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pmam
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| Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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How to compile and add a driver of this USB WIFI dongle?
I had not done it before so please inform me with any link.
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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CaptainBlood
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Maybe this link could help:https://github.com/porjo/mt7601Plz note there's a link to download as zip instead of using git.
Good luck
Thks 4 ur attention & interest |
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CaptainBlood
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| CaptainBlood wrote: | Hi,
I'm using TP-Link TL-WN726N v2, since my embedded chipset MT7630e isn't kernel implemented yet.
However the dongle I'm using isn't stable yet:
It has to be kernel activated via Device Drivers/Staging Drivers/Realtek RTL8188EU Wireless LAN NIC driver.
Pro: Cheap.
Con: It's prone to disconnection [EDIT] as along with stable 3.14.27 kernel[EOE], although NetworkManager consequently reconnects.
Thks 4 ur attention. |
Pro: Cheap., Stable with stable 17.7 kernel; for the last 10 hours; Remains in Device Drivers/Staging Drivers though.
Con: 150 Mbits only, WIFI bg i.e. without n
Thks 4 ur attention. |
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pmam
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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CaptainBlood Hi,
The link you gave me regarding MT7601 brings much optimism!
I saw the link of the zip file - I guess you meant to this file: mt7601-master.zip.
However - I did not find any relevant info regarding 'How to install tar.gz package?' -
It is quite strange - maybe I am not using the right keywords in google...
Can you please attached relevant link with an example?
I had not done it before...
Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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khayyam
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Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Posts: 6227
Location: Room 101
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| pmam wrote: | | However - I did not find any relevant info regarding 'How to install tar.gz package?' |
pmam ... something like the following (here using git sources ... should be the same with the tarball)
| Code: | % mkdir -p ~/src/
% cd ~/src
% git clone https://github.com/porjo/mt7601.git
% cd mt7601/src
% make
% su
# make install
# mkdir -p /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/
# cp RT2870STA.dat /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/
# /sbin/modprobe mt7601Usta
# ifconfig -a
# exit |
Note, keep the sources as you will need to 'make clean' and rebuild on kernel updates.
best ... khay
ps. if anyone knows of other dongles using this chipset could they provide details, thanks. |
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pmam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 7:29 am Post subject: |
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khayyam Hi,
Thanks for your helpful example!
I would like to be sure I am well understating what you said:
| Quote: | | Note, keep the sources as you will need to 'make clean' and rebuild on kernel updates. |
Do you mean to the directory 'src' in tar.bz?
Is there any difference between using git sources vs tarball?
If there is no advantage using tarball - Can I exactly follow your example?
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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khayyam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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| pmam wrote: | | Thanks for your helpful example! |
pmam ... you're welcome.
| pmam wrote: | I would like to be sure I am well understating what you said:
| khayyam wrote: | | Note, keep the sources as you will need to 'make clean' and rebuild on kernel updates. |
Do you mean to the directory 'src' in tar.bz?[/code] |
I mean the mt7601/src (in the above example) or whatever the tarball unpacks to, you could keep the packed tarball, its up to you. Basically, when you update the kernel the module will be lost, so it will need to be rebuilt and installed for the new kernel.
| pmam wrote: | | Is there any difference between using git sources vs tarball? |
I can't say for sure, probably the tarball is created from HEAD in git .. the git clone may be more up-to-date. Given that git is available I would generally use the git sources, but the tarball may be what the developers consider a "release". Its quite possible they are the same ... so I wouldn't sweat it, use which ever is easyest.
| pmam wrote: | | If there is no advantage using tarball - Can I exactly follow your example? |
Yes, of course ... assuming you have git installed.
best ... khay |
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pmam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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Dear khayyam,
I followed your example, but this command is not ok:
| Code: | /sbin/modprobe mt7601Usta
modprobe: FATAL: Module mt7601Usta not found |
I guess there is small mistake with the driver names in the two previous lines?
EDIT: Sorry, I did not notice - There were more errors - after make:
| Code: | scripts/Makefile.build:257: recipe for target '/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux/../../os/linux/sta_ioctl.o' failed
make[2]: *** [/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux/../../os/linux/sta_ioctl.o] Error 1
Makefile:1373: recipe for target '_module_/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux' failed
make[1]: *** [_module_/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-3.17.7-gentoo'
Makefile:394: recipe for target 'LINUX' failed
make: *** [LINUX] Error 2
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and after make install:
| Code: |
efile.build:257: recipe for target '/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux/../../os/linux/sta_ioctl.o' failed
make[2]: *** [/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux/../../os/linux/sta_ioctl.o] Error 1
Makefile:1373: recipe for target '_module_/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux' failed
make[1]: *** [_module_/root/src/mt7601/src/os/linux] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-3.17.7-gentoo'
Makefile:394: recipe for target 'LINUX' failed
make: *** [LINUX] Error 2
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Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...”
Last edited by pmam on Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:18 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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khayyam
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Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Posts: 6227
Location: Room 101
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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| pmam wrote: | I followed your example, but this command is not ok:
| Code: | /sbin/modprobe mt7601Usta
modprobe: FATAL: Module mt7601Usta not found |
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pmam ... I don't have this device so the above advice was based on documents provided by the developers. Anyhow, does the following resolve the issue?
| Code: | # whoami
root
# depmod -a
# /sbin/modprobe mt7601Usta |
HTH & best ... khay |
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pmam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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khayyam,
Please see my previous post - I re-edit it with additional error outputs that may help...
Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...” |
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khayyam
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Posts: 6227
Location: Room 101
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| pmam wrote: | | Please see my previous post - I re-edit it with additional error outputs that may help. |
pmam ... well, obviously, if it doesn't compile that changes everything. There is the principle of "causality", this states that if you leave the house without your hat its not possible to have lost it ... because it was not part of the causal chain subsequent to your leaving the house (and your hat). Similarly with the above, if it doesn't compile then its not possible to install and/or modprobe it.
So, it doesn't compile ... odd as CaptainBlood seems to have built it with 3.17.7, the same kernel version you have installed. Can you claify which sources you are using, git or the tarball, and if one have you tried similarly with the other?
best ... khay |
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pmam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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khayyam,
| Quote: | | if it doesn't compile then its not possible to install and/or modprobe it. |
Obviously... I was excited to get it work and not noticed the big error... 
It is not exactly the same chip as of CaptainBlood, but quite similar.
I have also the same kernel:
| Code: | uname -a
Linux mg_lap 3.17.7-gentoo #25 SMP Sat Jan 24 12:58:35 IST 2015 i686 Mobile Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux |
At the moment I used only with git - I do not know exactly how to do it with tarball -
Can you please advise how to change the commands?
Hope it will work with tarball...
Thanks
_________________
“You can take our property, our sweet homes, even our cloths...
But don't touch the streets, Ah, That's NO, NO, NO!
The streets are our @world's compilable kernel ...”
Last edited by pmam on Sun Jan 25, 2015 7:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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