Out-of-the-box test of Multiple USB WLAN adapters

[DonJoe]

Just got another adapter in: the Netgear WG111v2. Found it on eBay, new, for a mere 18 euro's (well 15 GBP actually)

And to the contrary what is said here you don't need to look at the serials to determine the version: it is printed very clearly on the side of the adapter.

But the list is right: a very well supported RTL8187L, which I found so far only on the popular (but expensive) Alfa AWUS036H. Granted, no great reception either (no external antenna), but for that price, you should get one anyway..... arp-replay, fragmentation, chop-chop, .... it all worked right away, and fast.

I found that the device runs quite hot though. Hotter then it's chipset-brother Alfa.

(now if only I could change the title of my post to 10 )

[Snayler]

Ouch, I was hoping for a less invasive - software - solution.....

Ok, there is a less evasive way. By using lsusb (and google in some cases). For example, with all my adapters:

root@bt:~# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8197 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187B Wireless Adapter
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 0ace:1215 ZyDAS ZD1211B 802.11g
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0bda:8187 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187 Wireless Adapter
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 148f:2573 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2501/RT2573 Wireless Adapter

The first one is my laptop's internal card;
The second is my TP-Link WN422G V1.2;
The third is my Alfa AWUS036H (seems like RTL8187 = RTL8187L);
And the last is my TP-Link WN321G (RT73).

In case of doubt, you can also use the codes in red (vendorID:ProductID) with google, it should tell you what's the chipset.

You can also use Airdriver-ng, as follows:

root@bt:~# airdriver-ng loaded
Found following stacks loaded (as module):
2. mac80211

Found following drivers loaded (as module):
27. Ralink rt2570 (rt2x00) - mac80211
33. Ralink rt73 (rt2x00) - mac80211
36. Realtek rtl8187 - mac80211
41. ZyDAS 1211rw - IEEE80211 Softmac

Will not be as accurate as lsusb, but will give you an idea of what drivers are being used with your adapters (when the drivers are installed/supported, obviously). Seems like BT is loading two drivers (Ralink) for my TP-Link WN321G... Well, as long as it works, fine by me

Hope it helps.

[Archangel-Amael]

(now if only I could change the title of my post to 10 )

How about multiple.

[DonJoe]

How about multiple.

Thanks! If I get my hands on some more adapters (doubt it, collection is vast enough now ) I'll add them.

The test, as promised, on BT4 R1 was a bit of a disappointment: no additional devices worked, and I was hoping for some anyway.
So no test results of R1 I'm afraid, because they are the same as BT4 for this collection of USB adapters.

Tried also to install the drivers that are on the distribution to get the 2870 working (not really out-of-the-box anymore, but ok, still on the distribution) and even though they were recognised from then on, I still couldn't perform any network discovery let alone any injection.....

So this concludes the tests for now - the winners are:

• Alfa AWUS036H
• Hawking HWU8DD rev.B
• Linksys WUSB54GC v1
• Netgear WG111 v2

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

[DonJoe]

Got 2 more adapters tested, both with a RT73 chipset:

- Asus WL-167G
- TP-link WN312G

Unfortunately disappointing results. But hey, you want to know which ones don't work too, right?

I also changed the "BT4 support" indication to a scale.

[Arlukin]

Have you also tested if any of them also works in AP/Master mode with hostapd?

[DonJoe]

Have you also tested if any of them also works in AP/Master mode with hostapd?

I don't even know what that means, so: no.