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Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

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sync
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-09-06 10:15

Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#1 Post by sync »

Can anyone recommend a WIFI dongle for Debian 9.1 that does not need non-free firmware? I have looked, and so many websites said the Panda Wireless PAU05 worked but it does not.

Thnaks

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RU55EL
Posts: 546
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Location: /home/russel

Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#2 Post by RU55EL »

You should check thinkpenguin dot com. I've had good success with wifi cards from them, and I think they have usb wifi as well.

sync
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-09-06 10:15

Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#3 Post by sync »

Yeah, I looked at them, but they only sell 150mbs dongles.

arochester
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Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#4 Post by arochester »

There seems to be a problem with Debian 9 stretch, Network-Manager and (some?) USB Wi-Fi adapters. It apparently has to do with Predictable Network Interface Names, which is a feature of systemd/udev starting with v197.

Suggested workarounds I found included switching to Wicd, or going back the old network interface naming convention.

I decided to use the old naming convention:

---
edit /etc/default/grub

change
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
to
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0"

update-grub

reboot
---

This worked for my Panda PAU05 (Ralink RT3070 chipset) and TP-Link TL-WN722N (Atheros AR9271 chipset) USB Wi-Fi adapters...both of which had previously worked fine in jessie.

Some links...

Predictable Network Interface Names
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Softwa ... faceNames/

Stretch wifi error
https://www.reddit.com/r/debian/comment ... ifi_error/

Cheers!
--- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUnfVG7Zst0

scouser
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Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#5 Post by scouser »

Alfa usb AWUS051NH very good and comes with linux drivers, excellent card 2.4 &* 5 ghz.

shep
Posts: 423
Joined: 2011-03-15 15:22

Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#6 Post by shep »

It is a little confusing to interpret the term "Free" Firmware. Firmware is by definition, vendor produced with closed source code. The Debian project defines "Free" as open source code.

Some vendors allow free distribution of their firmware or distribution if the project signs an agreement. Debian, as opposed to Mint/Ubuntu, does not distribute what they define as non-free firmware with the default installation images.

There is good documentation about howto install the firmware for a specific device on the Debian Wifi page.

On this page, the only "free" usb wifi driver is Debian rt2500usb. I have been using Azio 11g usb for 5+ years. I keep it around mostly to do hassle free installs.

If you are not philosophically opposed to non-free firmware, the easiest route to use the Non-free Debian Images that include firmware. These images will automatically install network firmware during installation. If you go this route there are faster, newer options that will likely be cheaper.
Last edited by shep on 2017-09-06 22:09, edited 1 time in total.

sync
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-09-06 10:15

Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#7 Post by sync »

arochester wrote:
There seems to be a problem with Debian 9 stretch, Network-Manager and (some?) USB Wi-Fi adapters. It apparently has to do with Predictable Network Interface Names, which is a feature of systemd/udev starting with v197.

Suggested workarounds I found included switching to Wicd, or going back the old network interface naming convention.

I decided to use the old naming convention:

---
edit /etc/default/grub

change
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
to
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0"

update-grub

reboot
---

This worked for my Panda PAU05 (Ralink RT3070 chipset) and TP-Link TL-WN722N (Atheros AR9271 chipset) USB Wi-Fi adapters...both of which had previously worked fine in jessie.

Some links...

Predictable Network Interface Names
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Softwa ... faceNames/

Stretch wifi error
https://www.reddit.com/r/debian/comment ... ifi_error/

Cheers!
--- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUnfVG7Zst0
Oh, my, this is probably it! The name of my wifiadapter was like hxkdshhskjd0jsjd. So I think that is unconventional. Will try and let you know.

sync
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-09-06 10:15

Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#8 Post by sync »

shep wrote:It is a little confusing to interpret the term "Free" Firmware. Firmware is by definition, vendor produced with closed source code. The Debian project defines "Free" as open source code.

Some vendors allow free distribution of their firmware or distribution if the project signs an agreement. Debian, as opposed to Mint/Ubuntu does not distribute what they define as non-free firmware with the default installation images.

There is good documentation about howto install the firmware for a specific device on the Debian Wifi page.

On this page, the only "free" usb wifi driver is Debian rt2500usb. I have been using Azio 11g usb for 5+ years. I keep it around mostly to do hassle free installs.

If you are not philosophically opposed to non-free firmware, the easiest route to use the Non-free Debian Images that include firmware. These images will automatically install network firmware during installation. If you go this route there are faster, newer options that will likely be cheaper.
Please see this thread. It is more complicated than it seems. I installed with the non-free cd.
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=134591

I am not opposed to non-free firmware if I need it. I just do not want to need it.

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GarryRicketson
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Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#9 Post by GarryRicketson »

Please see this thread. It is more complicated than it seems. I installed with the non-free cd.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=134591
I don't understand why the OP has started 2 topics, on basicly the same topic.
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php? ... 91#p653861

@OP, Please read : Forum guidelines. Please read before first post!
1.Do not cross post. Posting the same topic in more than one category only creates confusion and makes it hard to keep track on the various replies. Double posts will be locked.
In this case they are in the same category, just slightly different titles.

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RU55EL
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Location: /home/russel

Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#10 Post by RU55EL »

GarryRicketson wrote:[...]In this case they are in the same category, just slightly different titles.
I would say that the two threads are sufficiently different to merit two separate threads. But, they are close enough to be combined in the same thread.

How to fix problems with a particular USB wifi hardware device.

What is the best USB wifi hardware device for a particular situation.

My opinion (not that anyone asked). Not black or white, somewhat gray, or grey, depending upon which side of the Atlantic ocean you are.

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pylkko
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Re: Recommend WIFI Free Firmware Dongle for Debian?

#11 Post by pylkko »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compariso ... ss_drivers

lists some models that do not need closed source firmware, if that is of interest.

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