Return-path: Received: from mail-oi0-f44.google.com ([209.85.218.44]:40255 "EHLO mail-oi0-f44.google.com" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1751142AbaLPTg2 (ORCPT ); Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:36:28 -0500 Received: by mail-oi0-f44.google.com with SMTP id e131so10111116oig.3 for ; Tue, 16 Dec 2014 11:36:27 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <549089B9.6040300@lwfinger.net> (sfid-20141216_203631_541622_E7B1C568) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:36:25 -0600 From: Larry Finger MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Dani Camps , linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: mac80211 USB adapters with 5GHz support and SMA antenna References: In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Sender: linux-wireless-owner@vger.kernel.org List-ID: On 12/16/2014 01:09 PM, Dani Camps wrote: > Dear all, > > I am looking for a Wi-Fi adapter with the following specs: > > a) Operates at 5GHz > b) Supports 802.11n and optionally 802.11ac > c) USB interface > d) SMA connector for external antenna(s) > e) It is supported by mac80211, and supports mesh mode > > I have done a survey and found only two devices that meet the previous > requirements, and they are only 802.11n. Most of the 802.11ac adapters > that I can find use the RT8812AU chipset, which as far as I know is > not supported by mac80211. Are there any plans to support this > chipset? > > I am pasting here a list of adapters, and I would appreciate if anyone > who has experimented with them could provide feedback on whether my > understanding is correct. > > Best Regards > > Daniel > > LIST OF ADAPTERS: > ================ > > 1) ALFA AWUS051NH 2.4/ 5GHz Dual Band: > > link: http://www.wifi-antennas.co.uk/alfa-awus051nh-2-4-5ghz-dual-band-300mbps-usb-wifi-dongle-with-rp-sma-antenna-4547.html > chipset: Ralink RT2870 A/B/G/N > mac80211 support: YES. rt2800usb. > http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/rt2800usb#external_links > mac80211s mesh support: YES. http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers > > 2) Sveon SNT1022 > > link: http://sveon.com/tienda/adaptador-lan-wifi-usb-dual-band-doble-antena-rp-sma-snt1022/ > chipset: Ralink 3572 A/B/G/N > mac80211 support: YES. rt2800usb. > http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/rt2800usb > mac80211s mesh support: YES. http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers > > > 3) EDIMAX EW-7811USC > > link: http://www.edimax.com/edimax/merchandise/merchandise_detail/data/edimax/global/wireless_adapters_ac600_dual-band/ew-7811usc/ > chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU. AC/A/B/G/N > mac80211 support: NO. Not supported by rtlwifi. > http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/rtl819x > mac8011 mesh support: NO. > > 4) ALFA AWUS036HAC 1200 > > link: http://www.alfanetworkeurope.eu/en/alfa-awus036hac-ac1200-dual-band-ultra-fast-wifi-u.html > chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU. AC/A/B/G/N. link: > https://wikidevi.com/wiki/List_of_802.11ac_Hardware > mac80211 support: NO. > mac80211s support: NO. > > 5) ASUS USB-AC56 > > link: http://www.asus.com/de/Networking/USBAC56/ > chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU. AC/B/G/N. > https://wikidevi.com/wiki/List_of_802.11ac_Hardware > mac80211 support: NO. > mac80211s support: NO. > > 6) ABOCOM AU7212 > > link: http://www.abocom.com.tw/product.aspx?id=180 > chipset: Mediatek MT7610U. AC/A/B/G/N > mac80211 support: NO. > mac80211s support: NO. > > 7) D-LINK DWA-172 > > link: http://www.dlink-forum.info/showthread.php?tid=3006 > chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU. > mac80211 support: NO. > mac80211s support: NO. > > 8) HAWKING HD65U > > link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164060 > chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU. > mac80211 support: NO. > mac80211s support: NO. In general, the USB group at Realtek does not support mac80211, the way the PCI group does. The only exception is driver rtl8192cu for the RTL81xxCU chips, and that driver has received little attention from them since the original release. I can fix problems in the interface between the hardware manipulation and Linux, but I have no knowledge of the internals of any of the Realtek chips. As for the RTL8812AU, I have not seen any Linux driver for this chip, but I doubt that it supports mac80211; however, most of the drivers for the latest USB chips have supported cfg80211, and will work with the latest hostapd version. It is unfortunate that the USB group at Realtek has taken this stance as I know of several users that have chosen not to use their chips because of the incomplete Linux drivers. I assume they have good reasons, but I do not know what they are. Larry