compatible USB Wifi

[nikkon]

Hi there

Is there any compatible USB WIFI that works with Opnsense?
Has anyone tested any?

thanks

[bartjsmit]

https://www.freebsd.org/releases/12.1R/hardware/ lists a few but beware - they are normally only supported as clients (i.e. not access points).

Bart...

[testo_cz]

I've asked myself the same recently.

Got one 802.11g with HOSTAP capability and ~10EUR price. Its AMIKO WLN-880, an accessory to STB/receivers.

dmesg part and wlan caps here:

#
run0: MAC/BBP RT5390 (rev 0x0502), RF RT5370 (MIMO 1T1R), address 6c:60:eb:3b:bb:ae


# ifconfig wlan0 list caps
drivercaps=d85c501<STA,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,MBSS,WPA1,WPA2,WME,WDS>
cryptocaps=1b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM,TKIPMIC>

Update:
-  only basic channels
- does not support cloning

Code Select Expand


# ifconfig wlan0 list chan
Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g          Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g          Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g          Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g          Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g          Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g          Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g



T.

[testo_cz]

AIRPHO AR-A300 v1.0  (AC600 Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter)

no detachable antenna , USB2.0 again , but its AC for  ~10EUR, and you can configure clones of wireless interfaces


#
rtwn0: <802.11ac WLAN Adapter > on usbus0
rtwn0: MAC/BB RTL8821AU, RF 6052 1T1R



# ifconfig wlan0 list caps
drivercaps=591c541<STA,FF,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,WPA1,WPA2,WME>
cryptocaps=b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM>
htcaps=207002c<SHORTGI20>



Update:
+ two radios , so clones once
+ ht channels on 2.4GHz

Code Select Expand


# ifconfig wlan0 list chan
Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g ht       Channel  48 : 5240  MHz 11a ht
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g ht       Channel  52 : 5260* MHz 11a ht
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g ht       Channel  56 : 5280* MHz 11a ht
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g ht       Channel  60 : 5300* MHz 11a ht
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g ht       Channel  64 : 5320* MHz 11a ht
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g ht       Channel 100 : 5500* MHz 11a ht
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g ht       Channel 104 : 5520* MHz 11a ht
Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g ht       Channel 108 : 5540* MHz 11a ht
Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g ht       Channel 112 : 5560* MHz 11a ht
Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g ht       Channel 116 : 5580* MHz 11a ht
Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g ht       Channel 120 : 5600* MHz 11a ht
Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g ht       Channel 124 : 5620* MHz 11a ht
Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g ht       Channel 128 : 5640* MHz 11a ht
Channel  36 : 5180  MHz 11a ht       Channel 132 : 5660* MHz 11a ht
Channel  40 : 5200  MHz 11a ht       Channel 136 : 5680* MHz 11a ht
Channel  44 : 5220  MHz 11a ht       Channel 140 : 5700* MHz 11a ht


T.

[testo_cz]

@patman
Thanks

https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=20021.msg92570#msg92570

[testo_cz]

Update: its FW hangs in STA mode quite often, experienced this with other RTL8192EU too :-( , And confirmed by Linux driver too -- RTL8192EU is not the best choice.
hold on pls... I'm having problems to run it as BSS on 21.1, will investigate further

TP-LINK TL-WN822N  (usbid says version 4 , sticklabel says version 5.20)

802.11ng, two non-detachable antennas
+ clones once
+ HT channels

#
rtwn0 on uhub0
rtwn0: <802.11n NIC > on usbus0
rtwn0: MAC/BB RTL8192EU, RF 6052 2T2R


# ifconfig wlan0 list caps
drivercaps=591c541<STA,FF,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,WPA1,WPA2,WME>
cryptocaps=b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM>
htcaps=7002c<SHORTGI20

Code Select Expand


# ifconfig wlan0 list chan
Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g ht       Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g ht
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g ht       Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g ht
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g ht       Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g ht
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g ht       Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g ht
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g ht       Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g ht
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g ht       Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g ht
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g ht


[chemlud]

Any experience with stability? I use a cheapo Logilink WL0084B for some years from time to time as WAN interface, stable while traffic flowing, but get's lost when idle imho...

[testo_cz]

Any experience with stability? I use a cheapo Logilink WL0084B for some years from time to time as WAN interface, stable while traffic flowing, but get's lost when idle imho...

not yet, I'm afraid, work-in-progress

I'm building a simple wifi extender base on "cheapo"

T.

[testo_cz]

I've asked myself the same recently.

Got one 802.11g with HOSTAP capability and ~10EUR price. Its AMIKO WLN-880, an accessory to STB/receivers.

dmesg part and wlan caps here:

#
run0: MAC/BBP RT5390 (rev 0x0502), RF RT5370 (MIMO 1T1R), address 6c:60:eb:3b:bb:ae


# ifconfig wlan0 list caps
drivercaps=d85c501<STA,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,MBSS,WPA1,WPA2,WME,WDS>
cryptocaps=1b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM,TKIPMIC>

Update:
-  only basic channels
- does not support cloning

Code Select Expand


# ifconfig wlan0 list chan
Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g          Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g          Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g          Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g          Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g          Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g          Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g



T.

Update on May 2021: There is a series of patches to run(4) in S12 which implement 802.11n things:
https://svnweb.freebsd.org/base/stable/12/sys/dev/usb/wlan/
See attached diff files to be applied to OPNSense 21.x  kernel to enable more from run(4) driver.

Code Select Expand


run0: MAC/BBP RT5390 (rev 0x0502), RF RT5370 (MIMO 1T1R), address 6c:60:eb:51:f2:4f
run0: [HT] Enabling 802.11n
run0: firmware RT3071 ver. 0.33 loaded

root@OPNsense:~ # usbconfig dump_device_desc
ugen0.5: <Ralink 802.11 n WLAN> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (450mA)

  bLength = 0x0012
  bDescriptorType = 0x0001
  bcdUSB = 0x0200
  bDeviceClass = 0x0000  <Probed by interface class>
  bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
  bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
  idVendor = 0x148f
  idProduct = 0x5370
  bcdDevice = 0x0101
  iManufacturer = 0x0001  <Ralink>
  iProduct = 0x0002  <802.11 n WLAN>
  iSerialNumber = 0x0003  <1.0>
  bNumConfigurations = 0x0001


root@OPNsense:~ # ifconfig wlan99 list caps

drivercaps=d95c541<STA,FF,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,MBSS,WPA1,WPA2,WME,WDS>
cryptocaps=1b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM,TKIPMIC>
htcaps=7000c<>


root@OPNsense:~ # ifconfig wlan99 list chan

Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g ht       Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g ht
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g ht       Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g ht
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g ht       Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g ht
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g ht       Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g ht
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g ht       Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g ht
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g ht       Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g ht
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g ht



Works nice !

T.

[testo_cz]

ASUS USB-N14
Another older 802.11n USB thing
RT5372

- does MIMO 2x2
- run(4) patched from Freebsd-S12 (https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=21575.msg110873#msg110873)
- then it needs to run(4) driver ,if_run.c , be slightly more modified (see the code section below)
- I'm using it 24/7 as a Base Station

Code Select Expand


run0: <1.0> on usbus0
run0: MAC/BBP RT5392 (rev 0x0223), RF RT5372 (MIMO 2T2R), address 60:45:cb:92:1f:12
run0: [HT] Enabling 802.11n



ugen0.3: <Ralink 802.11 n WLAN> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (450mA)

  bLength = 0x0012
  bDescriptorType = 0x0001
  bcdUSB = 0x0200
  bDeviceClass = 0x0000  <Probed by interface class>
  bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
  bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
  idVendor = 0x0b05
  idProduct = 0x17e8
  bcdDevice = 0x0101
  iManufacturer = 0x0001  <Ralink>
  iProduct = 0x0002  <802.11 n WLAN>
  iSerialNumber = 0x0003  <1.0>
  bNumConfigurations = 0x0001

ifconfig wlan99 list caps
drivercaps=d95c541<STA,FF,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,MBSS,WPA1,WPA2,WME,WDS>
cryptocaps=1b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM,TKIPMIC>
htcaps=7000c<>


root@OPNsense:~ # ifconfig wlan99 list chan
Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g ht       Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g ht       
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g ht       Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g ht       
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g ht       Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g ht       
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g ht       Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g ht       
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g ht       Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g ht       
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g ht       Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g ht       
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g ht   


Code Select Expand


--- sys/dev/usb/usbdevs.orig 2021-03-28 19:35:00.000000000 +0000
+++ sys/dev/usb/usbdevs 2021-04-22 09:30:24.039070015 +0000
@@ -1267,6 +1267,7 @@
product ASUS USBN10NANO 0x17ba USB-N10 Nano
product ASUS USBAC51 0x17d1 USB-AC51
product ASUS USBAC56 0x17d2 USB-AC56
+product ASUS USBN14 0x17e8 USB-N14
product ASUS A730W 0x4202 ASUS MyPal A730W
product ASUS P535 0x420f ASUS P535 PDA
product ASUS GMSC 0x422f ASUS Generic Mass Storage


--- orig/sys/dev/usb/wlan/if_run.c
+++ sys/dev/usb/wlan/if_run.c
@@ -165,6 +168,7 @@
     RUN_DEV(ASUS, RT2870_4),
     RUN_DEV(ASUS, RT2870_5),
     RUN_DEV(ASUS, USBN13),
+    RUN_DEV(ASUS, USBN14),
     RUN_DEV(ASUS, RT3070_1),
     RUN_DEV(ASUS, USBN66),
     RUN_DEV(ASUS, USB_N53),



[testo_cz]

Asus USB-N53
Briefly tested 802.11 abgn, 2x2
Ralink RT3572
(HW revision: None, definitively not B1)

- run(4) patched from Freebsd-S12  (https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=21575.msg110873#msg110873)

Code Select Expand


run0: <1.0> on usbus0
run0: MAC/BBP RT3572 (rev 0x0223), RF RT3052 (MIMO 2T2R), address 08:60:6e:ca:ae:6a
run0: [HT] Enabling 802.11n

ugen0.3: <Ralink 802.11 n WLAN> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (450mA)

  bLength = 0x0012
  bDescriptorType = 0x0001
  bcdUSB = 0x0200
  bDeviceClass = 0x0000  <Probed by interface class>
  bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
  bDeviceProtocol = 0x0000
  bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
  idVendor = 0x0b05
  idProduct = 0x179d
  bcdDevice = 0x0101
  iManufacturer = 0x0001  <Ralink>
  iProduct = 0x0002  <802.11 n WLAN>
  iSerialNumber = 0x0003  <1.0>
  bNumConfigurations = 0x0001


root@OPNsense:~ # ifconfig wlan99 list caps
drivercaps=d95c541<STA,FF,IBSS,HOSTAP,SHSLOT,SHPREAMBLE,MONITOR,MBSS,WPA1,WPA2,WME,WDS>
cryptocaps=1b<WEP,TKIP,AES_CCM,TKIPMIC>
htcaps=7000c<>


root@OPNsense:~ # ifconfig wlan99 list chan
Channel   1 : 2412  MHz 11g ht       Channel  48 : 5240  MHz 11a ht       
Channel   2 : 2417  MHz 11g ht       Channel  52 : 5260* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   3 : 2422  MHz 11g ht       Channel  56 : 5280* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   4 : 2427  MHz 11g ht       Channel  60 : 5300* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   5 : 2432  MHz 11g ht       Channel  64 : 5320* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   6 : 2437  MHz 11g ht       Channel 100 : 5500* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   7 : 2442  MHz 11g ht       Channel 104 : 5520* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   8 : 2447  MHz 11g ht       Channel 108 : 5540* MHz 11a ht       
Channel   9 : 2452  MHz 11g ht       Channel 112 : 5560* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  10 : 2457  MHz 11g ht       Channel 116 : 5580* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  11 : 2462  MHz 11g ht       Channel 120 : 5600* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  12 : 2467  MHz 11g ht       Channel 124 : 5620* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  13 : 2472  MHz 11g ht       Channel 128 : 5640* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  36 : 5180  MHz 11a ht       Channel 132 : 5660* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  40 : 5200  MHz 11a ht       Channel 136 : 5680* MHz 11a ht       
Channel  44 : 5220  MHz 11a ht       Channel 140 : 5700* MHz 11a ht


[testo_cz]

My experience so far.... based on OPNsense 21.x kernel:

|	P/N:	|	multistream	|	driver	|	chip(set)	|	Wlan HW specs	|	notes
|	AMIKO WLN-880	|	1T1R	|	run(4)	|	RT5370	|	11ng, 20MHz	|	802.11n by S12 patch, detachable antenna
|	Asus USB-N53 rev -	|	2T2R	|	run(4)	|	RT3572	|	11abgn	|	802.11n by S12 patch
|	Asus USB-N14	|	2T2R	|	run(4)	|	RT5372	|	11ng	|	802.11n by S12 patch, add RUN_DEV() to if_run.c, 2x detach. antennas
|	AIRPHO AR-A300	|	1T1R	|	rtwn(4)	|	RTL8821AU_1	|	11abgn+ac, 40MHz	|	optional: dev.rtwn.X.ht40="1"
|	TP-LINK Archer T2U Plus v1	|	1T1R	|	rtwn(4)	|	RTL8821AU	|	11abgn+ac, 40MHz	|	optional: dev.rtwn.X.ht40="1"
|	TP-LINK TL-WN822N v4	|	2T2R	|	rtwn(4)	|	RTL8192EU	|	11ng, 20MHz	|	FW/driver problems in STA wlan mode

• 
  RTL8192EU : its FW hangs in STA mode quite often, experienced this with other RTL8192EU too :-( , And confirmed by Linux driver too -- RTL8192EU is IMHO not the best choice
  
• 
  I got run(4) patched by updates from Freebsd-S12  (https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=21575.msg110873#msg110873).
  IMHO sooner later will arrive to OPNsense's kernel.
  
• 
  I got wirelessly noisy neighborhood, the Ralink based adapters, I've tested, worked much better than Realtek ones.
  

[testo_cz]

Any experience with stability? I use a cheapo Logilink WL0084B for some years from time to time as WAN interface, stable while traffic flowing, but get's lost when idle imho...

@chemlud

Hi again,
These two:
AIRPHO AR-A300 (RTL8821AU)
Asus USB-N14 (RT5372)
that is: one cheap and one old USB Wifi adapters, run my wireless translation station (OPN 21.3, RPI3 based) for more than month. Got to say its nice and stable.

I've experienced some of the 2.4GHz channels around me are so crowded that using it results in miserable throughput, flapping and stall of transfers. No matter that signal strength from my AP to my STA was excellent.
The trick was to find an usable channel just by trying.
Maybe your Logilink is tuned to a crowded channel too.

And using multistream, like 802.11n, is almost must have, I think.

T.

[EqaqBqaq]

I have Asus USB-N14. Works well with opnsense, no complaints. Bought it according to the recommendation on  https://multitechverse.com/. My son shared that site with me when I was looking for a USB wifi. Though I'm 58, technologies don't seem so complicated to me. Since I retired, reading technology articles has become my main hobby, actually. It's never late to learn new things, especially when you stopped studying when you graduated from the university. Anyway, thanks for the info, guys. Best wishes.

[wificool]

I have TP-Link Archer T2U Nano - This is a small USB WiFi adapter that supports 802.11ac and has dual-band capabilities. It is compatible with OPNsense and is a good option for those who want a compact and affordable adapter.

I have Asus USB-N14. Works well with opnsense, no complaints. Bought it according to the recommendation on  https://www.signalsfence.com/. My son shared that site with me when I was looking for a USB wifi. Though I'm 58, technologies don't seem so complicated to me. Since I retired, reading technology articles has become my main hobby, actually. It's never late to learn new things, especially when you stopped studying when you graduated from the university. Anyway, thanks for the info, guys. Best wishes.