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#1 2012-06-28 00:36:41

Hy Ginsberg
Member
From: Massachusetts
Registered: 2008-08-22
Posts: 74
Website

[Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

Hi All,

I just moved and can no longer run an ethernet cable from my (old) desktop to my router.  So I am in the market for a wireless adapter that will be reliable and easy to install.  It doesn't have to be the fastest thing on the market, or able to receive signals from halfway down the block.  Just something decent.  Inexpensive would also be nice. The idea of a USB adapter is appealing for the ease of install, but if they don't work reliably (or the install really isn't just a matter of plugging it in), then I can certainly put something inside.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
- Hy

Last edited by Hy Ginsberg (2012-07-01 00:38:50)

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#2 2012-06-28 00:38:31

Inxsible
Forum Fellow
From: Chicago
Registered: 2008-06-09
Posts: 9,183

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

Search the forums. There was a thread started for usb wireless a couple days back and another one maybe a couple months back. As for internal, I don't know but i don't think you can go wrong with intel


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#3 2012-06-28 12:35:55

Mr.Elendig
#archlinux@freenode channel op
From: The intertubes
Registered: 2004-11-07
Posts: 4,097

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

http://linuxwireless.org/ has some relevant information.


Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
. files on github, Screenshots, Random pics and the rest

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#4 2012-06-28 13:28:26

bwat47
Member
Registered: 2009-10-07
Posts: 638

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

TP-LINK TL-WN821N uses an atheros chipset, is wireless n, and reviews report good linux compatibility:
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WN821N … B002D5EIT4

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#5 2012-06-28 13:30:40

theGunslinger
Member
Registered: 2011-05-20
Posts: 300

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

I use an older version of TP-LINK 722N works like a charm and is pretty cheap.

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#6 2012-06-28 14:17:22

Inxsible
Forum Fellow
From: Chicago
Registered: 2008-06-09
Posts: 9,183

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

bwat47 wrote:

TP-LINK TL-WN821N uses an atheros chipset, is wireless n, and reviews report good linux compatibility:
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WN821N … B002D5EIT4

That's the one I have. Works great OOTB.


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There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

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#7 2012-06-28 14:53:37

stevepa
Member
From: Texas USA
Registered: 2012-02-12
Posts: 113

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

bwat47 wrote:

TP-LINK TL-WN821N uses an atheros chipset, is wireless n, and reviews report good linux compatibility:
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WN821N … B002D5EIT4

I've used this device for quite a while, and until recently, it worked perfectly. Now, I am not sure what went wrong.

As others have said, search the forum for the TL-WN821N device and make up your own mind.

Thanks and good luck.
Steve.


Arch - LVM - ext4 - gnome (T60p 14.1 1400p  x86_64), (T60 15 flexview 1400p i686)

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#8 2012-06-29 04:26:28

santodelaespada
Member
Registered: 2009-04-15
Posts: 50

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

stevepa wrote:
bwat47 wrote:

TP-LINK TL-WN821N uses an atheros chipset, is wireless n, and reviews report good linux compatibility:
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WN821N … B002D5EIT4

I've used this device for quite a while, and until recently, it worked perfectly. Now, I am not sure what went wrong.

As others have said, search the forum for the TL-WN821N device and make up your own mind.

Mine works just fine. Actually I got 2 of them, the other one is in a Lubuntu box were it shows no problem either.

In my experience, with harware and linux drivers, the cheapest the hardware the better chance it as good open-source drivers.

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#9 2012-06-29 06:29:46

Hy Ginsberg
Member
From: Massachusetts
Registered: 2008-08-22
Posts: 74
Website

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

Thanks to all who replied.  It seems the TP-LINK TL-821N is popular.  But can any of you who use it report that it is working well with an upgraded kernel?  There are some recent posts on the forum that indicate problems starting with kernel 3.4:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=143848
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=143937
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=143912
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=143710

Thanks again.

- Hy

Last edited by Hy Ginsberg (2012-06-29 06:31:55)

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#10 2012-06-29 15:03:46

Inxsible
Forum Fellow
From: Chicago
Registered: 2008-06-09
Posts: 9,183

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?


Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

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#11 2012-06-29 23:04:27

Hy Ginsberg
Member
From: Massachusetts
Registered: 2008-08-22
Posts: 74
Website

Re: [Solved] Good choices for desktop wireless adapter?

So, setting the adapter to "promiscuous mode" sounds like a workaround, but not a fix.  Not to quibble, but won't that impact the performance, especially if there are other computers using the wireless router at the same time?

Edit: I have started a new thread on the Networking forum to ask about this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=144286

Last edited by Hy Ginsberg (2012-07-01 00:34:42)

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