AWUS036NHR v2

jackjackk · 2015-04-11 04:57:19

I was trying to make my Alfa AWUS036NHR v2 WIFI usb adapter (Realtek RTL8188RU) getting along with Arch.
The default kernel driver (rtl8192cu) works pretty well, but just for while, then apparently at random it disconnects (no ping, even though NetworkManager keeps saying I'm connected).
As suggested by the wiki I tried the 8192cu-dkms AUR package, which seems to install perfectly but fails to make the card work at all: it isn't even listed under iw dev. Alfa website has some linux drivers, but they look the same as those wrapped in the AUR package.

Anybody else with this card or similar chip?
Any suggestions on how I can debug the problem further?
my dmesg is not giving much info.

Thanks!

Last edited by jackjackk (2015-04-11 05:17:04)

jackjackk · 2015-04-12 21:34:17

Ok, I tried to compile the drivers suggested by the manufacturer (http://www.alfa.com.tw/press_c_show.php?sn=5). I get complaints about an "#include <linux/smp_lock.h>".
Apparently that file belongs to prehistory compared to current Archlinux kernel version, so I guess that is not a viable road...
With built-in driver it works for a while, how could I debug further these sudden disconnections not reported by NetworkManager?
What about using the windows driver somehow?

Thanks,
g

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-04-12 21:38:28

jackjackk wrote:

What about using the windows driver somehow?

You could try it.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wi … diswrapper

jackjackk · 2015-04-13 06:16:25

Thanks Head_on_a_Stick,
I just tried the ndiswrapper way. Unfortunately the AUR package seems to be not compatible with kernel 3.19 at the moment.
While it gets updated, do you have a feeling on how successful ndiswrapper can be? Should I prefer the .sys/.inf files of a particular Windows version?
I was also wondering: can VirtualBox w/ Windows operate a USB wifi card bypassing linux, and share the connection back on linux?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-04-13 12:01:06

jackjackk wrote:

I just tried the ndiswrapper way. Unfortunately the AUR package seems to be not compatible with kernel 3.19 at the moment.
While it gets updated, do you have a feeling on how successful ndiswrapper can be? Should I prefer the .sys/.inf files of a particular Windows version?
I was also wondering: can VirtualBox w/ Windows operate a USB wifi card bypassing linux, and share the connection back on linux?

You could try editing the PKGBUILD yourself -- replace 'linux>=3.18' with 'linux>=3.19' & 'linux<3.19' with 'linux<4.0' in the "depends" line; replace 'linux-headers>=3.18' with 'linux-headers>=3.19' & 'linux-headers<3.19' with 'linux-headers<4.0' in the "makedepends" line and replace "_EXTRAMODULES='extramodules-3.18-ARCH'" with "_EXTRAMODULES='extramodules-3.19-ARCH'".

I don't know if that will work (I'm in Debian ATM), but it's worth a try...

I don't know anything at all about NdisWrappers as I've never used one, sorry.

jackjackk · 2015-05-06 00:21:37

I haven't managed to try ndiswrapper yet (I'm feeling a bit conservative as linux got to 4 and ndiswrapper stopped at 3.19). In the meantime, it looks like the kernel driver works with some networks but not with others.
In particular, at the moment it is working (at least for a while) with the Hotspot created with my Samsung S5, but I am not able to get a dynamic IP or even to get a static IP working with my dlink router, to which e.g. my S5 can connect w/o problems.

What could be the differences between my hotspot network and my router network? Security seems the same, and DHCP seems active in both cases. What parameters could prevent my wifi card to get a DHCP lease from the router or a working static ip?

The more I google on this, the more I think I am the only one with this card/chipset, or with these problems.

Arch Linux

#1 2015-04-11 04:57:19

AWUS036NHR v2

#2 2015-04-12 21:34:17

Re: AWUS036NHR v2

#3 2015-04-12 21:38:28

Re: AWUS036NHR v2

#4 2015-04-13 06:16:25

Re: AWUS036NHR v2

#5 2015-04-13 12:01:06

Re: AWUS036NHR v2

#6 2015-05-06 00:21:37

Re: AWUS036NHR v2

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