USB/PCI Buying/finding guide
TL;DR: If you want a USB card that works on linux and windows, try to find a TP-Link TL-WN722N. For windows you need the driver mentioned in the linux section.
Ok, so we already know that if you want a single piece of network hardware to do this Homepassing, you can go with the Sanoxy Wireless N repeater*.
However, what if you don't want to get a repeater? What if you just want to get a dongle that works with your current computer, that allows you to homepass? Information on this has been fairly scarce, with most just commenting either that they got it working, or it doesn't work. This is somewhat frustrating, because the information of what exactly is or isn't working isn't usually addressed.
To start with, what dongles work depends on a couple things, those being, what driver is being used, and what chipset the card uses, that the driver is interacting with.
These are important because if either is different, they may not work.
So, I'm starting this so I can catalog which cards do work, and which don't, and provide that information to you.
I should note that I do not own a Mac anything, so if you want help with Mac OSX, I'm pretty much out. If you have information you can submit to this topic, make sure it is as complete as you can make it, and I'll thank you in the guide. At a minimum I'd need your Operating System (version numbers included except in Win 7/8's case), your card model and version number (if it has one), and preferably what driver you're using, though I should be able to figure out what drivers work based on the other information.
If any of these work for multiple Operating Systems and I know they do, I will mention it.
So an example submission would be:
each time I want to change the MAC. I do that because I want to work on my typing skills and I like doing things manually.
Anyway... Currently known working cards are as follows:
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-
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That's all I've got for now. RTL8188SU can get a changed MAC (linux) but since its driver isn't compatible with cfg80211, nl80211, it won't produce an access point.
*: Thanks to Tane here and BillyBobXray on Reddit for posting this. Configuration details for the sanoxy repeater can be found here: http://goo.gl/FNvTMA
**: Thanks to Dynastid here, for pointing out her LB-Link adapter works perfectly for this.
***: Thanks to Keyra for finding a driver that makes the 9271's work with mac spoofing and hostednetwork on windows
So there are some chipsets you should never buy, ever. Somehow these products make it to market. I assume there's a lack of quality control somewhere.
Ok, so we already know that if you want a single piece of network hardware to do this Homepassing, you can go with the Sanoxy Wireless N repeater*.
However, what if you don't want to get a repeater? What if you just want to get a dongle that works with your current computer, that allows you to homepass? Information on this has been fairly scarce, with most just commenting either that they got it working, or it doesn't work. This is somewhat frustrating, because the information of what exactly is or isn't working isn't usually addressed.
To start with, what dongles work depends on a couple things, those being, what driver is being used, and what chipset the card uses, that the driver is interacting with.
These are important because if either is different, they may not work.
So, I'm starting this so I can catalog which cards do work, and which don't, and provide that information to you.
I should note that I do not own a Mac anything, so if you want help with Mac OSX, I'm pretty much out. If you have information you can submit to this topic, make sure it is as complete as you can make it, and I'll thank you in the guide. At a minimum I'd need your Operating System (version numbers included except in Win 7/8's case), your card model and version number (if it has one), and preferably what driver you're using, though I should be able to figure out what drivers work based on the other information.
If any of these work for multiple Operating Systems and I know they do, I will mention it.
So an example submission would be:
- OS: Lubuntu 13.04 (include kernel version if it's not default AND the driver's built in to it)
- Card: TP-Link TL-WN722N
- Driver: atk9k_htc
Code:
service hostapd stop;ifconfig wlan0 down;ifdown wlan0;ifconfig wlan0 hw ether 4e53504f4f46;sleep 2;service hostapd start;ifconfig wlan0 192.168.42.1Anyway... Currently known working cards are as follows:
Windows 7, 8 (not XP, Vista)
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- interface: USB
- Chipset:RTL8188CUS/RTL8192CU
- Cards: Monoprice Ultra Mini N Adapter (88CUS) {$7.44}, LB-Link BL-RTL8188-2B** (88CUS) {$9.97}, adafruit miniature Wireless N adapter (92CU) {$11.95}
- Driver: November 8th,2012 RTL819xCU_AutoInstallPackage.zip
- Driver download location: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1053652/RTL819xCU_AutoInstallPackage.zip You can also find it on realtek's website, but they change their passwords every couple days, I think.
- Method: Instead of netsh or Virtual Router Manager, this driver comes with a utility that works just as well. Macshift, then enable softAP, disable it, repeat. Utility relies on netsh functions, so while it won't work on XP, it should work with The Mac cycling programs out there. Inversely you should be able to manually install the driver through device manager and use Virtual Router Manager or the command-line netsh instead of installing Realtek's utility.
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- Interface: Half-mini PCIe
- Chipset: Broadcom BRCM4313
- Cards: Entering BRCM4313 or BCM4313 on amazon/ebay brings results.
- Driver: depends on specific card, for my Broadcom BCM94313HMGB I use this.
- method: you can assign a "locally administered mac address" through the driver in windows. Macshift works too, pretty fast at mac switching. Virtual Router or netsh should get the job done fine.
- notes: It might work on linux with the WL driver pack, but with the brcmsmac driver, it refuses to connect or broadcast when you change the MAC. Didn't get a chance to test with WL driver. Also, since this is mini-PCIe, your manufacturer has to let you install it to your laptop. I know HP only allows certain models in each of their laptops, Don't know about other manufacturers.
- Interface: PCIe or Mini PCIe or half-mini PCIe
- Chipset: Atheros AR9281
- Cards: (PCIe)EDUP EP9601 {$17.70}, (Mini PCIe) Azurewave AW-NE771 {$5.99+shipping}, (Half-Mini PCIe) AzureWave AW-NE771H
- Driver: Linux: Ath9k, Windows: 9.2.0.105 here
- Notes: should work on Windows and Linux since the other ath9x series works under linux. For those not aware, PCIe is for desktops, mini PCIe is for laptops, and half-mini PCIe is for newer laptops and most netbooks. Google pictures, look at your laptop/desktop, and if the current card is one size (like mini) don't get another (like half-mini). Laptop cards can be vendor locked, so find your laptop's manual or disassembly guide and see if it lists compatible cards. If not, try contacting your company's support (assuming it's free to talk to them) and ask them if they can tell you what internal wireless cards are compatible with your laptop.
Linux
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- interface: USB
- Chipset: Atheros AR9271
- Cards: TP-Link TL-WN721N{$14.99}, TL-WN722N{$15.99}, Alfa AWUS036NHA{$28.99}
- Driver: Ath9k_htc (linux), whql 9.2.0.19 (windows 7)***
- Method: Seems to differ between distros/devices. On my laptop with Lubunutu 13.04, ifconfig hw ether didn't seem to work, so I had to use macchanger. On my Raspberry Pi running Raspbian (ARM hardfloat, Wheezy), ifconfig hw ether works fine.
- Notes: Also works on Windows 7. maybe 8 too if you use the win7 driver.
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- Interface: USB, Mini PCIe, Half-mini PCIe, Mini PCI
- Chipset: Ralink RT3070
- Cards: Belkin F6D4050 {$19.99} (v1 and v2, there is no v3), ALFA AWUS036NH {$29.99}, TP-LINK TL-WN7200ND {$22.56}
- Driver: rt2800usb
- Method: Spillpass Pi, or manual setup.
- Notes: Don't know if it works in windows, I actually have the AWUS036NH but it's currently in use... I'll test when I get a chance. Also about high-power adapters, or AWUS036NH in particular (not sure if it's all high power cards or just it) it can randomly screw up and just stop working until you unplug it and plug it back in. Doesn't happen often but it doesn't seem to have a trigger. So, perhaps a tad unreliable.
That's all I've got for now. RTL8188SU can get a changed MAC (linux) but since its driver isn't compatible with cfg80211, nl80211, it won't produce an access point.
*: Thanks to Tane here and BillyBobXray on Reddit for posting this. Configuration details for the sanoxy repeater can be found here: http://goo.gl/FNvTMA
**: Thanks to Dynastid here, for pointing out her LB-Link adapter works perfectly for this.
***: Thanks to Keyra for finding a driver that makes the 9271's work with mac spoofing and hostednetwork on windows
Blacklist
So there are some chipsets you should never buy, ever. Somehow these products make it to market. I assume there's a lack of quality control somewhere.
- Ralink RT3290
- speed drops all over the place, driver errors cause downloads to be corrupted. No driver seems to completely solve the issues.
