USB Wi-Fi Adapters for Raspberry Pi(rate)Box

The official eLinux wiki provides information about Verified Raspberry Pi WiFi Adapters. Unfortunately not all devices have been tested for AP (Access Point) functionality, which is a core requirement for building a Pi(rate)Box. Look for the Chipset of supported devices, other devices with the same Chipset will also have AP functionality.

The following USB Wi-Fi Adapters are confirmed as working out of the box with the PirateBox:

Please note: Some USB Wi-Fi Adapters will only work with a compatible USB hub. More info about compatible USB hubs on the eLinux Wiki.

• Ralink RT5370 based USB-devices like this from Detroit DIY Electronics
• TP-Link TL-WN822N - until version 2 (currently version 3 is on the market, see below)
• TP-Link TL-WN822N newer versions (v3)
• D-Link DWL-G122 - confirmed as working without USB hub.
• Alfa AWUS036NH
• TP-LINK TL-WDN3200 - confirmed with B+
• Edimax EW-7811Un
• D-Link DWA-123 WIRELESS N 150 USB
• TP-Link TL-WN722N 1.0 & 1.1 - If you buy a new one, it is an unsupported 2.0 version.
• The 'WIPI' adapter - from cpc.co.uk works straight out of the box. i.e. FCC ID: OYR-COMFAST88
• TENDA W541U V2.0

If you know of an adapter that is confirmed working and not listed above, please report it in the PirateBox forum. Please also take the time to mark the device AP capable on the eLinux wiki.

• Widemac USB 2.0 150 MBps 801.11N

Edit /opt/piratebox/conf/hostapd.conf and put a # in front of the following lines

 driver=nl80211 
 ieee80211n=1 

hostapd needs to be exchanged for that device. See this forum thread for a detailed HowTo

• D-Link DWA-131

• Alfa AWUS0306H - not with drivers builtin in RPi. Driver can't work with “AP/Master mode” Source: kernel.org
• Edimax - EW-7711UAn Newer versions don't work anymore.
• TP-Link TL-WN722N 2.0 , different chipset, which is not recognized seamlessly.