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morrownr / USB-WiFi

USB WiFi Adapter Information for Linux
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OpenWRT USB WIFI USB HUB max. 500Mbit/s #290

Open oOEnyaliosOo opened 1 year ago

oOEnyaliosOo commented 1 year ago

Hey guys. Recently i add successfuly this usb wifi adapter:

ALFA AC1200

It works greate. i add an other adapter and it worked greate again. Then i add 2 additional adapters to the usb2.0 ports. Then i get this error/solution:

mt76x2u 1-1.4:1.0: MAC error detected

and I tried this:

echo 1 > /sys/module/mt76_usb/parameters/disable_usb_sg

But it doesn´t help. Then i bougth this USB HUB:

RSHTECH USB3.2 HUB

but if i add all adapter to this hub (4) the sum of Mbit/s all over all wifi (4+onboard) i always get max 500Mbit/s. If i use the 2xUSB3.0 2xUSB2.0 each adapter get max. 144Mbit/s. But if i try to do some speed tests this error appears (mt76x2u 1-1.4:1.0: MAC error detected)

This USB Hub should be good enough to passthroug all the trafic as i think.

If u need infos from commands let me know. I am little bit rusty.

Thanks for your help. Eny

morrownr commented 1 year ago

Hi @oOEnyaliosOo

While I use RasPi;s (4B and 3B) and OpenWRT on my ZyXEL NBG6817 wifi router, I don't have experience with OpenWRT on a RasPi. I use my RasPi4B as an AP but I use my own guide (see Main Menu) to set up the AP with RasPiOS. My Alfa ACM works without issue on both.

I have helped enough users trying to set up an AP on a RasPi4B that I am well aware of many of the problems that the RasPi4B brings to the table. My opinion of the main problems:

  1. All Pi's 3B forward only allocate 1200 mA of power to the USB subsystem. This is FAR below spec as spec would be 2800 mA. Many users are unaware of how limited the power is and exceed this limit. This will show up in various ways.

  2. Using external powered hubs is a formula for problems. The internet is littered with reports of users that have numerous problems with external usb powered hubs. A lot of evidence seems to indicate power backflows into the Pi causing various problems. This also happens on some non-Pi computers.

  3. The USB3 hub chipset is problematic. It is not clear whether it is a hardware problem or a driver problem or a combiation of both.

The primary reason I use my guide for setting up an AP is that I need a platform where I can change out adapters regular to test problems that users are reporting. Remember that I maintain serveral drivers here at this site. This just would not work with OpenWRT.

My basic configuration is as such:

Dual band: Alfa ACM in a USB3 port. Alfa ACHM in a USB2 port.

Both of these adapters use a maximum of about 400 mA so 1200 - 800 still leaves me with about 400 mA to play with if I want to do. Usually I have a USB Webcam plugged into the other USB2 port. Overall, I stay well below 1200 mA.

I run headless so that I don't have to worry about power use of a keyboard and mouse. I also shut some internal things that use power down if I do not need them... sound, bluetooth, some LED's, etc.

It would help if we knew what model of RasPi you have and also the chipset in each adapter as well as anything else you have plugged into a USB port.

@morrownr