Supported wifi adapters AC1300 wifi5 dual band and IMEXX usb2.0

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 1:57am

I have the above USB wifi adapter which is:-

ImEXX Realtek 802.11n NIC

Im using the latest openwrt software for a Raspberry pi 4 and while I am able to connect to the pi via its internal 5G wifi i cannot seem to initialize 2.4g wifi( i believe both can be done at the same time once if have more than one wifi adapter) using this external wifi adapter

Here is my deivce and usb outputs

ubus call system board
{
"kernel": "5.15.167",
"hostname": "raspberrypi",
"system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 3",
"model": "Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5",
"board_name": "raspberrypi,4-model-b",
"rootfs_type": "ext4",
"release": {
"distribution": "OpenWrt",
"version": "23.05.5",
"revision": "r24106-10cc5fcd00",
"target": "bcm27xx/bcm2711",
"description": "OpenWrt 23.05.5 r24106-10cc5fcd00"
}
}

and

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0bda:818b Realtek 802.11n NIC

other output

[ 2563.548164] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 3
[ 2566.381383] usb 1-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[ 2566.512126] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=818b, bcdDevice= 2.00
[ 2566.520492] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 2566.527835] usb 1-1.3: Product: 802.11n NIC
[ 2566.532043] usb 1-1.3: Manufacturer: Realtek
[ 2566.536317] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 1CBFCE8E13B3

Can anyone confirm if the IMEXX can work with OPENWRT?

brada4 · December 1, 2024, 2:24am

modinfo rtl8xxxu
alias:          usb:v0BDAp818Bd*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFFin*

i.e

opkg install kmod-rtl8xxxu

check iw list for supported "combinations" of access point and client. You will be lucky if you get more than one client.

There is no simultaneous dual-band usb adapter ever made.

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 2:49am

Hi Thanks for the feedback but.... would you be able to break this down for me in laymans terms?

What I am trying to achieve is to be able to transmit both 2.4G and 5G to my devices. t the moment Im able to connect 5G devices( except on 1) using a legacy

Mode: Master | SSID: PiWiFi_5G
BSSID: D8:3A:DD:48:C6:30
Encryption: mixed WPA/WPA2 PSK (CCMP)
Channel: 149 (5.745 GHz)
Tx-Power: 31 dBm
Signal: 0 dBm | Noise: 0 dBm
Bitrate: 79.4 Mbit/s | Country: 00

Im so im trying to see if I can now connect 2.4g devices using the wifi adapter

iw list gives me

Wiphy phy1
wiphy index: 1
max # scan SSIDs: 10
max scan IEs length: 2048 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 16
max # match sets: 16
Retry short limit: 7
Retry long limit: 4
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Available Antennas: TX 0 RX 0
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
* P2P-device
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x1022
HT20/HT40
Static SM Power Save
RX HT20 SGI
No RX STBC
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 16 usec (0x07)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (disabled)
* 2472 MHz [13] (disabled)
* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x1062
HT20/HT40
Static SM Power Save
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
No RX STBC
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 16 usec (0x07)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
VHT Capabilities (0x00001020):
Max MPDU length: 3895
Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
short GI (80 MHz)
SU Beamformee
VHT RX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: not supported
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT TX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: not supported
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT extended NSS: not supported
Frequencies:
* 5170 MHz [34] (disabled)
* 5180 MHz [36] (20.0 dBm)
* 5190 MHz [38] (disabled)
* 5200 MHz [40] (20.0 dBm)
* 5210 MHz [42] (disabled)
* 5220 MHz [44] (20.0 dBm)
* 5230 MHz [46] (disabled)
* 5240 MHz [48] (20.0 dBm)
* 5260 MHz [52] (disabled)
* 5280 MHz [56] (disabled)
* 5300 MHz [60] (disabled)
* 5320 MHz [64] (disabled)
* 5500 MHz [100] (disabled)
* 5520 MHz [104] (disabled)
* 5540 MHz [108] (disabled)
* 5560 MHz [112] (disabled)
* 5580 MHz [116] (disabled)
* 5600 MHz [120] (disabled)
* 5620 MHz [124] (disabled)
* 5640 MHz [128] (disabled)
* 5660 MHz [132] (disabled)
* 5680 MHz [136] (disabled)
* 5700 MHz [140] (disabled)
* 5720 MHz [144] (disabled)
* 5745 MHz [149] (20.0 dBm)
* 5765 MHz [153] (20.0 dBm)
* 5785 MHz [157] (20.0 dBm)
* 5805 MHz [161] (20.0 dBm)
* 5825 MHz [165] (20.0 dBm)
valid interface combinations:
* #{ managed } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1, #{ P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1,
total <= 3, #channels <= 2
* #{ managed } <= 1, #{ AP } <= 1, #{ P2P-client } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
total <= 4, #channels <= 1
max # scan plans: 1
max scan plan interval: 508
max scan plan iterations: 0
Supported extended features:
* [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
* [ DFS_OFFLOAD ]: DFS offload

Which I do not understand really. However I do not seem to have any additional interfaces since the adapter is plugged in.

Please advise

brada4 · December 1, 2024, 3:57am

karneaud:

valid interface combinations:
* #{ managed } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1, #{ P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1,
total <= 3, #channels <= 2
* #{ managed } <= 1, #{ AP } <= 1, #{ P2P-client } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
total <= 4, #channels <= 1

one client + one ap , no mesh.

set wifi country and re-check channels posdible, looks like no dfs supported and you will get few 5ghz channels only.

frollic · December 1, 2024, 11:18am

Not configuring this is also a bad idea.

lleachii · December 1, 2024, 11:21am

If I understand you correctly, (after installing
the kmod), you'd hit the Add button under Wireless to setup and configure the USB WiFi adapter you connected.

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 2:44pm

What does this imply? Are you saying that I cannot have 5G internal wifi adapter and a 2.4G external wifi adapter transmitting as access points at the same time?

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 2:44pm

Not sure why that is but I will rectify it. Thanks!

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 2:52pm

@brada4 @frollic Hey guys I updated my initial post comment as I believe it may have been previously misinterpreted. I'm trying to use 2 wifi adapters one internal(5g) and one external (2.4g) to use as access points for my raspberry pi 4 and I've only gotten the former to work. The output above seems to be for the internal wifi adapter and not the external.

I'm trying to ascertain if the external can work.

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 2:58pm

Latest output after installing RealTek rtl8188 xxxx custom drivers

usb 1-1.3: Vendor: Realtek
[ 5.803440] usb 1-1.3: Product: 802.11n NIC
[ 5.807620] usb 1-1.3: Serial not available.
[ 5.811896] usb 1-1.3: rtl8192eu_parse_efuse: dumping efuse (0x200 bytes):
[ 5.818775] usb 1-1.3: 00: 29 81 00 7c 01 40 03 00
[ 5.823563] usb 1-1.3: 08: 40 74 04 50 14 00 00 00
[ 5.828350] usb 1-1.3: 10: 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29
[ 5.833132] usb 1-1.3: 18: 29 2a 2a 01 ef ef ff ff
[ 5.837921] usb 1-1.3: 20: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.842704] usb 1-1.3: 28: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.847485] usb 1-1.3: 30: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.852272] usb 1-1.3: 38: ff ff 2e 2e 2e 2e 2e 2e
[ 5.857054] usb 1-1.3: 40: 2e 2e 2e 2e 2e 02 ef ef
[ 5.861839] usb 1-1.3: 48: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.866621] usb 1-1.3: 50: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.871406] usb 1-1.3: 58: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.876189] usb 1-1.3: 60: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.880974] usb 1-1.3: 68: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.885756] usb 1-1.3: 70: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.890541] usb 1-1.3: 78: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.895323] usb 1-1.3: 80: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.900108] usb 1-1.3: 88: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.904890] usb 1-1.3: 90: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.909676] usb 1-1.3: 98: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.914458] usb 1-1.3: a0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.919246] usb 1-1.3: a8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.924028] usb 1-1.3: b0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.928814] usb 1-1.3: b8: 20 20 1a 00 00 00 ff ff
[ 5.933596] usb 1-1.3: c0: ff 01 00 10 00 00 00 ff
[ 5.938381] usb 1-1.3: c8: 00 00 ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.943164] usb 1-1.3: d0: da 0b 8b 81 e6 47 02 1c
[ 5.947951] usb 1-1.3: d8: bf ce 8e 13 b3 09 03 52
[ 5.952734] usb 1-1.3: e0: 65 61 6c 74 65 6b 0d 03
[ 5.957516] usb 1-1.3: e8: 38 30 32 2e 31 31 6e 20
[ 5.962301] usb 1-1.3: f0: 4e 49 43 00 ff ff ff ff
[ 5.967083] usb 1-1.3: f8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.971869] usb 1-1.3: 100: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.976738] usb 1-1.3: 108: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.981609] usb 1-1.3: 110: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff 0d
[ 5.986479] usb 1-1.3: 118: 03 00 05 00 30 00 00 00
[ 5.991351] usb 1-1.3: 120: 00 93 ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 5.996220] usb 1-1.3: 128: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.001091] usb 1-1.3: 130: f6 a8 98 2d 03 92 98 00
[ 6.005960] usb 1-1.3: 138: fc 8c 00 11 9b 44 02 0a
[ 6.010832] usb 1-1.3: 140: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.015701] usb 1-1.3: 148: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.020574] usb 1-1.3: 150: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.025442] usb 1-1.3: 158: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.030315] usb 1-1.3: 160: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.035183] usb 1-1.3: 168: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.040058] usb 1-1.3: 170: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.044927] usb 1-1.3: 178: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.049799] usb 1-1.3: 180: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.054668] usb 1-1.3: 188: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.059540] usb 1-1.3: 190: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.064409] usb 1-1.3: 198: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.069281] usb 1-1.3: 1a0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.074150] usb 1-1.3: 1a8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.079022] usb 1-1.3: 1b0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.083891] usb 1-1.3: 1b8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.088762] usb 1-1.3: 1c0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.093632] usb 1-1.3: 1c8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.098504] usb 1-1.3: 1d0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.103373] usb 1-1.3: 1d8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.108245] usb 1-1.3: 1e0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.113114] usb 1-1.3: 1e8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.117985] usb 1-1.3: 1f0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.122854] usb 1-1.3: 1f8: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
[ 6.127727] usb 1-1.3: RTL8192EU rev B (SMIC) 2T2R, TX queues 3, WiFi=1, BT=0, GPS=0, HI PA=0
[ 6.136247] usb 1-1.3: RTL8192EU MAC: 1c:bf:ce:8e:13:b3
[ 6.141467] usb 1-1.3: rtl8xxxu: Loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192eu_nic.bin
[ 6.149238] usb 1-1.3: Direct firmware load for rtlwifi/rtl8192eu_nic.bin failed with error -2
[ 6.157856] usb 1-1.3: Falling back to sysfs fallback for: rtlwifi/rtl8192eu_nic.bin
[ 6.170112] usb 1-1.3: request_firmware(rtlwifi/rtl8192eu_nic.bin) failed
[ 6.176913] usb 1-1.3: Fatal - failed to load firmware
[ 6.182065] rtl8xxxu: probe of 1-1.3:1.0 failed with error -11
[ 6.187925] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8xxxu

brada4 · December 1, 2024, 3:15pm

Seems mainline driver worked better? I think it is a good idea to stick with it.

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 3:20pm

The mainline driver does indeed work better. However, I am unable to add 2.4 + 5G support simultaneously ( which seems like it cannot based on feedback). Forgive me if I'm not understanding but wouldn't the additional external wifi give me the ability to have both 2.4G( external) and 5G ( internal)? If this is possible then I'm just trying to ascertain if the model USB wifi adapter works with Openwrt/ Rpi4

frollic · December 1, 2024, 3:22pm

Yeah, I changed my previously post earlier, because I wasn't sure what you meant.

As for the built in BCM wifi, it's going to get you legacy speeds, at best - https://openwrt.org/meta/infobox/broadcom_wifi.

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 3:32pm

Ok great and I'm ok with it. FYI i'm in a "legacy NON U.S. country" My REAL question is WHY is OPENWRT not recognizing t he additional wifi external adapter? Is it missing the driver? What is the driver package

This is what's currently installed

Your insight is greatly appreciated.

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 3:33pm

is there an RTL8812bu driver for openwrt?

frollic · December 1, 2024, 3:35pm

problem isn't where you are, it's lack of FOSS drivers from BCM.

RTL support in Linux is sh-it, at best, search the forum for 0bda:818b.

You could try a snapshot, some things actually improved with the v6 kernel.

https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/blob/main/home/USB_WiFi_Chipsets.md contains useful info about USB wifi support in Linux.

brada4 · December 1, 2024, 3:58pm

Did you read this?

karneaud · December 1, 2024, 4:00pm

Your comment did the trick. A search led me to this thread

So I had to install the rtl8192eu drivers.

A reboot gives me the below which was not happening before

So i created a wifi ap but seems to be disabled by default.... Do I need to add a new interface ? Why is it "disabled"?

lleachii · December 1, 2024, 4:02pm

Wireless is always disabled by default in OpenWrt for security.

It could also be it doesn't do AP.

frollic · December 1, 2024, 4:02pm

RTL often doesn't support AP mode