On Wed, Aug 24, 2022 at 9:45 PM John Scott <jsc...@posteo.net> wrote:
> I would like to recap some points that've already been shared in this > thread and also give some advice for those who want to use libre USB Wi- > Fi adapters with Debian GNU/Linux. > > The best one can do with free software right now is 802.11n. There are > two main families of chipsets for USB wireless adapters, ath9k_htc > (AR7010 & AR9271) and "carl9170" (AR9170). The latter has some issues > with 802.11n setups, so the former should be preferred. > > AR9271 is never dual-band capable; it is always 2.4GHz only. Whether an > AR7010 or AR9170 adapter is dual-band capable depends on what wireless > chip it is paired with. In general dual-band capable AR7010 adapters are > somewhat challenging to find, but dual-band AR9170 adapters are easy to > find. Thanks I found a AR9271 on Amazon for $12.00 much better than $50. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B082Q2XFB9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I do not need Gbps speeds as my connectivity bottle necks on my 4G LTE home internet at 600 Kbps. > For those interested in the technical details, ath9k_htc uses a custom > Xtensa CPU and as such requires a custom cross toolchain. Currently we > build this free firmware in Debian completely from source, which is > quite an achievement! I'm the current maintainer of open-ath9k-htc- > firmware in Debian (more on that package later), but much credit goes to > the former maintainer Oleksij Rempel, especially for his encouragement > of me. AR9170 uses an ordinary SuperH-2 CPU, and as such the carl9170 > firmware can be built with a standard SuperH cross toolchain. I've > currently packaged gcc-sh-elf and binutils-sh-elf in Debian Unstable, so > that when I get around to it (or when someone I can mentor expresses > interest 😉️) we can build carl9170 from source as well. > > The firmware for AR9170 (AKA carl9170) is currently shipped in the > firmware-linux-free package. However, due to complicated historical > reasons, the firmware for ath9k_htc is in a separate firmware-ath9k-htc > package, which tragically is not installed by default like all other > free firmware is. There is a common misconception that because ath9k_htc > adapters don't work out-of-the-box, but because the firmware also > happens to be in the non-free firmware-atheros package, that this is > actually non-free. That's not true; it's a fluke that the ath9k_htc > firmware is in firmware-atheros, and we're working to get it removed > from there. > > So here's what I want to emphasize: if there's a chance you'll be using > an ath9k_htc adapter, install the firmware-ath9k-htc package. If you > don't know whether the adapter you have (or will have) has ath9k_htc, > installing that package won't hurt. > > In general, for issues such as this, one should consult the Free > Software Foundation's Respects Your Freedom program, which certifies > devices that are guaranteed to be the best one can do with free > software. ThinkPenguin is just one of many vendors that sells USB > wireless adapters that work with free software+firmware. > > Also, neither carl9170 nor ath9k_htc work with the Debian Installer > right now, so if one needs to install over Wi-Fi, the Live installer > should be considered. > > Disclaimer: I have been compensated by ThinkPenguin, an FSF RYF vendor, > for my Debian wireless packaging work. > > If anyone has questions on the matter, or would like to help with > wireless hacking, anyone is welcome to reach me privately. > -- ⢀⣴⠾⠻⢶⣦⠀ ⣾⠁⢠⠒⠀⣿⡁ Debian - The universal operating system ⢿⡄⠘⠷⠚⠋⠀ https://www.debian.org/ ⠈⠳⣄⠀⠀
