Posted by: Anonymous
[ip: 63.173.0.195]
on April 03, 2008 04:39 PM
Wireless support in Linux is getting better, but still not great. I really like how the author pointed out that some of these drivers are completely free. A lot of people miss that point. I know a lot of poeople use linux and don't care how it works. But there are even more that understand that it works because everything should be FOSS. Using a binary firmware simply moves part of the black box from the kernel to the card. This also is the reason why some wireless cards work with certain distros and why they won't with others. Some distros which really follow the GPL won't include these binary blobs. Personally i'd recommend a card that has completely FOSS drivers. This way you know it will work on any distro also long as the kernel is over a certain number.
I'd recommond 2 cards and am evaluationg a third.
I have an asus wl-107g which uses the rt2500 chipset. Its funny ralinks older cards are the ones i'd recoommend. Anything newer needs a binary firmware. To answer someoens questions poster earlier about this card. There were a few bugs in the earlier version of the rt2x00 driver. Many issues with speed should be resolved with the 2.6.25 version of the kernel. This card also supports wpa2 with aes. I got mine at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320105
Second I'd recommend most cards with atheros chipset. The atherso cards with ar5212 chipsets work exceptionally well with madwifi driver. They support many features included wpa2 with aes. I bought a trendnet TEW441-PC. Now you ask didn't you just say you should buy cards that are fully free. Well with the 2.6.25 version of the kernel there will be a completely foss driver for this card (ath5). You can download rc8 to begin testing now.
I'm also just ordered a chiefmax usb dongle with the realtek 8187L chipset. This was the first chipset to be included with the mainline kernel that was written using the mac80211 wireless stack. From all reports this card is well supported after kernel 2.6.24. And can handle wpa2 with aes. I just orderded this card at http://3btech.net/ch20hi80wimi.html. I have heard the netgear wg111v2 uses this chipset as well, BUT I think some of these cards use the prism chipset. That is so annoying when a vendor changes chipsets but keeps the same name.
I have heard in the 2.6.25 version of the kernel will support 8180 and 8185 realtek wireless chipsets. I believe these are the chipsets you will find in many versions of they're pcmcia and pci wireless cards.
If anyone knows of any other cards that use completely open source drivers please write back.
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Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 63.173.0.195] on April 03, 2008 04:39 PMI'd recommond 2 cards and am evaluationg a third.
I have an asus wl-107g which uses the rt2500 chipset. Its funny ralinks older cards are the ones i'd recoommend. Anything newer needs a binary firmware. To answer someoens questions poster earlier about this card. There were a few bugs in the earlier version of the rt2x00 driver. Many issues with speed should be resolved with the 2.6.25 version of the kernel. This card also supports wpa2 with aes. I got mine at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320105
Second I'd recommend most cards with atheros chipset. The atherso cards with ar5212 chipsets work exceptionally well with madwifi driver. They support many features included wpa2 with aes. I bought a trendnet TEW441-PC. Now you ask didn't you just say you should buy cards that are fully free. Well with the 2.6.25 version of the kernel there will be a completely foss driver for this card (ath5). You can download rc8 to begin testing now.
I'm also just ordered a chiefmax usb dongle with the realtek 8187L chipset. This was the first chipset to be included with the mainline kernel that was written using the mac80211 wireless stack. From all reports this card is well supported after kernel 2.6.24. And can handle wpa2 with aes. I just orderded this card at http://3btech.net/ch20hi80wimi.html. I have heard the netgear wg111v2 uses this chipset as well, BUT I think some of these cards use the prism chipset. That is so annoying when a vendor changes chipsets but keeps the same name.
Some newer cards with the realtek 8187b chipset should work if you get the drivers at. http://www.datanorth.net/~cuervo/rtl8187b/ I have not tested these derivers but I do have a card.
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5349928 I figured for 9 bucks why not. This driver also does not require any binary firmware either.
I have heard in the 2.6.25 version of the kernel will support 8180 and 8185 realtek wireless chipsets. I believe these are the chipsets you will find in many versions of they're pcmcia and pci wireless cards.
If anyone knows of any other cards that use completely open source drivers please write back.
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