USB Wifi Adapter

[hwzlite]

Fenvi WiFi 6E AXE5400 USB adapter is based on Realtek RTL8832CU.

I find it has compatibility issues with my Asus RT-AX86U (packet loss, Broadcom BCM4908 CPU + BCM43684 5GHz WiFi chipset) but no issues with my ZTE BE7200 Pro+ (ZTE CPU + MediaTek WiFi chipset). Tested with my Acer Windows 11 laptop for multiple times (close range).

1) Packet loss with Asus RT-AX86U router (CH60, DFS, 80MHz channel width)

Fenvi got multiple version of AX1800 USB WiFi adapter
One of them is based on Realtek 8832AU -- (without two antennas sticking out), the driver is built-in the adapter (emulated as a CD-ROM by Windows).

No packet loss with my Asus RT-AX86U, tested with Acer Windows 11 laptop, 3m away.

Hmmm..... both using the same 8832AU driver version?

 

[xiaofan]

Hmmm..... both using the same 8832AU driver version?

Looks like different driver version.

AXE5400 Realtek 8832CU -- Realtek 5001.19.102.0, date 26-Jul-2023
AX1800 Realtek 8832AU -- Realtek 5001.0.15.110, date 19-Apr-2022

 

[hwzlite]

Looks like different driver version.

AXE5400 Realtek 8832CU -- Realtek 5001.19.102.0, date 26-Jul-2023
AX1800 Realtek 8832AU -- Realtek 5001.0.15.110, date 19-Apr-2022

Even got latest 5001.19.113.0 (15 Nov 2023)

 

[xiaofan]

All in all, I will not recommend Realtek 8832CU based WiFi 6E adapter based on my testing results. And the fact it does not work Linux is also a factor to consider.

I actually do not need a USB to WiFi adapters now. I just bought the above mentioned Fenvi WiFi 6 adapter for testing purpose.

All my main computers which need WiFi have good Intel WiFi adapters built-in.

Mac Mini M1 2020 -- built-in WiFi 6 (2x2 AX 80MHz)
Acer Swift 3 laptop 2021 (Windows 11/Linux dual boot) -- Intel AX201 adapter (2x2 AX 160MHz)
Acer Swift 3 laptop 2017 (Windows 11) -- upgraded to Intel AX200 (2x2 AX 160MHz)
Intel N100 mini PC x 2 (Chuwi Herobox 2023, Windows 11/Linux dual boot) -- Intel AX101 built-in (1x1 AX 80MHz)

 

[TanKianW]

All in all, I will not recommend Realtek 8832CU based WiFi 6E adapter based on my testing results. And the fact it does not work Linux is also a factor to consider.

I actually do not need a USB to WiFi adapters now. I just bought the above mentioned Fenvi WiFi 6 adapter for testing purpose.

All my main computers which need WiFi have good Intel WiFi adapters built-in.

Mac Mini M1 2020 -- built-in WiFi 6 (2x2 AX 80MHz)
Acer Swift 3 laptop 2021 (Windows 11/Linux dual boot) -- Intel AX201 adapter (2x2 AX 160MHz)
Acer Swift 3 laptop 2017 (Windows 11) -- upgraded to Intel AX200 (2x2 AX 160MHz)
Intel N100 mini PC x 2 (Chuwi Herobox 2023, Windows 11/Linux dual boot) -- Intel AX101 built-in (1x1 AX 80MHz)

I also prefer Intel wireless cards too.

if I had to use a USB-wifi adapter, I would use a mini-PCIE wifi/M.2 wifi card carrier-board powered over USB-C. So I can have a choice of any wifi card. You can easily get the carrier-board on Taobao.​

 

[xiaofan]

I also prefer Intel wireless cards too.

if I had to use a USB-wifi adapter, I would use a mini-PCIE wifi/M.2 wifi card carrier-board powered over USB-C. So I can have a choice of any wifi card. You can easily get the carrier-board on Taobao.​

Nice idea.

What is the keyword to search in Taobao? I see most of carrier board with USB Type A or Type C interface is for M2 SSD card.

 

[kimsix]

I also prefer Intel wireless cards too.

if I had to use a USB-wifi adapter, I would use a mini-PCIE wifi/M.2 wifi card carrier-board powered over USB-C. So I can have a choice of any wifi card. You can easily get the carrier-board on Taobao.​

Will you give this qualcomm wifi7 chipset a test run and see if it’s recommended

https://www.amazon.sg/MSI-Herald-BE-NCM865-Multi-Link-Technology/dp/B0CVJPCQFJ

Thinking if you approved, buy one and take out and put on a usb carrier board, but which board is good?

 

[xiaofan]

Will you give this qualcomm wifi7 chipset a test run and see if it’s recommended

https://www.amazon.sg/MSI-Herald-BE-NCM865-Multi-Link-Technology/dp/B0CVJPCQFJ

Thinking if you approved, buy one and take out and put on a usb carrier board, but which board is good?

Why not to go with Intel BE200 based adapter?

But if @TanKianW's idea using USB carrier board works, I will buy different types of WiFi 7 notebook adapters to try out myself. They are not expensive from Taobao.

 

[kimsix]

Why not to go with Intel BE200 based adapter?

But if @TanKianW's idea using USB carrier board works, I will buy different types of WiFi 7 notebook adapters to try out myself. They are not expensive from Taobao.

Mainly for compatibility for amd chipset. Qualcomm wireless should be quite good as intel but need real testers

 

[TanKianW]

Will you give this qualcomm wifi7 chipset a test run and see if it’s recommended

https://www.amazon.sg/MSI-Herald-BE-NCM865-Multi-Link-Technology/dp/B0CVJPCQFJ

Thinking if you approved, buy one and take out and put on a usb carrier board, but which board is good?

How to approve if I don't even use "USB WiFi Adapter"? I am the kind who will prefer wiring all up (including my laptop) to switches instead of running wireless kind. ​

Nice idea.

What is the keyword to search in Taobao? I see most of carrier board with USB Type A or Type C interface is for M2 SSD card.

You should be able to use it with "another" add-on mPCIE to the M.2 adapter board. Most OTS housing may not work, that is when you probably need to 3D-print your enclosure with the external antennae mount. I think those 4G/5G mPCIe modem carrier cards should work too. I will assume both are doable, I just never really go about trying it out. ​

 

[TanKianW]

The approach should be quite similar to how I piece up the USB-powered 4G modem for my pfsense firewall. Can probably use the same housing too.

 

[xiaofan]

Mainly for compatibility for amd chipset. Qualcomm wireless should be quite good as intel but need real testers

I see. Either Qualcomm or MediaTek chipsets should be good for AMD platforms.

Not so sure about the USB carrier board idea though if you want to use it as an external USB WiFi adapter.

 

[xiaofan]

You should be able to use it with "another" add-on mPCIE to the M.2 adapter board. Most OTS housing may not work, that is when you probably need to 3D-print your enclosure with the external antennae mount. I think those 4G/5G mPCIe modem carrier cards should work too. I will assume both are doable, I just never really go about trying it out. ​

I see.

Without 3D printing, it seems the idea will be like the following.

USB Type C or Type A --> M2 NVME adapter --> NVME to NGFF carrier board for wireless adapter.

I would not try this myself for now, maybe others can try first...

Rather I will wait for MT7925 based USB WiFi 7 adapters for testing purpose.
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/blob/main/home/USB_WiFi_Chipsets.md

 

[TanKianW]

I see. Either Qualcomm or MediaTek chipsets should be good for AMD platforms.

Not so sure about the USB carrier board idea though if you want to use it as an external USB WiFi adapter.

I see.

Without 3D printing, it seems the idea will be like the following.

USB Type C or Type A --> M2 NVME adapter --> NVME to NGFF carrier board for wireless adapter.

I would not try this myself for now, maybe others can try first...

Rather I will wait for MT7925 based WiFi 7 adapters.
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/blob/main/home/USB_WiFi_Chipsets.md

We need more beta testers!

Come, come, come, all go taobao buy and test it out!

I think there are "internal PCIE" wifi card carrier boards for desktop PCs too. Some mobo that comes with built-in wifi can also just swap the wireless card for a higher-end one. I swapped the AC wireless card on my Asrock mobo to an AX one easily. ​

 

[kimsix]

We need more beta testers!

Come, come, come, all go taobao buy and test it out!

I think there are "internal PCIE" wifi card carrier boards for desktop PCs too. Some mobo that comes with built-in wifi can also just swap the wireless card for a higher-end one. I swapped the AC wireless card on my Asrock mobo to an AX one easily. ​

Time to swap out and upgrade your asrock ax to qualcomm be

 

[TanKianW]

Time to swap out and upgrade your asrock ax to qualcomm be

Bro, my home APs still using wifi 6 nia.

Been using WiFi5 (AC) for the past 8+ years until recently the pair of APs uplorry then upgraded to dusty second-hand APs (bort cheaply from my vendor). I am not the type chasing the "bleeding age" of WiFi. If still can use, I will continue to use.​

 

[Mach3.2]

Bro, my home APs still using wifi 6 nia.

Been using WiFi5 (AC) for the past 8+ years until recently the pair of APs uplorry then upgraded to dusty second-hand APs (bort cheaply from my vendor). I am not the type chasing the "bleeding age" of WiFi. If still can use, I will continue to use.​

I think we both same school of thought; wifi is on best effort basis, anything impt is wired to the switch.

plus wifi7 is still new atm, let the tech mature a bit and wait for prices to fall.

 

[xiaofan]

I think there are "internal PCIE" wifi card carrier boards for desktop PCs too. Some mobo that comes with built-in wifi can also just swap the wireless card for a higher-end one. I swapped the AC wireless card on my Asrock mobo to an AX one easily. ​

That will work.

The issue is more on the USB side, I google "Intel be200 with usb to mini pcie" and there is no success story.

 

[xiaofan]

I think we both same school of thought; wifi is on best effort basis, anything impt is wired to the switch.

plus wifi7 is still new atm, let the tech mature a bit and wait for prices to fall.

Haha, I am not chasing for WiFi 7 either as true WiFi 7 routers are still quite expensive. Same for 10G. I know you and @TanKianW are supporter of 10G home networks. @TanKianW even has MR 10G Fibre internet plan.

WiFi 6 and 2.5G Ethernet are good enough for me now. I have the ZTE BE7200 Pro+ router (China version of WiFi 7) which I use as a WiFi 6 AP even though it supports some WiFi 7 features (but no 6GHz band and no 320MHz channel bandwidth).

But I should have WiFi 7 capable gears (say one laptop and one Mini PC) next year (year 2025). Most likely I will still not have any 10G gear in year 2025.

 

[Mach3.2]

yeah nth much at home supports wifi 7 bar 1 laptop that was purchased a few months ago, so no need to rush for an upgrade.

The plastic on my wifi5 APs have yellowed a bit from heat and I'm not sure when will they give up the ghost..

Maybe move to wifi6 when they do decide to die, most device at home support wifi6 already.

Re: 10GbE network

Spoiler: 10GbE network

Honestly, most regular users that only surf web and stream videos don't have a use case that would warrant the cost for an 10GbE upgrade
I went 10GbE simply to speed up my weekly hypervisor backups, went from 1Gbps to 5-6Gbps peak transfer rate. Backups done in under 7 minutes vs 20-30 minutes on a 1GbE connection.

10GbE is really nice to have if you have a storage target attached to the network.

But let's not digress any further in a wifi thread.