USB Wifi Adapter

[xiaofan]

Even got latest 5001.19.113.0 (15 Nov 2023)

Thanks.

Looks the driver is not compatible with Realtek 8832AU based Fenvi AX1800 (no sticking out antenna), Windows 11 reported Code 10 (driver can not start). I have to revert back to the original 5001.0.15.110 driver version bundled with the adapter.

The driver does work with the AXE5400 Realtek 8832CU based Fenvi AXE5400 adapter. And it does NOT help to sort out the packet loss issue with Asus router.
AXE5400 Realtek 8832CU -- Realtek 5001.19.102.0, date 26-Jul-2023 (bundled with the adapter)--> updated to 5001.19.113.0 dated 15-Nov-2023. This adapter is quite annoying that it always boot to USB CD-ROM and I need to eject the CD-ROM in order to use it as an WiFi adapter.

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.83 ms   (jitter: 0.61ms, low: 2.44ms, high: 4.59ms)
    Download:   699.65 Mbps (data used: 1.1 GB)
                 10.97 ms   (jitter: 20.87ms, low: 3.10ms, high: 532.48ms)
      Upload:   527.63 Mbps (data used: 625.1 MB)
                 24.29 ms   (jitter: 11.07ms, low: 5.24ms, high: 75.57ms)
 Packet Loss:     4.5%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/50893d2b-2314-4281-8ef2-16f5b4cb23e5

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.89 ms   (jitter: 0.37ms, low: 2.74ms, high: 3.45ms)
    Download:   585.95 Mbps (data used: 717.0 MB)
                 13.53 ms   (jitter: 14.34ms, low: 5.20ms, high: 245.63ms)
      Upload:   477.90 Mbps (data used: 843.8 MB)
                 32.46 ms   (jitter: 11.39ms, low: 10.26ms, high: 95.05ms)
 Packet Loss:     1.7%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/16e6807d-f658-4742-bfa1-1d650cf6d7d0

I tried to disable 6GHz band and it does not help either.

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.85 ms   (jitter: 0.15ms, low: 2.72ms, high: 3.10ms)
    Download:   696.33 Mbps (data used: 832.6 MB)
                 11.22 ms   (jitter: 11.41ms, low: 3.76ms, high: 232.65ms)
      Upload:   436.89 Mbps (data used: 572.8 MB)
                 31.47 ms   (jitter: 13.68ms, low: 5.36ms, high: 169.32ms)
 Packet Loss:     2.3%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/240ad7df-7d08-44e9-b821-9954bb19c65b

 

[xiaofan]

There are other brands which are based on Realtek 8832CU (AXE5400), let's see if users of Comfast 972AX (Realtek RTL8832cu based) or other brands will have better lucks or not.

Google does not seem to find such an issue though.

 

[xiaofan]

The other interesting finding of all the three Fenvi WiFi 6/6E adapters is that they do not support "Random hardware addresses". They are flagged out by Windows in RED color that "Random hardware addresses" is "not supported by these adapters: WiFi x".

 

[xiaofan]

There are other brands which are based on Realtek 8832CU (AXE5400), let's see if users of Comfast 972AX (Realtek RTL8832cu based) or other brands will have better lucks or not.

Google does not seem to find such an issue though.

Interestingly I do not see such issue in another Intel N100 mini PC (exactly the same HW configuration as the previous Intel N100 mini PC, both are Chuwi Herobox 2023 model with Intel N100, 8GB/256GB. Intel AX101 WiFi 6 adapter).

I tested multiple times and I could not reproduce the packet loss issue with the Asus RT-AX86U router in this Intel N100 mini PC.

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.52 ms   (jitter: 0.40ms, low: 2.38ms, high: 3.19ms)
    Download:   604.72 Mbps (data used: 555.3 MB)
                  8.31 ms   (jitter: 3.72ms, low: 4.85ms, high: 42.99ms)
      Upload:   405.61 Mbps (data used: 463.5 MB)
                 33.22 ms   (jitter: 10.67ms, low: 7.94ms, high: 64.38ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/a0622bad-af24-48be-ae28-2d178269df3b

 

[xiaofan]

Interestingly I do not see such issue in another Intel N100 mini PC (exactly the same HW configuration as the previous Intel N100 mini PC, both are Chuwi Herobox 2023 model with Intel N100, 8GB/256GB. Intel AX101 WiFi 6 adapter).

I tested multiple times and I could not reproduce the packet loss issue with the Asus RT-AX86U router in this Intel N100 mini PC.

Going back to my main Acer Windows 11 laptop and the packet loss issue is also gone. Maybe it was a temporary thingy.

Still using the same driver version: 5001.19.102.0 dated 26-Jul-2023.

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.95 ms   (jitter: 1.30ms, low: 3.30ms, high: 6.12ms)
    Download:   556.94 Mbps (data used: 619.8 MB)
                  9.17 ms   (jitter: 4.12ms, low: 4.70ms, high: 40.10ms)
      Upload:   462.88 Mbps (data used: 684.2 MB)
                 39.69 ms   (jitter: 13.58ms, low: 8.11ms, high: 132.03ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/6e45e4ec-1baf-4b4e-b247-71b1954892fc

PS C:\work\speedtest\ookla-speedtest-1.2.0-win64> .\speedtest.exe -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.90 ms   (jitter: 0.48ms, low: 3.25ms, high: 4.40ms)
    Download:   618.96 Mbps (data used: 997.2 MB)
                  7.72 ms   (jitter: 3.42ms, low: 3.05ms, high: 27.03ms)
      Upload:   419.68 Mbps (data used: 447.9 MB)
                 37.02 ms   (jitter: 12.92ms, low: 8.95ms, high: 135.50ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/56a401c9-f708-45bd-9f1e-efe7f87f18f2

 

[stanlawj]

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

I think you are looking for this M.2 NGFF to USB converter board with housing and external antenna ?

 

[stanlawj]

Or go for better one that based on WIFI6 (802.11ax) instead, like the Comfast 972AX (Realtek RTL8832cu)
or the 952AX (Mediatek MT7921au) for Bestest linux support.

I actually got myself a FENVI AX1800 (Mediatek MT7921au) from taobao , yet to torture-stress test it

Thanks for your recommendations. I bought the Comfast CF-952AX based on your reco for Mediatek chipset. Installed and worked great.

Regarding the Fenvi AX1800 usb wifi, what is the exact model with Mediatek chipset?

 

[xiaofan]

Thanks for your recommendations. I bought the Comfast CF-952AX based on your reco for Mediatek chipset. Installed and worked great.

Regarding the Fenvi AX1800 usb wifi, what is the exact model with Mediatek chipset?

Fenvi FU-AX1800
https://fenvi.com/product_detail_44.html

 

[stanlawj]

Fenvi FU-AX1800
https://fenvi.com/product_detail_44.html

OH thanks. I didn't realise you actually posted much earlier the link to the github page with all the Linux-compatible Mediatek chipsets. It listed all the the USB wifi sticks including Mediatek chipsets.

 

[xiaofan]

As of now, still no MT7925/MT7927 based USB WiFi 7 adapters yet (even though there are PCIe version and M2 version).

I have got RealTek 8912AU based USB WiFi 7 adapters (BE6500 rated) from Comfast and Fenvi, I don't recommend them myself. They don't work under Linux now. Even Windows 11 24H2 recognizes them as USB WiFi 6 adapter.

They seem to draw a lot of current as well and may disappear from Windows device manager from time to time.

The USB WiFi 7 adapters from TP-Link and Asus seem to be using the same chipset as well.

 

[xiaofan]

Comfast CF-983BE BE6500 WiFi 7 adapter,
https://en.comfast.com.cn/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=13&id=258

When it works, then speed is not bad.

3m away from Asus TUF-BE6500 router, CH60, 160MHz channel bandwidth.

Acer Swift 3 early 2021 model, Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU, 16GB/512GB, Windows 11 24H2.

PHY Link Speed 2882Mbps.

OOkla SpeedTest results: download 1600.24 Mbps, upload 1370.16 Mbps.
https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/0176d84c-799a-4f5e-8b87-e087d69d79a0

 

[xiaofan]

Fenvi AXE5400 WiFi 6E adapter
https://www.fenvi.com/product_detail_47.html

5GHz WiFi performance, same setup as before, 3m away from Asus TUF-BE6500 router, Acer Swift 3 early 2021 model running Windows 11 24H2.

 

[xiaofan]

Fenvi AX1800 USB adapter --> FU-AX1801D based on RealTek 8832AU chipset (not the same as FU-AX1800 which is using MediaTek chipset)
https://www.fenvi.com/product_detail_57.html

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/f8372d19-edfe-46da-b2ce-890dc64ac4e4

 

[xiaofan]

Fenvi FU-AX1800 based on MediaTek chipset. Acer Swift 3 early 2021 model running Windows 11 24H2.
https://www.fenvi.com/product_detail_44.html

4m away from the Asus TUF-BE6500 router (PHY Speed 1201Mbps)

 

[xiaofan]

D-Link DWA-X1850 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 USB Adapter (RealTek chipset), 4m away from Asus TUF-BE6500 router, PHY Link speed 1201 Mbps. Acer Swift 3 early 2021 model running Windows 11 24H2.

This does not have external antenna. So you may want to have a USB dock to have better receptions depending on your sitation. The follow test is without the USB dock.

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/377e1fed-4b57-4c6c-b603-0d71ac8ddb8c

 

[xiaofan]

Most of the RealTek WiFi 6/6E/7 USB WiFi adapters will not work properly under Linux, at least with the in-kernel driver.

I only have one USB WiFi 6 adapter which works under Linux out of the box. It is Fenvi FU-AX1800 based on MT7921AU chipset (dual band WiFi 6, AX1800 rated)
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/blob/main/home/USB_WiFi_Chipsets.md

Fenvi FU-AX1800 based on MediaTek chipset.
https://www.fenvi.com/product_detail_44.html

Ryzen 5600G CPU based desktop, Ubuntu Linux 24.04.
4m away from the Asus TUF-BE6500 router

mcuee@PCRyzen5600G:~/build/networking/ookla$ ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.95 ms   (jitter: 0.12ms, low: 2.89ms, high: 3.10ms)
    Download:   664.00 Mbps (data used: 938.8 MB)                                                   
                 27.72 ms   (jitter: 30.43ms, low: 2.36ms, high: 367.99ms)
      Upload:   599.90 Mbps (data used: 984.1 MB)                                                   
                 20.38 ms   (jitter: 28.39ms, low: 5.24ms, high: 246.67ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/28049c3e-f781-4b00-b13d-8c8fd23ece2a

 

[xiaofan]

For those who want to try, there are out-of-tree kernel driver for Linux with the following two RealTek USB WiFi 6 chipsets.
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiF...Fi_Adapter_out-of-kernel_drivers_for_Linux.md
rtl8852/32bu : https://github.com/morrownr/rtl8852bu-20240418
rtl8852/32cu : https://github.com/morrownr/rtl8852cu-20240510

 

[xiaofan]

Fenvi FU-AX1800 works out of box for my Raspberry Pi 400 (running 64 bit Raspberry Pi OS).

It is much faster than the on-board WiFi 5 adapter. 6m away from Asus TUF-BE6500 router. WiFi speed jumps from about 100 Mbps to 680 Mbps.

mcuee@raspberrypi400arm64:~/build/speedtest $ ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     2.92 ms   (jitter: 0.35ms, low: 2.57ms, high: 3.15ms)
    Download:    91.93 Mbps (data used: 90.0 MB)                                                   
                 30.04 ms   (jitter: 14.08ms, low: 10.24ms, high: 64.55ms)
      Upload:   104.55 Mbps (data used: 53.8 MB)                                                   
                 20.03 ms   (jitter: 7.12ms, low: 7.25ms, high: 59.26ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/e57b9ecd-f037-402a-9e51-ca4fc1dc474e

mcuee@raspberrypi400arm64:~/build/speedtest $ ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel Fibre
Idle Latency:     3.69 ms   (jitter: 0.43ms, low: 3.41ms, high: 4.30ms)
    Download:   685.21 Mbps (data used: 326.5 MB)                                                   
                 20.05 ms   (jitter: 7.22ms, low: 4.06ms, high: 36.87ms)
      Upload:   687.57 Mbps (data used: 437.9 MB)                                                   
                 14.89 ms   (jitter: 6.24ms, low: 4.51ms, high: 32.81ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/2c5ad59b-14af-45e5-afe0-06bf3884c471

 

[xiaofan]

Comfast CF-983BE BE6500 WiFi 7 adapter.
https://en.comfast.com.cn/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=13&id=258

Ryzen 5 5600G CPU based desktop.

1) Asus RT-AX86U dual band AX5700 WiFi 6 router, CH149, 5GHz band, 80MHz Channel bandwidth, 1201Mbps PHY speed, 3m away

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/a3dabcf2-ada8-43b6-8cef-1f2758687b6c

2) Asus TUF-BE6500 dual band BE6500 WiFi 7 router, CH60, 5GHz band, 160MHz Channel bandwidth, 2882 Mbps PHY speed, 4m away

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/0e56c155-5115-4e30-9865-ac69508178dd

3) TP-Link HB710 triband BE18000 WiFi 7 router, CH60, 5GHz band, 160MHz Channel bandwidth, 2882 Mbps PHY speed, 3m away

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/54ff1713-2475-49b2-88dd-902eb1686808

4) Not so sure why 6GHz band download speed is much slower than upload speed for HB710. Sometimes this just happens.

TP-Link HB710 triband BE18000 WiFi 7 router, CH69, 6GHz band, 160MHz Channel bandwidth, 2882 Mbps PHY speed, 3m away

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/709d10de-acfb-43ee-a4cd-cace826389af

 

[xiaofan]

Comfast CF-983BE BE6500 WiFi 7 adapter.
https://en.comfast.com.cn/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=13&id=258

Ryzen 5 5600G CPU based desktop.

4) Not so sure why 6GHz band download speed is much slower than upload speed for HB710. Sometimes this just happens.

TP-Link HB710 triband BE18000 WiFi 7 router, CH69, 6GHz band, 160MHz Channel bandwidth, 2882 Mbps PHY speed, 3m away

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/709d10de-acfb-43ee-a4cd-cace826389af

Changing HB710 operating mode from router mode to AP mode seems to fix the issue for now. I will need to monitor.

https://www.speedtest.net/result/d/a71333c4-2491-463b-9b7d-476298ef20a4

https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/d/bb657967-2b02-48c9-95b2-40d40db98fa7