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Wireless 802.11 2.4GHz Adapter — Parallax Forums

Wireless 802.11 2.4GHz Adapter

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2014-07-23 07:31 in General Discussion
The relentless march of technological progress. Anyone remember when it used to require a whole PCI card with an external swiveling antenna to add wireless to a computer? Jeepers, this USB adapter is tiny, cheap, and installs instantly. Can't vouch for it (I don't have or need it), just marvelling at how far we've come. Ironically, there is likely little demand for this amazing item these days since WiFi is already built into everything including washers, dryers and refrigerators. Can a WiFi toaster be far behind?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111299069120

Comments

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-07-02 11:13
    They are good for Raspberry Pi's and other SBC that have a MAG jack but not Wifi.

    At that price, it's worth a try to see if if works on a Pi!

    (Hey, we remember back to the days before the computers!! - at least we can remember back that far on a good day!)
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-07-02 11:22
    I wonder if Micah's USB host code could be adapted to use these instead of the Bluetooth dongles? It would be very cool if the Prop could have inexpensive Wifi.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-07-02 13:34
    @erco,

    It seems that despite your undoubted skills at finding ebay deals you are a some years behind the technology. We have been using these tiny USB dongles in old PCs and Raspberry Pis for some years now. Admittedly that is the lowest price I have ever seen them at.

    @Duane Degn

    No, not really, Not only would the Prop have to support the USB protocols, which is only just possible, but also the networking, IP stack, that sits on top. Not really possible.

    There are of course WIFI modules that run the IP stack for you and you can communicate with using simple serial commands. Probably a bit more expensive.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-07-02 13:34
    I guess you are going to need to search a Linux Wifi database to find out if this will work with Linux... for the Raspberry Pi. Not all do.

    AS I recall, USB devices can present an identifying code to locate their drivers. MS seems to provide drivers for anyone, but Linux often finds manufacturers not wanting their drivers to become open source. Sometimes a hack works, but not always.

    http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-usb-wireless-compatibility-adapter-list.html
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-07-02 13:38
    Loopy,

    Nah, buy it, plug it in, see what you get in the kernel logs or the dmesg command. Proceed from there. If Linux has no firmware/driver for it toss it in the bin.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-07-02 13:48
    Heater. wrote: »
    Loopy,

    Nah, buy it, plug it in, see what you get in the kernel logs or the dmesg command. Proceed from there. If Linux has no firmware/driver for it toss it in the bin.

    Amen, brother, that's why I ordered one - $2.22 seems cheaper than lots of frustrating research that still leaves you unsure of the final outcome!!
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    edited 2014-07-02 13:50
    [QUOTE=erco;1276683...... since WiFi is already built into everything including washers, dryers and refrigerators. Can a WiFi toaster be far behind?.......[/QUOTE]

    One of the products we build at work always makes me laugh..... It's a WiFi 802.11 wireless module add-on for 2 different brands of commercial washing machines.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-07-02 13:51
    mindrobo

    Yeah, it looks a lot like the WIFI dongles I can buy in stores around here and have been using for some time. Except it's about one fifth the price.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-07-02 13:59
    Do you think that it's possible to make a toaster that tweets when the toast is ready before fire alarm in the kitchen goes off and causes the building to be evacuated?

    I still get black carbonized toast no matter how I set the toaster.

    As far as I know, despite the best efforts of toaster engineers over decades and the highest technology we have, this is still an unsolved problem.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2014-07-02 14:14
    Just wait until someone tries to port the network library for this to Propeller.

    Toasted hair will would be funny too if there is any left to toast LOL.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-07-03 07:08
    Well if there was a wireless wifi toaster oven, you could use it for soldering SMDs on circuit boards. It could be very handy.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-07-03 15:18
    I have one of these that I use for my Raspberry Pi and It works great. I tried it on my Netbook but the built in one seemed to work better.


    EDIT:
    Can a WiFi toaster be far behind?

    Not Wi-Fi, but I bet it could be converted!!!!
    http://www.talkingpointz.com/the-ret...ternet-toaster
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2014-07-03 18:32
    I've been using these little wifi dongles for some years now. I agree they would be complex to get running on the Propeller. However, if the code already exists somewhere and was in C...

    Just thinking ahead, the Internet of Things will happen when the cost and power consumption come down. If it doesn't happen on the Propeller someone else will do it. Arduino USB host boards are $14, main board ? $10 and USB dongle $2. Re toasters, Talkie Toaster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Red_Dwarf_characters#Talkie_Toaster cost $19.99 so that is a price point to aim for?
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-07-22 18:36
    OK, back to ON TOPIC for this thread.

    I received my WiFi dongle and finally got a chance to try it on a Raspbery Pi. Raspbian recognized it as:

    usb 1-1.2: Product: 802.11n NIC Adapter

    but it couldn't bring it up as WLAN0 interface.

    I switched it out for a known working with RasPi dongle and the approved one was recognized as:

    usb 1-1.2: Product: 802.11n WLAN Adapter

    and WLAN0 came up like a champ!

    So it looks like there needs to bee some more driver investigation done with this as far as RasPi is concerned.

    I haven't tried it on anything else, yet.

    But now that I have a wireless RasPi, I need to go off and play with other things.........
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-07-22 20:59
    minrobots,

    Have you tried plugging that WIFI dongle into the Pi, or other Linux box, and using the lsusb command? For example I have one here that shows up like so: 
    $ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 148f:5370 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT5370 Wireless Adapter
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 058f:9360 Alcor Micro Corp. 8-in-1 Media Card Reader
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0518:0001 EzKEY Corp. USB to PS2 Adaptor v1.09
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    When I first got it a quick google for around for the make and model soon told me it needs some firmware binary blob loading into it. And further that there is a Debian package that installs that firmware. A quick "apt-get install firmware-ralink" soon got it working.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-07-22 21:18
    that's my next step. I just had a Pi I was setting up so I thought I'd try it but when it didn't work, I didn't want to distract myself from my main mission - a new WiFiPi! I'll circle back around in a day or so.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-07-23 07:31
    The use of lsusb to get an identity is a MUST DO.
    From that you can verify that the device is supported by Linux.

    Without first verifying, installation is a shoot in the dark.
    I got something a bit larger and more powerful (300MPS) for my Cubieboard -- a TP-Link TL-WN821N which is confirmed supported by Linux.
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