Frustrated -- find a wifi adapter w/ antenna that works


 
N

NickMV

TVWBB Fan
OK, so i recently purchased a Panda RT5370-based adapter and had good luck with it for running AP mode with security enabled. So I found another one, Comfast WU730A, that has an antenna port on it.

The range on the Panda is horrible, and it can hardly even pick up my router at home. This new adapter though (which is RT5370 again) will NOT work. I cannot get it to create the interface and link up with it. Has anyone else used this adapter?

I'm really starting to get frustrated with getting an adapter that works properly for the HeaterMeter (this is my 3rd so far). It's plugged in but no interface for it shows up, so I add an interface WWAN and tell it to reference wlan0 for the adapter. That rarely does crap, and eventually just out of the blue, it'll suddenly create its own WWAN interface as if it suddenly has found the adapter, but there's no MAC address (just 0's), and it doesn't do a darn thing. I read that the 5370 chips have good success, but this is a total fail so far.


Help? I'm out of ideas.
 
Last edited:
I recall someone else having a similar issue with a RT5370 that has the detachable antenna, though my comfast (CF-WU715N) RT5370 adapters work really great for me (but don't have external antenna). I get good range and can change from AP mode to Client mode (and back!) without issue. I think in the other thread they were questioning if maybe there is a newer version of the RT5370 chipset in that adapter which the software isn't up to speed with, but I'm not sure it was conclusive.

EDIT: Not to suggest you haven't already covered all bases, if I have an issue when changing wifi adapters I go into config and delete all interfaces associated with WiFi and remove all radios, then create them all fresh with the new adapter.
 
Last edited:
I had that issue. Tried deleting everything, etc. nothing worked. Same issue - Mac address all 00's. Gave up and got an antennaless Edimax.
 
For what its worth, I get at least as much range out of the antennaless WU715N as I do from the Edimax. I had issues switching back and forth between AP and Client mode with the Edimax so I changed to the Comfast WU715N and have used it steadily for a long while now with no issues.
 
Well that sucks to hear. The original adapter that this thing came with was an antenna adapter, but it must've been bent during installation. Anyway, sounds like getting another one of those is the best choice. It's an EDUP brand adapter, I believe this is the exact one unless they have multiple copies in the same shell.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/361223649211?lpid=82&chn=ps

It worked excellent but the network was unable to be secured. Sounds like I may just have to bite the bullet and hope one day that drivers could ever improve to make the WU730 work.
 
sounds like the one you broke wasn't the greatest either if it couldn't be secured.... IDK what to tell you other than do what you are doing, make the best choice possible and hope it works, if not then try another. Maybe someone else has conquered this issue and can chime in and point you to a wifi adapter with removable antenna that works on the HM....
I would try ones that say they have the RT5370 chipset and work with the rPi...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top