How can we help?

There are hundreds of different adapters with these chipsets but we have a known list on RainMachine that we update periodically after we test adapters.

For those daring enough this file (/etc/insmod-wifi-modules.conf) can be edited after logging with SSH on RainMachine and has the following format:

0bda:8176:/system/wifi/rtl8192cu.ko
0bda:8178:/system/wifi/rtl8192cu.ko
0bda:8179:/system/wifi/rtl8188eus.ko
2357:0109:/system/wifi/rtl8192eu.ko
0bda:8813:/system/wifi/8814au.ko
2357:0106:/system/wifi/8814au.ko

First 2 columns are USB vendor and product ID those can be checked for adapters using Google or WikiDevi.

The last column is the path to the WIFI driver. You can add more entries to this file and it will be probed at boot time and driver loaded.

The ID and driver must match in other words driver must know about that ID.

For example last line in the example above is this adapter:

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_T9UH

On the website above you can go to RealTek page and search for chipset name RTL8814AU. There are 11 known devices with this chipset, and clicking on that devices link will show compatible adapters.

For example the ASUS AC68 has the ID: 0b05:1817 which can be added to the list above with a line:

 0b05:1817:/system/wifi/8814au.ko

Warning: The steps above are not for usual users, you do this at your own risk and RainMachine cannot be held responsible if anything goes wrong.

Comments

9 comments

Mike E August 31, 2018 21:36 (Edited August 31, 2018 21:48)

Article mentions "this file" to edit. What file? Path please. What editor? VI?

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RainMachine Nicholas September 12, 2018 05:13

The file is /etc/insmod-wifi-modules.conf which can be indeed edited with vi on command line. I updated the guide with the missing file name. Thanks for pointing this to us.

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Mike E September 15, 2018 23:22 (Edited September 15, 2018 23:29)

Disappointingly, the TP-LINK TL-WN722N doesn't work with the rtl8188eus driver and modified .conf file. I'm assuming I have a V2 based on usbview.exe on my Windows laptop since it identifies the vendor/product IDs. Powering the WN722N with a powered USB hub connected to the RainMachine makes the rain machine behave strangely (eg, the powered usb hub makes the RainMachine appear powered), so I unplugged it immediately.

Basically, if we could get support for a low cost adapter with an external exchangeable screw-on antenna, that would be great to hopefully increase range.

I've also tried hacking an antenna onto the original wifi adapter by soldering a U.FL connector onto the dongle's circuit board, with little luck. Tinkered enough to trash it in the process.

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RainMachine Nicholas September 17, 2018 07:36

I downloaded drivers for both V2 and V3 for WN722N and they look like 8188eus based. Maybe we are just missing a vendor/product id in the driver. Can you post it here ? Maybe I can get my hands on one of these to try.

I also tested this one: https://www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/cat-5520_TL-WN822N.html and it works ok (but connects with cable).

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Mike E September 18, 2018 01:43

I think this should be the .conf settings for the TP-LINK TL-WN722N v2 and v3
2357:010c:/system/wifi/rtl8188eus.ko

Thus Vendor: 2357, Product: 010c

The stubby antennas on the WN822N don't seem interchangeable/replaceable, but are probably better than the built in one that come with the RainMachine dongle. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep it in mind.

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RainMachine Nicholas September 18, 2018 05:54
This combination of vid/pid is not in the sources that we have. You could try to dynamically add vid/pid to module id *before pluging the adapter* to check if it works with current driver:
```
echo 2357 010c > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/rtl8188eu/new_id
```
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Mike E September 21, 2018 01:15

I tried multiple times (even with rtl8188eus as part of the command line...which didn't work..."No such file or directory"). Obviously, I had to ungracefully yank the factory dongle from the RainMachine and insert the new one. Every time I plugged in the new WN722N (after running the command line), the RainMachine quit responding to screen presses and apparently froze. Tried a few variants of the command line, and Disabling Wifi through the screen before connecting/reconnecting. If I plugged in both dongles (before running the command), the lsusb command listed the WN722N dongle.

Thus, I'm thinking the installed driver doesn't work?

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David Adler August 16, 2020 21:17

Hello, is there an updated list for 2020 (e.g. firmware 4.0.11.1129)?

For example, is TP-Link WN725N compatible? It's less expensive and easier to find than others on the list, e.g. $10 on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008IFXQFU/ref=emc_b_5_t

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quarkz April 18, 2021 05:23

TP-Link WN725N v1

Chipset: Realtek RTL8188CUS

- https://deviwiki.com/wiki/TP-LINK_TL-WN725N_v1

TP-Link WN725N v2

Chipset: Realtek RTL8188EUS

- https://deviwiki.com/wiki/TP-LINK_TL-WN725N_v2

===============================================================

List of chipsets for TP-Link USB Archer "T" WLAN adapters

- https://deviwiki.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_T_series

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