Contents |
Wireless Network Interfaces
Please put in exact model numbers where possible.
To determine what wireless card/chipset you have, open up a terminal and type the following.
lspci -v | less
Then, scroll to find your wireless device and note down its details. For USB devices, type lsusb instead.
Wireless support varies with architecture. For example, ndiswrapper will work on the x86 architechture. A list of card that work with ndiswrapper is available here.
If you are going wireless card shopping, please look at this searchable list of cards which are supported under Linux at http://linux-wless.passys.nl/ . Make sure you buy wireless cards supported fully under Linux. It is worth noting that the Free Software Foundation (FSF) recommends the Ralink 2500/RT2400 and Realtek RTL8180 chipsets. A recent (December 20, 2006) article also mentions Ralink and Realtek as open-source friendly Wifi vendors, as well as Atmel.
If you find that your device is supported by a driver included with Ubuntu, but the driver is not loaded automatically, please see ReportingBugs to file a bug with Ubuntu! These are easy to fix.
Other Ubuntu wiki pages on Wireless Networking:
WifiDocs/WirelessTroubleShootingGuide (work in progress)
By Manufacturer
The Community has created articles for the following Manufacturers:
Wireless USB Adapters
Discontinued - Update directly on the maker page
Make |
Model |
Chipset/ Driver |
Supports network install? |
Supported in installed system? |
Works "out of the box" |
Comments |
Last Updated |
Type |
A-Link |
WLAN54MB |
zd1211 |
Yes? |
Yes |
Yes |
Seems to work fine on Breezy |
2005-11-14 |
USB |
A-Link |
WLAN54USB-A |
zd1211rw |
No idea |
Yes |
Yes? |
Works on Feisty, but had to manually run dhcpclient |
2007-10-11 |
USB |
ADDON |
ADD-GWU180 |
zd1211 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Works fine on Dapper RC1 |
2006-05-28 |
USB |
Aptiva |
Wireless G USB Adapter |
Belkin/zd1211 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Just works on Feisty, Gutsy(had to disable Ipv6 on Gutsy) |
2007-12-16 |
USB |
Asus |
WL-167G (USB IDs 0b05:1706, 0b05:1707) |
rt25 |
? |
Yes - 6.10 |
Yes - 6.10 |
Detected and loaded OK. I have not tested actual connection. |
2007-06-04 |
USB |
Asus |
WL-167G (USB IDs 0b05:1723, 0b05:1724) |
rt73 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Using 8.04 works fine out of the box! If you have any issue (e.g. slow connection) try to install linux-backports-modules-hardy (For older version of Ubuntu you must instal GPL RT73 driver. Follow the instructions at the bottom of this guide WifiDocs/Driver/RalinkRT73). |
2008-05-26 |
USB |
Asus |
WL-167G V2 (USB ID 0b05:1723) |
rt73usb |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Worked out-of-the-box on 7.10/amd64/Desktop using nm-applet and WPA-PSK. |
2008-05-02 |
USB |
AVM GmbH |
Fritz!WLAN USB Stick |
TNETW1450 / fwlanusb |
No |
No |
No |
See WifiDocs/Device/Fritz!WLAN_USB_Stick for details, works with Breezy & Dapper |
2006-03-25 |
USB |
Belkin |
Wireless G USB Network Adapter F5D7050 v4002 uk (USB ID 050d:905b) |
? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Worked with GNOME Network Manager via WPA (TKIP) with Ubuntu 8.04 connected to a Speedport W 701V out of the box as well as connected to a Fonera without encryption |
2008-05-25 |
USB |
Belkin |
Wireless G Plus MIMO USB Network Adapter ver. 3000de (USB ID 050d:705c) |
ralink rt73 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Worked with GNOME Network Manager via WPA2 (TKIP), but very slow |
2008-06-27 |
USB |
Buffalo |
WLI-USB-L11G |
orinoco_usb |
No |
No |
No |
Follow instructions on WifiDocs/Device/BuffaloWLIL11GUSB |
2005-09-06 |
USB |
Buffalo |
Airstation WLI-U2-KG54 (2A) |
rt2500 |
? |
? |
Yes - 7.04 including WEP encryption |
Does not work with 7.10 as of 15-12-2007 |
2008-13-01 |
USB |
Compaq |
W200 |
orinoco_usb |
No |
No |
No |
Following WifiDocs/Device/CompaqW200 WEP works, not tried WPA |
2005-01-25 |
USB |
Conceptronic |
C54RU |
rt73 |
No |
No |
No |
WPA/TKIP works with opensource drvier feisty. WPA2 is supported by this driver but not tested. Follow the instructions at the bottom of this guide WifiDocs/Driver/RalinkRT73. |
2007-08-27 |
USB |
Dell |
Truemobile 1180 Wireless USB Adapter |
prism2_usb? |
? |
? |
? |
|
2006-06-06 |
USB |
Dell |
Wireless 1450 Wireless USB Adapter |
- |
No |
No |
No |
Tested on Hoary |
2005-00-00 |
USB |
D-Link |
DWL-122 |
prism2_usb |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
2008-06-11 |
USB |
|
D-Link |
DWL-G122 |
A2/prism |
No |
Yes |
No |
USB stick - works well in Breezy with ndiswrapper (the one provided in synaptic), with the drivers provided on the CD. Also works with Feisty but you need to blacklist prism54usb driver |
2007-07-18 |
USB |
D-Link |
DWL-G122 |
B1/ralink |
No |
No |
No |
There are quite a different number of versions floating around, and this one is D-link DWL-G122 REV H/W ver B1 F/W 2.02. The usb id is 2001:3c00. The drivers are from the Ralink. |
2005-11-25 |
usb |
D-Link |
DWL-G122 |
B1/ralink |
No |
No |
No |
Used the drivers specified above. Can connect to unencrypted wireless networks but with minimal stability, and cannot use WEP/WPA. Not recommended |
2006-1-19 |
usb |
D-Link |
DWL-G122/B1 |
rt2500 / rt2570 |
Yes/No |
Yes/No |
No |
Works well with WEP and WPA on Breezy & Dapper see WifiDocs/Device/DWL-G122_(Rev_B) |
2006-03-25 |
USB |
D-Link |
DWL-G122/C1 |
rt73 / Ralink rt73 |
No |
No |
No |
With the CVS GPL drivers open, WEP and WPA seems to be working. See WifiDocs/Driver/RalinkRT73 |
2006-10-09 |
USB |
D-Link |
DWL-G122/D1 |
Marvell chipset |
No |
No |
No |
Works with ndiswrapper. (device id is 07d1:3b01) Driver is in the manufacturer's website. Used WinXP driver |
2006-11-05 |
USB |
D-Link |
DWL-650 P1 |
prism2_usb |
No |
No |
No |
2006-03-04 |
USB |
|
D-Link |
DWA-130 |
ndiswrapper |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Download Windows XP driver from D-Link, install ndiswrapper and ndisgtk, add windows driver, should work after reboot |
2007-09-02 |
USB |
D-Link |
DWA-142 |
netmw245 (marvell) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
WinXP drivers avaliable at the D-Link Support Site. As of may/08, drivers are distributed in a executable file with no easy way to just extract the .sys and .inf files. Requires ndiswrapper. Should work after reboot, including WPA support. |
2008-05-20 |
USB |
Digicom |
USB Wave 54 |
zd1211rw |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Works without problems in Feisty configured with network-manager and using WEP. Not tested with WPA but SHOULD work fine (2007-06-23). Xubuntu 8.04 this USB radio works for open networks and WPA_PSK using default Network Manager (did not test WEP). |
2008-05-31 |
USB |
Edimax |
EW-7317UHg |
1215 ZyDAS |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
works on IBM X21 notebook with Feisty Fawn,just plugged in and entered WEP password |
2007-09-03 |
USB |
Hawking |
HWL-2 |
Zydas 1211 |
No |
No |
No |
use driver at http://www.zydas.com.tw/downloads/download-1211.asp |
2005-10-04 |
USB |
Make |
Model |
Chipset/ Driver |
Supports network install? |
Supported in installed system? |
Works "out of the box" |
Comments |
Last Updated |
Type |
Linksys |
WUSB54G (Ver.1) |
ndiswrapper |
No |
Yes |
No |
First remove islsm_usb then remove and add back ndiswrapper |
2006-09-01 |
USB |
Linksys |
WUSB54G (Ver.4) |
rt2500 / rt2570 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Works fine with WEP on 6.06/Breezy when installed, but hung at activating using LiveCD; works on 7.04/Feisty w/ WEP with manual config and roaming other connections |
2006-12-27 |
USB |
Linksys |
WUSB54GC |
RAlink RT2571W/RT2671 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Works out of box with Gutsy and Hardy. If not, see WifiDocs/Device/LinksysWUSB54GC |
2008-06-01 |
USB |
Linksys |
WUSB11B Ver.2 |
? |
Unknown/Likely |
Yes |
Yes |
No command-line needed, works perfect the first try. Tested on Dapper Beta 2 |
2006-05-09 |
USB |
Linksys |
WUSB11 Ver.2.8 |
? |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Just choose wireless network in networking, and works. Xubuntu 6.06. |
2009-07-15 |
USB |
myessentials |
ME1001-USB |
ID 050d:705c Belkin Components zd1211rw |
na |
yes |
yes in gutsy beta |
na |
2007-8-29 |
USB |
Netcore |
331gu |
ndiswrapper |
? |
Yes |
No |
Stable in Gutsy without Network Manager. |
2008-02-22 |
USB |
Netgear |
WG111v2 |
rtl8187 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Works out of the box with Feisty. |
2007-06-07 |
USB |
Netgear |
WG121 |
Prism GT / ndiswrapper + netwg121.inf |
? |
Yes |
No |
Follow the guide located here to get this card to work with Edgy. |
2006-11-14 |
USB |
Netgear |
MA111v1 |
prism2_usb |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
See WifiDocs/Device/NetgearMA111 Works also with ndiswrapper and netma111.inf driver. |
2005-10-09 |
USB |
Netgear |
MA111v2 |
ndiswrapper + ma111v2.inf |
? |
Yes |
No |
Works with ndiswrapper and ma111v2.inf file from netgear site's xp driver - tested on Xubuntu |
2007-02-10 |
USB |
Netgear |
WG111v1 |
ndiswrapper + netwg111.inf |
No |
No |
No |
Works with ndiswrapper and the CDROM provided by netgear. See WifiDocs/Device/NetgearWG111 |
2005-09-09 |
USB |
Netgear |
WG111T |
ndiswrapper + netwg11t.inf |
No |
No |
No |
Works (on 7.10) with ndiswrapper and 2.1 drivers from website. You may have remove/reinsert stick and remove/add module to get it to work after reboot. WPA works. |
2008-02-04 |
USB |
902w |
RAlink rt2570 |
No |
No |
No |
VendorID not included BUG |
2006-10-29 |
USB |
|
Orient |
XG-701A |
zd1211 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Works out of the box with WPA on Feisty using network-manager |
2007-04-23 |
USB |
WLU-703Z |
zd1211 |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Works out of the box on Edgy using network-manager |
2007-01-15 |
USB |
|
Sierra |
881U |
MSM 7200 |
No |
Yes |
No |
The shipped driver with Gutsy is outdated. Use these instructions: http://www.sierrawireless.com/faq/ShowFAQ.aspx?ID=1077 |
2008-03-02 |
USB |
Sweex |
LW143 |
ndiswrapper + wlanuig.inf |
No |
No |
No |
Works after using ndiswrapper, at systemboot very long delay on Initialising Network interfaces, system hangs after undetermined period of use. |
2005-00-00 |
USB |
Sweex |
LW053 |
rt2750wf |
? |
Yes |
No |
Almost works out of the box on Gusty (7.10) with WPA and WEP - but keeps dropping connection. See launchpad. Only DHCP working so far. Works with WEP with rt73 driver from serialmonkey following this guide. |
2008-03-20 |
USB |
TRENDnet |
TEW-504UB |
ndiswrapper + net5523.inf |
No |
No |
No |
works well in Breezy with ndiswrapper (the one provided in synaptic), with the drivers provided on the CD |
2006-10-14 |
USB |
U.S.Robotics |
802.11g Wireless USB Adapter 5420 |
use lsusb in the terminal and check for ID = 0baf:0111 |
? |
? |
No |
The latest ndiswrapper release source must be downloaded from http://sourceforge.net/projects/ndiswrapper/ and the directions for building WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper followed while replacing ndiswrapper-1.1 with the version downloaded (i.e. latest at time of writing = ndiswrapper-1.5); everything works except the signal strength monitor, probably because it gets compiled against version 17 of the wireless extensions instead of 18; lastly, you'll probably need to install gcc3.4 using Synaptic otherwise build will fail |
2005-11-01 |
USB |
U.S.Robotics |
MAXg Wireless USB Adapter 5421 |
ndiswrapper + USR5421X.inf |
No |
No |
No |
Necessary to follow instructions for USR805421 on ndiswrapper page. On Feisty, the udev rule should be: SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idProduct}=="011b", ATTR{idVendor}=="0baf", ATTR{bConfigurationValue}="1". Value 011b depends on product (use lsusb command). Works fine with networkmanager. |
2007-07-16 |
USB |
U.S.Robotics |
USR5423 Wireless USB Adapter |
zd1211rw |
Unknown |
Yes |
Yes |
Works flawlessy with 7.10 |
2007-12-02 |
USB |
Veho |
11g USB adapter |
ZyDAS |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes works out of the box. Plug and play including WPA support! |
2007-12-04 |
USB |
Westell |
A90-211WG |
ndiswrapper + wlusb20/PRISMA02 |
? |
Yes |
No |
Works perfectly with ndiswrapper and wlusb20.inf on installation CD. |
2007-07-17 |
USB |
Zonet |
ZEW2501 |
zd1211b / zd1211rw |
No |
Yes |
No |
Works in Feisty, but is not recognized by NetworkManager. Must manually configure with iwconfig. |
2007-05-26 |
USB |
Zyxel |
AG-225H |
Zydas |
No |
No |
No |
Getting info from http://zd1211.ath.cx/ and waiting for Zydas 2.3 driver included //UPDATE on 2006-02-10, successfully installed with r52 and r52plus-2.4.0.0-1.patch from zd1211.ath.cx site(need to add vendor and product id to zdusb.c) |
2006-01-15 |
USB |
Zyxel |
G-270S |
ndiswrapper + driver zyxel winXP |
No |
No |
No |
Download the winXp driver from zyxel web site and follow ndiswrapper wiki |
2007-09-17 |
USB |
Various (SMC, Belkin...) |
Various USB devices |
Atmel AT76C503A |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Plug it and go the the network administration to enable it. Nothing more, it works fairly well |
2005-09-27 |
USB |
My Essentials |
Various USB devices |
Belkin |
? |
Yes |
Yes |
Just works: Feisty, Gutsy, Hardy. Plug in and automatically recognised by network manager. |
2008-06-29 |
USB |
Note: Have a look at this page, my new version of this on with a cleaner layout: WifiDocs/WirelessCardsByVersion
Suggestion: merge PCI and USB chapters inside each manufacturer page - it's easier to find and maintain. As nobody disagree, I started the merge