[conspire] good reasons to buy usb wifi (and other things) from raspberry pi sellers [Re: WiFi adapter]

[Paul Zander]

A previous Cabal, someone was using an RPi with WiFi, but I did not recall his configuration.This inspired me to get a Wi-Fi adapter to use with my Pi and LapDock.


A usually reputable local store sold me a USB-WiFi. When I tried it, the LapDock shut down after about a minute.  Fortunately the LapDock must have a polyfuse, because it worked the next day (without the WiFi.) No discernible permanent damage.


Then I started looking for more information.  The final answer required multiple web-searches.


http://elinux.org/RPi_USB_Wi-Fi_Adapters has a long list of adapters with comments about software.  The model tried was described as:

     "works OOTB with Raspbian 2012-09-17,  without powered USB hub"

So what's the problem? I read more carefully:

stable with 1 A PSU


After several searches, I could not find specifics for either how much current the adapter needed or how much the LapDock could supply.  


Eventually did a search for "RPi  + Lapdock + Wifi".  I read each website and compiled a list of the WiFi adapters models used.


One model that was frequently mentioned was Edimax EW-7811. I checked a couple local stores, but not had that brand.  Then I did a Google for just the part number.  The top hits were Amazon, Amazon, NewEgg, Walmart, eBay.  Walmart(?!) I placed the order on-line and a couple days later, picked it up.  With free ship-to-store, the price was under $10.


So far I have tested it on my home network and at Cabal.

-Paul



________________________________
 From: Tony Godshall <togo at of.net>
To: Ross Bernheim <rossbernheim at speakeasy.net>; conspire <conspire at linuxmafia.com> 
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 4:46 PM
Subject: [conspire] good reasons to buy usb wifi (and other things) from raspberry pi sellers [Re: WiFi adapter]
 

> On Jan 16, 2014, at 11:52 AM, Tony
 Godshall <togo at of.net> wrote:
>
>>  BTW- I've been buying USB peripherals for
>>  Raspberry Pi and finding they work *great*
>>  with other linux devices- way fewer driver
>>  hassles.

On Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 3:51 PM, Ross Bernheim
<rossbernheim at speakeasy.net> wrote:
> Given that the Pi does not have all the drivers that some other
> distributions of Linux do and the large number of “testers” it is not
> surprising that those
> drivers that they have would be for well behaved and documented USB devices.

Indeed that is one good reason to buy them.

The other is to support linux-friendly vendors like adafruit,. or any
vendor that sells
 RPi.

Tony

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