[conspire] WiFi adapter

[Paul Zander]

Thank you to the several people who gave constructive replies.


What I did try was the USB WiFi module in one of the connectors on the back of the LapDock.   It worked well enough that I could bring up the window to set the WiFi parameters.  After a few iterations between a different computer that could show the password, etc, the LapDock "locked up".  The display was working, but no response keyboard or touchpad.

At first I thought I had burnt out something in the LapDock and shut everything down.  Some time later, I tried the RPi again, but without WiFi.  All was well.  I am guessing I was either very lucky or the LapDock has polyfuses that reset.

I looked up my WiFi on 

   http://elinux.org/RPi_USB_Wi-Fi_Adapters
and it was described as needing powered hub.  I think I will get a WiFi module that described as working without hub or other problems.  


Obviously some WiFi units take more current than others, but the specs are vague or non-existent. Just like not all parts claiming to be USB 2.0 will really work at the full speed of USB 2.0.


It would be nice if I had numbers for the LapDock, but I don't really want to do an experiment of the trip current.


Paul
________________________________
From: Tony Godshall <togo at of.net>
To: Paul Zander <paulz at ieee.org> 
Cc: "conspire at linuxmafia.com" <conspire at linuxmafia.com> 
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [conspire] WiFi adapter


Others have answered with good info, and I'll just pipe in
with an idea that might give you the "no external power"
requirement from the point of view of the system while
also giving you the powered hub that you need.  If the
lapdock's USB power out has enough power to run the
Pi and also the hub and all the peripherals you want to
run from it (you might want to read its specs), one could
theoretically tap into the USB cable from the lapdock to the Pi and
draw the +5V and ground to power the hub.  I'm not
saying *you* should do this- it might catch flame and
burn down your house and eat your dog, but it is
something I would probably try.

That said, you might try running this wifi
http://www.adafruit.com/products/814
and see if it works.

they say "If using with a Raspberry Pi: ... You may find that you need
to have a powered hub to use this adapter, so if you're having power
flakiness with your Pi, try a hub! "

BTW- I've been buying USB peripherals for
Raspberry Pi and finding they work *great*
with other linux devices- way fewer driver
hassles.


On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 9:51 PM, Paul Zander <paulz at ieee.org> wrote:
> At the November Cabal, Ross & I both had Raspberry PI's.  I brought a system
> based on the Motorola Lapdock which has a lithium battery that can power the
> Pi for several hours, but I needed to have a LAN cable.  Ross had a
> different system that included WiFi adapter.
>
> Elsewhere, I have been told that using a WiFi with Raspberry Pi requires
> using a powered USB hub.
>
> Can anyone offer information on WiFi adapters that won't require a USB hub
> and power cords.
>
> Paul
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> conspire mailing list
> conspire at linuxmafia.com
> http://linuxmafia.com/mailman/listinfo/conspire
>



-- 
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Best Regards.
This is unedited.