USB wifi adapter on linux

tomk11 · 19 Nov 2011 at 12:30

I'm looking for a USB wifi dongle for a mate with Dell Latitude D400 (broken wireless card) running Debian squeeze 6.0.2. Though i run linux i'm no expert, and am worried about running into compatibility issues.

Things like http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-In...1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1321705634&sr=1-4 appear like they might do the job, but will I run into driver issues? If so, what type would you recommend?

If it makes any difference it will be used mostly with a BT-HomeHub.

freebooter · 19 Nov 2011 at 23:03

I haven't used one for a while but whether they worked or not depended on the chip used. The one I had had a ralink chip and iirc it worked ok. However, the manufacturer of my adapter used chips from at least 2 different chip suppliers in adapters sold under the same model so it was pot luck which chip you got and whether it would work.

I would search on ubuntu forums and see what the current situation is.

Tuvoc · 20 Nov 2011 at 09:32

Yes depends on the chip used. Linux support for these has got a lot better. As freebooter says, search on google or ubuntu forums for the specific model

tomk11 · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:28

Ok cheers guys, I'll do some more looking and post back when i settle on one to get.

Edit - It wasn't entirely clear so I decided as it was only a fiver to just take the plunge... I ended up going for http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-In...5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322075907&sr=1-5, hoping that I can work out how to get it to work...