SR71 USB - Does this work in any flavor of Linux?

[jojokoko]

On the main Ubiquiti website for the SR71 USB (http://www.ubnt.com/products/sr71usb.php) I noticed that the only operating system listed for support was Linux, so I ordered the SR71 USB. I got it the other day in the mail and I have spent many frustrating days trying to get the thing to work in:
Fedora Core 10 (both the original kernel and 2.6.27.12-170.2.5.fc10.i686)
BT3 with recompiled 2.6.28.2 kernel (multiple times)
Ubuntu 8.10 default kernel

No luck.

When I run dmesg in BT3 or Ubuntu with the card connected the system the only output I get on the card is:
usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 2
usb 1-1: config 1 interface 0 altsetting 0 bulk endpoint 0x4 has invalid maxpacket 64
usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice


Here is the output from FC10. You will notice I did a modprobe ath9k after inserting the card. I tried the order the other way, do modprobe then insert card, but still no luck.
usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 2
usb 1-1: config 1 interface 0 altsetting 0 bulk endpoint 0x4 has invalid maxpacket 64
usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=0cf3, idProduct=9170
usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=16, Product=32, SerialNumber=48
usb 1-1: Product: USB2.0 WLAN
usb 1-1: Manufacturer: ATHER
usb 1-1: SerialNumber: 12345
ath9k: 0.1



1. Since all systems are reporting usb 1-1: config 1 interface 0 altsetting 0 bulk endpoint 0x4 has invalid maxpacket 64, could someone tell me what this means?

2. Also, Ubiquiti reports two different chipsets running in this card. In the sr71usb_datasheet.pdf (direct link off of http://www.ubnt.com/products/sr71usb.php) the chipset is listed as an Atheros AR9280). However on the main product page (http://www.ubnt.com/products/sr71usb.php) the chipset is listed as an Atheros AR9170. Anyone know what the real chipset is or are they the same?

3. I have learned over the past few days that the ath9k driver does NOT support USB. Since Ubiquiti has advertised Linux support for this card, and has listed this support since at least November 2008, what drivers should be used to run this card? I am assuming they were not thinking of using an NDIS wrapper.

Windows is not an option for me, so all of the solutions need to be in Linux. Although I am willing to take answers in OS X. :-)

Thanks to anyone who replies. I will give you an imaginary gold star if you can provide a functioning, non NDIS wrapper, solution for this card. I am no Linux expert so please use small words and short sentences.

-j

[windexh8er]

Interested in this as well. Considering the SR71 USB + netbook for a quick wireless testing platform. I would buy one, but will just go way of the Alfa if Ubiquiti is going to remain silent about the drivers.

TIA!
--windexh8er

[windexh8er]

jojokoko,

Do an 'lsusb -v' command and post what you get from that output. I'm guessing it's an AR9170 and should be supported from what I've found, but I'm still curious as to what the hardware actually is. Here's a link:

http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ar9170

--windexh8er

[UBNT-Mike.Taylor]

Use http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ar9170

AR9170 and AR9104 are from chip set AR9001. AR9170 is the MAC/BB with USB and AR9104 is the radio.

Thanks,

Mike

[atomar]

On the main Ubiquiti website for the SR71 USB (http://www.ubnt.com/products/sr71usb.php) I noticed that the only operating system listed for support was Linux


This has now changed to Windows XP/Vista
Linux is no longer listed.

A support request submitted on Feb 3 regarding the XP driver still has not received any reply (7 days and counting) despite the auto-responder promising a reply within 4 hours, usually much sooner.

Not too impressed with the customer service.

[blarg]

Not impressed.

Thanks for the false advertising. Now that I've wasted over a hundred dollars your your wireless adapter.

Ironically, like a day after I get it in the mail you change your website. Incredible.

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

Hello,

These devices are support by Linux, but we do not provide Linux support to the end user. This is open source drivers stuff. The reference on the website was taken off so that people are not mistaken about us support Linux. We do not provide any direct support for open source drivers. You can check out the latest 9k drivers and support from:

wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ath9k

Thanks,

Mike

[ericnelson]

It appears that Linux support is available, though not yet in the main-line kernel,
(and not without some effort by the user):

https://lists.ath9k.org/pipermail/ath9k-devel/2009-February/001177.html

[blarg]

ath9k doesn't support the ar9170 chipset.

I upgraded my kernel and tried it anyways, and no dice.

Also, I tried the git repo of ar9170 and it doesn't build and a stable release doesn't appear to be present either. Even with minimal capabilities.

So, there is no driver available at this time.

[ericnelson]

Hey blarg,

You're right, the ath91k driver doesn't work, because it only supports PCI adapters.

I confirmed today that the "otus" driver does function well, although I have limited
time running it.

http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/otus

I haven't been able to confirm that the ar9170/ driver works because it's a bit
more difficult to compile (it has dependencies on other 802.11 updates not yet
in the kernel tree).

I tested it both on an X86 machine (2.6.24-23-generic ubuntu7) and on
a few Arm-based boards (2.6.28-rc8).

Cheers,

Eric Nelson

[blarg]

sweet, I'll give it a try.

Thanks for the input.

[blarg]

Just a warning! If you plug in the antennae to this usb-adapter, be VERY careful removing them Or don't at all once you plug them in.

As soon as I got this thing home, I plugged in the antennae and then decided to remove them, the first one busted a washer (which is f'n microscopic), and then some other part broke off when i tried to get out the washer with a pin.

Thankfully, i managed to make the thing connect by wrapping a copper wire strand around the antenna lead and taping the thing together.

In other news, I have the adapter sr71 usb recognized via the Otus driver. I can't get the co-responding wpa_supplicant to build mind you. I'll probably save that for another day. It would be nice to get the Otus support build into a newer version too. The version with otus support is version 4.8, I already had 5.x installed and like 6.8 is available. Anyways.

kinda surprised I am not picking up networks that are only like 2 blocks away though. I thought this thing was suppose to have crazy range. Guess I need a satellite dish or something.

[kurtrisser]

I also purchased the SR71-USB based on the advertised LINUX support. I have no use for this UBIQUITI product unless it fulfils the claim made in its original online product description.

It seems that it would be a really useful device if it really did support LINUX as originally advertised. I hope that UBIQUITI will honor we customers who have placed our trust in their product.

Changing the product description after it has already been offered for sale is neither fair nor honest. I trust that this is an oversight and will be corrected promptly.

[kurtrisser]

I also purchased the SR71-USB based on the advertised LINUX support. I have no use for this UBIQUITI product unless it fulfils the claim made in its original online product description.

It seems that it would be a really useful device if it really did support LINUX as originally advertised. I hope that UBIQUITI will honor we customers who have placed our trust in their product.

Changing the product description after it has already been offered for sale is neither fair nor honest. I trust that this is an oversight and will be corrected promptly.