Re: Wi-Fi dongle replacement - external antenna?

Hello ymelord,
Well...I got one on those SparkLan adapters, plugged it into USB A port and power up the Chumby.
With it I can't obtain a IP address either through DHCP or connect with a static address.
This is on a Chumby classic, so I don't know if this is an issue.
I even tried loading the new Beta control panel and that didn't help.
Other than plugging the dongle in, did you have to do anything else?

Thanks

Re: Wi-Fi dongle replacement - external antenna?

PlugNickel wrote:

Hello ymelord,
Well...I got one on those SparkLan adapters, plugged it into USB A port and power up the Chumby.
With it I can't obtain a IP address either through DHCP or connect with a static address.
This is on a Chumby classic, so I don't know if this is an issue.
I even tried loading the new Beta control panel and that didn't help.
Other than plugging the dongle in, did you have to do anything else?

Thanks

Not sure what chipsets are supported on the Classic - here's a listing from /proc/bus/usb/devices:

T:  Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#=  3 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=148f ProdID=2573 Rev= 0.01
S:  Manufacturer=WLAN
S:  Product=802.11g USB WLAN Card
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=300mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=rt73usb
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms

T:  Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=01 Cnt=02 Dev#=  4 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=148f ProdID=2573 Rev= 0.01
S:  Manufacturer=Ralink
S:  Product=54M.USB.......
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=300mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=rt73usb
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms

The first device is the built-in, the second the external Sparklan dongle.
You can see they have the same Vendor/ProdID's which is why it works.
You should check dmesg after it boots and see what it did when trying to recognize the dongle.

Re: Wi-Fi dongle replacement - external antenna?

Thanks ymelord,
It seems that at least for the Chumby "Classic" that you've got to disconnect the internal WiFi adapter before you can use another (or at least another of the same chip set and ID).
This one does work better, though it's too big to fit inside of the Chumby.
So...with the internal, original one disconnected, I'm gonna use this new one plugged in on the external USB port.
Interestingly just for giggles, I added a external WiFi antenna to the original adapter to see how that would work and though it did improve the signal, this new adapter (without a rubber ducky antenna) worked better.

Thanks again

Re: Wi-Fi dongle replacement - external antenna?

I had a similar problem, Chumby Guts with fried Wifi card.

I used the list of RT73 cards, and went down to Fry's.  Picked up a Hawking HWUG1 for about $30, with an external antenna.  Plugged it in, fired it up, works without configuration.  Signal strength about the same as my original Chumby.

Yay!  I can take Gutsy back to work (where we have crummy Wifi anyway)!

30 (edited by todicus 2010-04-30 09:48:42)

Re: Wi-Fi dongle replacement - external antenna?

I used one of the Halted antennas (http://www.halted.com/commerce/catalog/ … t_id=24192) with the Chumby Guts (classic), and it works really well!  The only difficult part is crimping the antenna on to the tiny connector; delicate needlenose plier work helps.

                      cheers --

                             -- Todd

Re: Wi-Fi dongle replacement - external antenna?

Hi, I just upgraded my Chumby One to a EW7711utn usb wireless dongle and I am really hopeful about getting it working. I have the cross-compiler from the Chumby site installed on a Ubuntu machine and have downloaded the linux driver for the dongle but at this point I become lost. Is anyone able to point me towards an explicit how-to or to give me some tips? I have searched for a couple of hours trying to find the specific info but I am just not getting it.

Help me Chumby One Kenobi, you're my only hope. 8-)