{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://jamesachambers.com/using-m2-wifi-adapters-with-orange-pi-5/"},"insert":"https://jamesachambers.com/using-m2-wifi-adapters-with-orange-pi-5/"},{"insert":"\n\nHardware Used"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"alt":"Sintech M.2 E-Key to M.2 M-Key Adapter Card","height":"120","width":"150"},"insert":{"image":"https://jamesachambers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/M2toEKey-150x120.jpg"}},{"insert":"Sintech M.2 E-Key to M.2 M-Key Adapter Card\nConvert a M.2 Key-E or Key A+E module (such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or Dual Band Wireless Module, etc.) to be used with M Key M.2 Socket. Supports Bluetooth and Dual Band Wireless Modules.\nInstalling linux-firmware"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"When I first got the adapter I noticed that I could see all of the adapters but it was failing to load the firmware. That is because the Orange Pi 5 does not come with the linux-firmware package installed.\nInstall the package with:\nsudo apt install linux-firmware -y"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tested WiFi Adapters"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"After installing the linux-firmware package the following adapters worked for me:\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#164bea","link":"https://amzn.to/3Z7iKAr"},"insert":"Intel 8260NGW*"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#164bea","link":"https://amzn.to/3GhwZdp"},"insert":"Intel 7260NGW*"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Before installing the Linux firmware package I would get errors in dmesg saying that the firmware was missing. After installing the linux-firmware package all of my Intel WiFi adapters became plug and play.\nBest Adapter Options"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Until I hear more from some of you in the comments that try this I highly recommend using Intel adapters for this. They’re easy to find and almost every one I had in old laptops was an Intel adapter.?\nThere’s an awesome?"},{"attributes":{"color":"#164bea","link":"https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi"},"insert":"list of Linux supported adapters here from Intel"},{"insert":". This list is specifically for the Linux iwlwifi driver and tells you which version of Linux support was added for the WiFi adapter.\nThe kernel at time of writing was:\norangepi@orangepi5:~$ uname -aLinux orangepi5 5.10.110-rockchip-rk3588 #1.0.6 SMP Fri Dec 16 15:41:15 CST 2022 aarch64 aarch64 aarch64 GNU/Linux"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This means that anything on the above list that is supported in kernel version 5.10 or earlier should be supported!\nDiagnosing WiFi Adapter"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"First see what PCI devices you can see with:\nsudo lspci"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once you put the WiFi card into the adapter and start up the Orange Pi you should view the WiFi related debug output with:\nsudo dmesg | grep -i wifi"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This will show you all the hardware related messages related to WiFi. It often will tell you critical information such as a firmware file wasn’t loaded, etc.\nYou will need this information to diagnose the device if it is not working properly.\nHere’s an example for my non-working Broadcom adapter:\norangepi@orangepi5:~$ sudo lspci"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[sudo] password for orangepi: "},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"0004:40:00.0 PCI bridge: Rockchip Electronics Co., Ltd Device 3588 (rev 01)"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"0004:41:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4352 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter (rev 03)"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"orangepi@orangepi5:~$ sudo dmesg | grep -i wifi"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" drivers/net/wireless/rockchip_wlan/rkwifi/bcmdhd compiled on Dec 7 2022 at 10:23:12"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[ 10.455031] [WLAN_RFKILL]: rockchip_wifi_get_oob_irq: Enter"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[ 10.455035] [WLAN_RFKILL]: rockchip_wifi_get_oob_irq: rfkill-wlan driver has not Successful initialized"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[ 10.455047] [dhd] dhd_wifi_platform_load: Enter"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[ 10.455529] [dhd] dhd_wifi_platform_load_pcie: pcie_register_driver failed"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[ 10.455533] [dhd] unregister wifi platform drivers"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"[ 10.455537] [dhd] wifi_platform_bus_enumerate device present 0"},{"attributes":{"code-block":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Here we can see that for this Broadcom adapter it still couldn’t register the driver. It probably needs a driver that isn’t as easily available as getting it from the linux-firmware package. Sometimes the messages are a lot more helpful than this but it’s definitely the place to start if your adapter isn’t working.\n"}]}