Hello All,892334bd71de742f11041f946129170620abd606

[Mihail1Ynakiev]

Hello All,

I have been seeing a steady increase in problem report messages from users of Realtek based WiFi 6 USB adapters. The level of reports is to the point that I think I need to add more warnings around this site for users to see. As you will see below, my strong recommendation has been and continues to be for Linux USB wifi adapter and module users to AVOID products that include Realtek WiFi 6 USB chips. This includes the following chips:

rtl8851bu
rtl8852/32au
rtl8852/32bu
rtl8852/32cu

Why?

Realtek still does not provide USB support for WiFi 6 that is in accordance with established Linux Wireless Standards. All they are providing is out-of-kernel drivers that are based on some of their own ideas which means these drivers will never be allowed into the Linux kernel. Even if we don't care about standards, the Linux WiFi 6 out-of-kernel drivers are BAD. I worked on the Realtek out-of-kernel for the rtl8852/32au chip after it was released. I wanted to get it at least to the point that managed mode would work reasonably well for users but I was never able to make that happen. The driver is JUNK. I have a driver up here for the rtl8852/32bu chip but I have warnings posted. The only mode that I can say that works reasonably well is managed mode. The driver as a whole is JUNK. Community support for Realtek out-of-kernel drivers has dwindled greatly in the last few years. I suspect one of the main reasons for this declining lack of internet is that we now have several USB chips from Mediatek that are well supported in the kernel. What this means is that users that decide to but Realtek USB WiFi 6 adapters may have very limited, if any, good community support and it is likely that good in-kernel driver support may not happen and if it does happen, it would likely take several years. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Realtek USB support on Linux is not good but is particularly BAD for WiFi 6. If you want to buy a USB adapter or module that is supported with Linux Wireless Standards compliant drivers, see the Plug and Play List on the Main Menu. On the Main Menu is also USB WiFi chipset information for Linux which gives good information about supported chipsets. The information to help you make good decisions is here... use it!

One last additional issue to consider is that all adapters that I am aware of that use Realtek WiFi 6 chips are multi-state. This means that they have a windows driver onboard. This is another potential problem area that Linux users should consider as a negative in the decision making process.

To repeat, I strongly recommend that Linux users avoid USB WiFi adapters and modules based on Realtek WiFi 6 chips. It could be years before well supported, standards compliant drivers are available...if it ever happens. Your happiness will likely be far better if you use the Plug and Play List and pick out one of the well supported adapters. If you have questions, please ask.

Regards,

@morrownr

Originally posted by @morrownr in morrownr/USB-WiFi#449