Many people online have become interested in running completely free software. A common hiccup that people tend to encounter is that their wifi cards are not compatable with the linux=libre kernel. They proceed to look online for fully free FSF approved wifi cards. What they find are websites selling wifi dongles for $50 - $100 dollars. For many people this paywall completely deters them from running a fully free system, instead falling back into the proprietary ecosystem.
The interesting thing is, those wifi dongles that are being sold for $50 to $100 are in reality worth $5 - $10 dollars. What these websites do is they buy the wifi card for cheap and then sell them back to ignorant users who want to get into free software. They are middlemen who create artifical paywalls gatekeeping poor people from free software. Companies like ThinkPenguin are commonly venerated by the Free Software community for "contributing". Upselling a $10 product for 500% markup isn't contribution, it's thievery.
I am personally disgusted that websites like ThinkPenguin are commonly venerated and even endorsed by the FSF. I have first hand experience seeing people get completely gatekeeped out of free software because of the insanely high prices. They typically either run a non-free malicious wifi driver on top of a free software distro or even worse they instead opt to run a completely non-free distro.
Here on this article I am going to give all of you the secret on how you can get your very own Free Software Compatable wifi card. This page will contain all the information that you need to beat CheatPenguin and get the wifi card you deserve.
My favorite way (and the easiest way) of beating CheatPenguin is by utilizing the website itself. Go on the website and find the wifi card you want, then simply copy and paste the chipset name into ebay. You will commonly find the same exact wifi cards being sold for up to a 10th of the price.
You can also use this table to find a card. Simply copy and paste the card names into ebay or amazon until you find what you need.
I plan on releasing a Video Tutorial that goes into more depth on how to get a cheap FSF wifi card. If you are interested in this than please consider signing up for the Getgle Mailing List or subscribing to my youtube channel
| Interface | FCC ID | Manuf. | Vendor ID | Device ID | Chip1_model | PHY modes | MIMO config | OUI | FCC date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTAI WA1011N-GU | USB | UCC-WA1011N-GU | AboCom | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2011-12-16 | |||
| AVM FRITZ!WLAN USB Stick v2 | USB | 057c | 8403 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | BC:05:43 | |||
| AboCom WU5108 | USB | MQ4WU5108 | AR9271L | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2011-07-25 | ||||
| Accton WUS622C-A | USB | HEDWUS622CA | AWB | AR7010 | bgn | 2x2:2 | 2011-11-09 | |||
| Actiontec 802AIN2 | USB | HEDWUS622CA LNQ802AIN2 | AR7010 | bgn | 2x2:2 | 2012-01-17 | ||||
| Askey WLL6120 | USB (non-standard connector) | H8N-WLU6120 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2009-07-27 | ||||
| Askey WLU5080-D4 | USB | H8N-WLU5080-D4 | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | 2012-01-06 | ||||
| Askey WLU5080-D81 | USB | H8N-WLU5080 | Askey | AR7010 | abgn | ?x2:2 | 2010-12-02 | |||
| Atheros AR5BUB173 | USB (non-standard connector) | PPD-AR5BUB173 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2010-10-14 | ||||
| AzureWave AW-NU137 | USB (non-standard connector) | TLZ-NU137 | 13d3 | 3327 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2010-06-18 | ||
| AzureWave AW-NU138 | USB | TLZ-NU138 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 74:2F:68 | 2010-11-15 | |||
| AzureWave AW-NU148 | USB (non-standard connector) | PPD-AR5BUB173 | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:19:9D | 2010-10-14 | |
| AzureWave AW-NU150 | USB | TLZ-NU150 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 74:2F:68 | 2010-12-13 | |||
| AzureWave AW-NU153H | Mini PCIe (USB, half) | TLZ-NU153H | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2010-11-24 | ||||
| AzureWave AW-NU240 | USB (non-standard connector) | MDZAZW9271-240 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2012-10-10 | ||||
| Buffalo WLI-UV-AG300P | USB | 0411 | 0197 | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | ||||
| D-Link DWA-126 | USB | KA2WA126A1 | Cameo | 07d1 | 3a10 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2009-12-08 | |
| Foxconn J20H049 | USB (non-standard connector) | MCLJ20H049 | Foxconn | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 90:34:FC | 2010-12-29 | ||
| Gemicom WUAN-22W | USB (non-standard connector) | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | ||||||
| Lite-On WN4606A | USB (non-standard connector) | PPQ-WN4606A | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:19:9D | 2011-05-19 | |||
| Microsoft Xbox 360 Internal Wireless Module (1399) | USB (non-standard connector) | C3K1399 | Askey | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 24:EC:99 | 2011-04-08 | ||
| Mitsumi Electric DWM-W034 | USB (non-standard connector) | EW4DWMW034 | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | 2009-10-16 | ||||
| Mitsumi Electric DWM-W046 | USB (non-standard connector) | EW4DWMW046 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2010-09-10 | ||||
| Netgear WNA1100 | USB | PY309300113 | SerComm | 0846 | 9030 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:26:F2 00:8E:F2 2C:B0:5D 30:46:9A E0:46:9A E0:91:F5 | 2010-01-14 |
| Netgear WNDA3200 | USB | SerComm | 0846 | 9018 | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | E0:91:F5 | ||
| OPPO Digital AK093 | USB | YTXAK093 | TP-LINK | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2010-11-24 | |||
| Onkyo UWF-1 | USB | NKR-UWF1 | Wistron NeWeb | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 90:A4:DE | 2011-03-15 | ||
| Panasonic N5HBZ0000055 | USB | H8N-WLU5080 | Askey | 04da | 3904 | AR7010 | abgn | 1x2:2 | 24:EC:99 4C:ED:DE B4:74:9F E0:CA:94 | 2010-12-02 |
| Philips PTA01 | USB | BOUWUB1110 | Alpha Networks | 0471 | 209e | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 5C:33:8E | 2010-05-13 |
| Philips WUB1110 | USB | BOUWUB1110 | Alpha Networks | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 5C:33:8E | 2010-05-13 | ||
| Proware PW-DN421 | USB | AR9271 | bgn | ?x?:? | ||||||
| Proware PW-MN421 | USB (non-standard connector) | WWMMN421V1 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2011-02-17 | ||||
| Quanta Microsystems US305 | USB (non-standard connector) | T5U-US305 | Quanta Microsystems | AR9271L | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:19:9D | 2011-02-22 | ||
| Rosewill RNX-N150HG | USB | W6RRNX-N150HG | TP-LINK | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 68:1C:A2 | 2011-11-08 |
| SMC SMCWUSBS-N4 | USB | YZKSMCWUSBSN4 | TP-LINK | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2012-03-17 | |||
| Sharp VR-WL25 | USB | NKR-VRWL25 | Wistron NeWeb | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 90:A4:DE | 2010-11-26 | ||
| Shenzhen Kingnet Technology K2-364 | USB (non-standard connector) | ZDIK2-364 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2011-04-04 | ||||
| Shenzhen Kingnet Technology K2-544DW | USB | ZDIK2-544DW | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2011-04-04 | ||||
| Silex SX-USBGN | USB | N6C-USBGN | Alpha Networks | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2012-10-29 | |||
| Sony IFU-WLM3 | USB | NKR-DNUA93FS | Wistron NeWeb | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2012-06-05 | |||
| Sony UWA-BR100 | USB | AK8UWABR100 | 0411 | 017f | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | 00:24:A5 4C:E6:76 | 2009-11-20 | |
| SparkLAN WUBA-171GN | USB (non-standard connector) | RYK-WUBA171GN M4Y-ZCN722MV1 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2013-05-22 | ||||
| TERAOKA AP-3001g | USB | SUFAP3001G | Askey | AR7010 | abgn | 2x2:2 | ||||
| TP-LINK TL-WN322G v3 | USB | 0cf3 | 1006 | AR9271 | bg | |||||
| TP-LINK TL-WN422G v2 | USB | TE7WN422GV2 | 0cf3 | 1006 | AR9271 | bg | 54:E6:FC | |||
| TP-LINK TL-WN721N | USB | TE7WN721N | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2009-10-27 | ||
| TP-LINK TL-WN722N | USB | TE7WN722N | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271L | bgn | 1x2:1 | D8:5D:4C E8:94:F6 | 2009-11-18 | |
| TP-LINK TL-WN821N v3 | USB | TE7WN821NV3 | 0cf3 | 7015 | AR7010 | bgn | 2x2:2 | 2011-12-21 | ||
| TP-LINK TL-WN822N v2 | USB | TE7WN822NV2 | 0cf3 | 7015 | AR7010 | bgn | 2x2:2 | 90:F6:52 B0:48:7A | 2011-09-22 | |
| Tehnoetic TET-N150 | USB | NKR-DNUA93F | Unex | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271L | bgn | 1x2:1 | 2010-10-25 | |
| Tehnoetic TET-N150HGA | USB | TE7WN722N | TP-LINK | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271L | bgn | 1x2:1 | 2009-11-18 | |
| Tehnoetic TET-N300 | USB | TE7WN821NV3 | TP-LINK | 0cf3 | 7015 | AR7010 | bgn | 2x2:2 | 2011-12-21 | |
| ThinkPenguin TPE-N150USB | USB | NKR-DNUA93F | Wistron NeWeb | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271L | bgn | 1x2:1 | 2010-10-25 | |
| ThinkPenguin TPE-N150USBL | USB | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | ||||||
| Toshiba WLM-20U2 | USB | H8N-WLU5080-D4 | Askey | AR7010 | abgn | ?x2:2 | 2012-01-06 | |||
| Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStation | USB | SWX-M2USB | 0cf3 | b002 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:27:22 00:15:6D | 2010-05-25 | |
| Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStation EXT | USB | SWX-M2USB | 0cf3 | b003 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:15:6D 00:27:22 | 2010-05-25 | |
| Unex DNUA-93F | USB | NKR-DNUA93F | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x2:1 | |||
| VIA VNT9271BB05B | USB (non-standard connector) | NCI-VNT9271BB0XB | AboCom | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2012-07-10 | |||
| Wistron NeWeb DNUA-93C2 | USB (non-standard connector) | NKR-DNUA93C2 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2012-07-11 | ||||
| Wistron NeWeb DNUA-93F | USB | NKR-DNUA93F | 0cf3 | 9271 | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 2010-10-25 | ||
| Wistron NeWeb DNUA-93S | USB (non-standard connector) | NKR-DNUA93S | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:0B:6B | 2011-07-08 | |||
| Z-Com ZCN-722M | USB (non-standard connector) | M4Y-ZCN722MV1 | Z-Com | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 | 00:19:70 | 2011-08-15 | ||
| Zcomax XN-723M | USB 2.0 (module) | Zcomax | AR9271 | bgn | 1x1:1 |