Group: Hardware/Components/WiFi/Atheros

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Introduction

Many older Atheros WiFi chip work with free software:

  • carl1970: Has a free driver and firmware. USB only. They support Legacy 5GHz modes and 2.4 GHz.
  • ath5k: Compatible with PCI, PCI-E, PCMCIA and/or pc-card. Support WiFi A, B, G.
  • ath9k: compatible with PCI, PCIe, PCMCIA and/or pc-card, and present in some Atheros SOCs for WiFi access points. Supports 2.4 GHz and newer 5GHz and WiFi A,B,G,N. The hardware doesn't need any firmware: some timing sensitive part of the protocol (like sending ack under 10ms) are implemented in hardware. It is also possible to control a lot of the aspects of the WiFi by talking to the hardware (for instance it's possible to have Q/I through some debug interface, make the hardware work on other frequencies if you're a radio ham with a valid license, etc).
  • ath9k_htc: Has a free driver and firmware. USB only, supports WiFi B,G,N and 2.4GHz only.
    • The think penguin version requires 500mA, no device will work with known Replicant tablets supporting only 100mA or 200mA: AR9271 itself needs ~200mA, Unex DNUA-93F (rebranded by Tehnoetic and Think Penguin?) can use 300mA
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