The USB WiFi (Panda Wireless PAU06) worked fine with Stretch. Did a clean install with Buster (latest Debian stable) and it won't connect.
I have tried using nmcli in lieu of the gui; still no joy

do you not have to go thought that install non-free drivers, because Debain do not install them, and when I used it, that was, and still is the biggest hair ball crazy like a cat on kibbles and bits for dogs thing to do. Causes difficulty with wifi working after install. Especially when you need wifi to get access to the internet to get the drivers to install so you can have access to the internet.

do you remember doing anything like installing drivers for it on your last Debian, cuz that might be the thing needed here.

Yeah, Network Manager identifies all WiFi signals and reports their signal strength. I don't think that that would happen if I didn't have the driver configured properly.

you should have lead with that... permissions issue, perhaps?

The password supplied to Network Manager for the subject computer works for other WiFi devices. I triple-checked that the password that I supplied was not corrupted.

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ng-4175616249/
a bit older ? don't know if it is still relevant to your situation ?

have you got the correct firmware installed ?

over the years I've had varying wifi experiences with linux, some drivers in the kernel are downright flaky
results can change, I've recently changed to a different driver when my old one wouldn't compile in arm64
look for a driver which is being actively developed

what is your usb wifi device ? usb id and chipset
e.g. Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:a811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

lsusb
google the USB Device ID

From this, enp3s0 is the Panda WiFi adapter, and is "up", but the IF is "down".
/sbin/modprobe -v rt2800usb
returns (blank)

no its up
each IF is a different device. You're looking at whatever the h?ll that thing is

so, I need to turn wlx9cefd5fdec63 "on"?

I do not even know what that one is, the
I'd think should be the one you should be using, if this is your box, and your router, and you have access to it, set up a no password line in, then see if it connects, if yes, then look at your permissions on how to get into your router via using a password.

you should too then be able to give your box a static IP to get in via no passwd. yes?

I'd try both if possible, static IP and dynamic IP, whichever is easiest for you.

Predictable network device naming

wl = wireless device
x = MAC = 9C:EF:D5:FD:EC:63

Although it does not match the mac: 96:ef:c6:7f:ff:15 from the posted output. I believe there are other naming conventions used for USB wireless which is why it might look strange. It still confuses me...

What exactly happens when you try to connect to an access point?

Trying to connect, Network Manager times out.

is this package already installed ?

apt show firmware-misc-nonfree

have you been to https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Ralink
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Panda_Wireless_PAU05

drivers won't compile, pretty old code
get a new usb wifi which works

The Panda Wireless site says that the device uses the RT5372 chipset.
Debian says that the RT2800USB is the appropriate package.
apt show firmware-misc-nonfree

AH-HAH!
The apt show lists the RT2800, but does not include the RT5372 chipset!
Thus far, I have not found a driver for the RT5372

I thought that the driver did not support the RT5372 chip.

This is verbatim with the modinfo for my laptop, which is currently connected with an identical device.
So, why won't it connect?