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Old 10-17-2019, 05:28 PM   #1
Cybernetic
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Question Help me decide plz on what to buy (wifi-usb adapter)???


So my home router is tp-link TD-W8960N my pc usb ports are version 2.0 and i was thinking to buy this wifi usb adaptor Alfa Network AWUS036NH USB Adapter 5db .
My concerns :
1/ I want something to work with linux mint latest edition currently(19.2) .

2/ Something to be able to have packet injection and monitoring capabilities ,cuz later im gonna switch into kali ,black linux etc when i get more knowledge.

3/ Something that has the above capabilities but also low signal, cuz it's going to be in my room and my router is 2 rooms away behind walls ofc but im asking for low signal so it wont mess up my health..

4/Something that it is compatible with my router and WPA2/PSK



Other wifi usb adaptors from ALPHA(cuz i heard that those are the best for pen testing) that are available in my country are as follows :
a) Alfa Network 802.11n/b/g AWUS036NEH USB

b) Alfa Network AWUS036ACS AC600 Usb Wireless Adapter

c) Alfa Network AWUS036EW 802.11 b/g

d)Alfa Network AWUS036H V5 Usb

e)Alfa Network AWUS036NH USB Adapter 5db

If you have some other recommendations plz do tell me . I heard that usb wifi dongles have low signal and are suitable to be in ur room,what you say ?

Thank you all !
 
Old 10-17-2019, 06:12 PM   #2
jmgibson1981
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Is it a desktop or laptop? If desktop then don't bother with USB and get something internal, preferably Intel based. Better signal as well.
 
Old 10-17-2019, 06:41 PM   #3
Cybernetic
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmgibson1981 View Post
Is it a desktop or laptop? If desktop then don't bother with USB and get something internal, preferably Intel based. Better signal as well.

It's a desktop,but i have only wifi in my home Ethernet cable is not valid for me due to the design of the home etc..
 
Old 10-17-2019, 06:49 PM   #4
syg00
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Read what was said - internal wifi cards are available. That looks like a pretty old dongle; seems to be pretty well supported in Linux. Old is not necessarily bad - it allows time for a Linux driver to be ported.
If you have to reach through walls, low-power is probably not a good option. For a while I used range extenders, but now go for the higher power/gain models of dongle.
 
Old 10-17-2019, 07:56 PM   #5
michaelk
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I would expect any adapter compatible with kali will be compatible with Mint.

Typically your country of origin regulates RF output power and in the US it is the FCC. The maximum power output for 2.4 GHz band is 1 watt with an antenna that has a max gain of 6 dBi or 4 watts EIRP. Signal strength falls off as the square of the distance to the source. Twice the distance between you and the antenna the signal strength is 4 times less. At 10 times the distance from you and the antenna the signal strength is 100 times less. If the antenna is at least a foot away and not next to your head or crotch you should be relativity safe enough.

It depends on the driver as to if it can change the output power and I would expect that most adapters output full power by default. Obstructions block/attenuate wifi signals depending on what is between you and the antenna.
 
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Old 10-17-2019, 08:01 PM   #6
ChuangTzu
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I've had great success with Panda PAU05, its plug and play on most Linux distros, Debian requires nonfree firmware and the realtek firmware both are available on the nonfree iso or the nonfree repo.
https://www.amazon.com/Panda-300Mbps.../dp/B00EQT0YK2
 
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Old 10-17-2019, 08:11 PM   #7
syg00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuangTzu View Post
I've had great success with Panda PAU05, its plug and play on most Linux distros
Whoa - nice one. I currently use (fight with) Realtek based TP-Link - which (generally) have great community support on github - but that looks a good option.
Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelk
I would expect any adapter compatible with kali will be compatible with Mint.
Might be a little optimistic. I don't use kali but have noticed it seems to maintain a good array of the Realtek chip drivers from the community. Might not always be the case on Mint but I haven't pursued it.
 
Old 10-17-2019, 08:21 PM   #8
frankbell
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ThinkPenguin sells USB wireless adapters that work with Linux. I bought one from them once when I needed one.

Full disclosure: I have no relationship with ThinkPenguin other than as a customer.
 
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