Using a different USB adaptor with LIbreElec and the Raspberry Pi

cappsie · March 3, 2021 at 9:33 PM

Hi all,

I'm attempting to use a faster WiFi USB dongle with my Pi. However, I'm struggling to configure it. Can anyone advise the best way, please?

There are a couple of points that have been asked for, previously, below.

Code

dmesg | pastebinit: http://ix.io/2RAn

lsusb | pastebinit:http://ix.io/2RAt

Is this that can be done with an add-on or is it command line?

Let me know, thanks.

A.

**Da Flex** · March 3, 2021 at 10:28 PM Official Post

Activate debugging at GUI, and then use pastekodi to create a link to kodi.log. Post that link.

cappsie · March 5, 2021 at 9:36 PM

Thanks. I ran:

# pastekodi

error=1 error_msg="Command not registered"

Use 'vcgencmd commands' to get a list of commands

http://ix.io/2ROO

I hope that helps? THe USB key seems prett generic.

That being said, I also purchased a LinkSys USB dongle which worked out of the box - I just needed to add the local Wi-Fi network and bingo. So, there are actually 3 wireless devices on the PI. The LinkSys works as does the on-board Wi-Fi chip, but this generic USB dongle still refuses, and that's the one I need to sort.

Thanks!

Adam.

**Da Flex** · March 5, 2021 at 10:20 PM Official Post

Seems like your WiFi USB dongle is detected as an Ethernet device:

Quote

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 3 using dwc_otg

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: smsc95xx v1.0.6

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: smsc95xx 1-1.1:1.0 eth0: register 'smsc95xx' at usb-3f980000.usb-1.1, smsc95xx USB 2.0 Ethernet, b8:27:eb:fe:e7:88

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.2: new high-speed USB device number 4 using dwc_otg

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=13b1, idProduct=003f, bcdDevice= 0.00

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.2: Product: WUSB6300

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.2: Manufacturer: Linksys

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.2: SerialNumber: 26

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So I think the driver is missing for that dongle. Use a different one.

cappsie · March 5, 2021 at 11:41 PM

Ok that's a shame. Those cheap unbranded dongles are rubbish.

Thanks anyways

**mglae** · March 6, 2021 at 9:19 AM

It's:

Code

Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.5: new high-speed USB device number 6 using dwc_otg
Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.5: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=c811, bcdDevice= 2.00
Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.5: Product: 802.11ac NIC
Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.5: Manufacturer: Realtek
Apr 11 16:28:37 LibreELEC kernel: usb 1-1.5: SerialNumber: 123456

But it is unlikely that needed rtl8821CU driver not included in the kernel source will be added.

**Da Flex** · March 6, 2021 at 3:54 PM Official Post

mglae Multiple kernel attempts to load a driver for the same USB device (see lsusb output).

**mglae** · March 6, 2021 at 6:53 PM

Da Flex What do i miss in the logs?

**Da Flex** · March 6, 2021 at 8:36 PM Official Post

Quote from mglae

Da Flex What do i miss in the logs?

The log snippet I've been posted. lsusb says

Code

Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0bda:c811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Bus 001 Device 004: ID 25a7:1047
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter

but the user has no Ethernet adapter attached (makes no sense together with WiFi dongle).

So I'm thinking both entries are pointing to the same USB device.

**mglae** · March 6, 2021 at 10:12 PM

The device is a a RPI 3B.

Code

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMC9514 Hub

are the standard "internal" RPI Ethernet and WIFI adapters attached via USB.

**Da Flex** · March 6, 2021 at 10:40 PM Official Post

I see, thanks!

**Da Flex** · March 7, 2021 at 2:48 PM Official Post

Just to finish this thread: Result stays the same. External USB WiFi device isn't present at lsusb output. Unable to load the driver.

**mglae** · March 7, 2021 at 6:49 PM

It is visible:

Code

Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0bda:c811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

But the driver rtl8821CU is not (and most likely will not be) included into LE.

**Da Flex** · March 7, 2021 at 7:43 PM Official Post

mglae I'm confused now. On my RPi3B+ the lsusb with no attached USB devices is:

Quote

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0424:7800 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC)
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:2514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) USB 2.0 Hub

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:2514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) USB 2.0 Hub

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

No Ethernet device on the list. Are you saying RPi3B and RPi3B+ handle internal sub-devices differently?

**mglae** · March 8, 2021 at 3:46 PM

From the announcement the major improvements of the 3B+ are a slightly increase in CPU speed, gigabit ethernet and ac WIFI.

The new ethernet chip is still attached via USB while WIFI is connected via SDIO.

Use lsusb -t or lsusb -v to list the USB classes.