TP-Link TL-WN823N v3 USB WIFI Adapter will not connect (solved)

[k1e3w5]

Hi
I just frugal installed
Fossapup64 9.5 Linux 5.4.53
on an old Dell dimension 5150 and it works great on ethernet cable.
But I want to move it into another room and bought a USB wireless dongle
TP-Link TL-WN823N v3.
but, using the network wizards, it recognises it ok and detects the WiFi networks, but I can't get it to connect and work.
How can I get it to work? Is there an easy way to do it? I can follow clear instructions well, if anyone can advise me but I'm not a Linux expert so I need the instructions.

[bigpup]

By what you say, you probably are missing a step.

Specifically what network connection program is being used is important.

So need to know specific connection program you are trying to use?

Maybe first try SNS (Simple Network Setup)
Or
Frisbee

Should find them in menu -> Setup -> Internet Connection

If you want to do it using Network Wizard.

Network Wizard wireless connection steps.

1. Select Network Wizard
2. Select wlan0 (your network card may have a different description)
3. Select Wireless in the Configure wireless network box.
4. Select Scan and your ESSID (WIFI router) should come up.
5. Select your ESSID and OK
6. Give a name to your profile. It should already be what you selected in step 5.
7. Encryption. Most people use WPA/TKIP - select it or WPA2.
8. A box will open for you to write the WPA password. It is called a Shared Key. Enter the password.
9. Leave the other boxes as they are. Rarely do these need adjustment.
9. Select Save
10. Select Use This Profile
11. A box will appear showing Puppy trying to connect
12. A box will come up “REPORT ON TEST 0f wlan0CONNECTION”
13. Select Auto DHCP in the Configure interface box and it will go through a handshake routine. and declare itself successful
14. Select done

Select to use this setup on reboot.
Select to use this as default.

If something does not work.
What step?
You do what?
You see what?

Also make sure your system's time zone setting is correct - if not, many website's certificates then act as if they are expired, and the webpage won't display.

[k1e3w5]

Thanks for those.

a)Am I correct in thinking that blacklisting file rtl8xxxu stops old versions of the file loading ... If so how will it get an up to date version - will b) below do that? And how do I blacklist it ... do I edit the config-5.4.53 file in the boot folder, or do I just type in the command in a terminal window? I guess blacklisting it will solve the first two messages below?

b)ok, I used Network Wizard exactly as you described but it ended up not-associated with WPA state stuck at 'associating'. Some messages came up along the way which I posted further down.

Is the following part of a post that I found somewhere else, relevant here? Do I have to compile a driver as I don't know how to compile a driver? I can copy those files if you think it will work? If so do I have to do anything else? I'm not sure how to 'load the driver'?>>>>

""I confirm it's an rtl8192eu device. Assuming you've compiled that driver OK, it may be firmware missing. Copy all 3 rtl8192eu firmware files from link
rtl8192eu_ap_wowlan.bin
rtl8192eu_nic.bin
rtl8192eu_wowlan.bin
copy into /lib/firmware/rtlwifi , load rtl8192eu driver & reboot, saving. If no good, I'll post links to my latest kernel & driver.""

Anyway messages that came up were :

[k1e3w5]

Hi Dry Falls,

Thanks, I will try that later.

I now see that the post I referenced to above was when you were getting a similar to work in 2019

https://oldforum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=117426

I see yours was WN822N, mine is WN823N .... How do I check which specific RTL driver is needed ? Or maybe the fact it gets to scanning network shows it has the right driver but just needs some tweaking?

[ozsouth]

@k1e3w5 - with your adaptor plugged in, run in a terminal: lsusb
You will see in the list, details of your adaptor. Posting that whole line will help.

[k1e3w5]

Yes it is RTL8192EU, confirmed by lsusb

what folder is the menu-1st and grub.cfg in?

I used system - boot manager to blacklist rtl8xxxu

lsmod | grep 8192eu shows nothing so it isn't on my system - how do I install it? (8821ce is present)

So I rebooted and used Network Wizard, this time only eth0 showing, no wlan. So I went to add module but no rtl8192eu showing.
There is showing in the list
rtl8192ce rtl8192cu rtl8192de rtl8192ee rtl8192se
But no rtl8192eu

There are rtl8192eu files in the lib/firmware/rtlwifi folder as shown below, I'm not sure what to do now?
How can I get rtl8192eu to show up in the Network Wizard when I go to add module?
That post from 2019 mentioned compiling a driver, I haven't got a clue how to do that.

[ozsouth]

@k1e3w5 - I have attempted to build you a driver, as I have the fossapup64 dev files.
There are several sources, but I chose v5.11 as most likely to work with fossa. Use at own risk.
Insert adaptor & to install, download .pet & click on it in ROX-Filer. After at least 5 seconds, try to connect.
If you save upon exiting fossa, will not need to load .pet each time. This pet removes & blacklists rtl8xxxu,
before loading 8192eu, so you won't need the kernel line to do so.

[k1e3w5]

Wow, thank you so much. I will try that later today.

[k1e3w5]

It works, and on rebooting. Yea!

Is there something in the menus that gives me WiFi stats like signal strength and download / upload speed?

Thank you so much.

Can you tell me roughly what the steps were to create this - not the details, but just the overall concept. I don't want to try, but just to have the overall process picture as I might look into it in the future. And how long did it take you to do?

Thanks again

[ozsouth]

@k1e3w5 - Great!
First I had to find the right source code. I had 3 choices v4.4, 5.11 & 5.19. Used v5.11 as is for 5.0 - 5.10 kernels.
Then I had to boot into fossapup64 & load the dev files, then compile the source code & check it would load.
Then I had to decide what the .pet needed (unloading & blacklisting) then package that & upload it.
As I had another laptop with fossa & its devs, all up about 45 mins.

[k1e3w5]

[bigpup]

Is there something in the menus that gives me WiFi stats like signal strength and download / upload speed?

menu -> System -> Pup-Sysinfo -> Network -> Report

Speed is more controlled by what you are accessing for a web site.
If downloading from it.
What the web site provides for speed of downloads from it.

In the United States I use this web site to test internet speed:
https://www.speedtest.net/

[k1e3w5]

Thanks.

Is it recommended to have the firewall on?

I think the connection seems very good >>>>

Firewall: Off (ip_tables not active)
Network Interface: wlan0
Wireless Network: VM0277812
Bit Rate:144.4 Mb/s Sensitivity:0/0
Link Quality=100/100 Signal=50/100 Noise=0/100
Wireless strength: 100%

[bigpup]

Yes, good idea to turn firewall on.