Wireless Chipset and Driver Review : Atheros

This page details the selection process for Atheros USB Wifi devices for the ConnectBox.

We will consider chipsets that meet the following criteria:

1. Drivers in the current linux kernel (including the staging tree). We want to avoid building and maintaining drivers
2. 802.11n support (not draft-n)
3. 2T2R (2x2:2) MIMO
4. USB form factor
5. Driver supporting AP (Master mode)
6. Currently available (and at a reasonable price)

tldr; there are no atheros chipsets that currently meet these criteria

1. Driver support in the current kernel

~/ExternalCode/linux-4.12-rc1 $ find drivers/net/wireless/ath -type d
drivers/net/wireless/ath
drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar5523
drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k
drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k
drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl
drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k
drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170
drivers/net/wireless/ath/wcn36xx
drivers/net/wireless/ath/wil6210

2/3/4. 802.11n, 2T2R MIMO, USB form factor

Kernel Drivers (Main Tree)

Mainly WikiDevi Atheros (devices pre the 2011 merger with Quallcomm). WikiDevi Qualcomm Atheros lists do not show any USB devices since the merger:

• ar5523: abg only. Exclude.
• ath10k: abgn. PCIe. Exclude.
• ath5k: abg only. Exclude.
• ath6kl: abgn. inc 2x2:2 devices. SDIO. Exclude.
• ath9k: (a)bgn. 2x2:2. USB. Candidate
• carl9170: abgn (draft-n. 2x2:2. USB. Exclude.
• wcn36xx: abgn. SoC. Exclude.
• wil6210: abgn. PCIe. Exclude.

5. Driver supporting AP (Master) Mode

ath9k

Supports AP mode

6. Currently available (and at a reasonable price)

ath9k

• ar7010 (a)bgn 2x2:2. No devices post 2012, and it looks like big vendors like TP-Link have rebranded so I'm guessing these aren't available any longer. Also seems bundled with AR9280 but as Wifi for TVs and other devices (via USB)
• ar9374 abgn 2x2:2. No devices seem to be available for purchase