Wifi dongle 5B Odroid

JBC41 · 8 January 2022 19:05

Hi All, I experience the same issue with the 5B wifi dongle. It is not detected in CE. I tried with latest nightly but does not have improvement.

I found this closed topic
https://discourse.coreelec.org/t/hardkernel-wifi-module-5b-not-working-odroid-n2/16226?u=jbc41

However, being newbie with both CE and odroid I don’t know how to use it. Can someone explain please?

wlk · 8 January 2022 20:54

First you need to plug an ethernet cable for network access.
Then you need to install the addon “System Tools” from coreelec (which will install usb_modeswitch).
Then you need to SSH into your odroid and create a rule in ~/.config/udev.rules.d such as the one I posted in the thread you mentionned, unplug/replug the 5B module or reboot.
This will ensure the dongle is switched to wifi as soon as detected.
You can unplug the ethernet link at that point.

JBC41 · 8 January 2022 22:53

Thanks @wlk ^^

I will install the add-on The only difficult part for me is to create the rule in the file you mentioned. I’ve never used SSH before.
From what I’ve seen, I can SSH the N2 using the terminal on my Mac but then I don’t know how to edit or add rules to files and make sure they are saved.

Would you have any guidance please?

vpeter · 9 January 2022 09:54

Just open SSH terminal and then copy/paste this command which will create the appropriate file

echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ACTION=="add", ATTR{idVendor}=="0bda", ATTR{idProduct}=="1a2b", RUN+="/storage/.kodi/addons/virtual.system-tools/bin/usb_modeswitch -KW -v 0bda -p 1a2b"' >/storage/.config/udev.rules.d/90-rtl8188gu_cdrom_mode.rules

wlk · 9 January 2022 10:09

By the way @vpeter, did you merge this into the sources ?
Didn’t see it on github, but I might be looking at the wrong place.

JBC41 · 9 January 2022 10:49

Thanks @vpeter it works perfectly fine now using this command line.

Really appreciate the support !

vpeter · 9 January 2022 16:03

Actually I just did

github.com/LibreELEC/LibreELEC.tv

linux: add udev rule to switch mode on Realtek RTL8821CU devices

committed 03:42PM - 09 Jan 22 UTC

vpeter4

+6 -0

[ 2.325991@0] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 3 using xhci-hcd [ … 2.486315@0] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=1a2b [ 2.486319@0] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [ 2.486321@0] usb 1-1.1: Product: DISK [ 2.486323@0] usb 1-1.1: Manufacturer: Realtek [ 2.487139@0] usb-storage 1-1.1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected [ 2.487397@0] scsi host0: usb-storage 1-1.1:1.0 [ 5.906100@2] usb 1-1.1: reset high-speed USB device number 3 using xhci-hcd [ 6.054094@0] usb 1-1.1: device firmware changed [ 6.054633@0] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 3 [ 6.218828@0] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci-hcd [ 6.366480@0] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=c811 [ 6.366488@0] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3 [ 6.366490@0] usb 1-1.1: Product: 802.11ac NIC [ 6.366493@0] usb 1-1.1: Manufacturer: Realtek [ 6.366495@0] usb 1-1.1: SerialNumber: 123456 [ 6.390378@0] usb 1-1.1: Unsupported device [ 6.699679@0] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8821cu

After long testing it was become clear that usb_modeswitch program is not really needed and it is enough to eject cdrom which appears from usb stick.

So after this is merged in CE no extra rules or system-tools addon need to be installed and stick would work out of the box.

vpeter · 10 January 2022 17:32

CoreELEC 19.4-Matrix_rc1 has build-in support for this and other similar wifi devices based on RTL8821CS.

Can someone can try to remove extra udev rule file and see if device actually works after reboot?

wlk · 26 January 2022 14:36

I haven’t tried 19.4rc’s yet, but I will do the test and confirm as soon as they are available for upgrade.

Ok, tried 19.4rc2, the dongle doesn’t switch to wifi anymore if I remove the custom udev rule.

vpeter · 26 January 2022 14:38

Thank you for reporting back.

JBC41 · 26 January 2022 16:18

I confirm, I also tested 19.4 rc2 and the dongle is not switching to wifi.
Test on N2+ 4G.

vpeter · 26 January 2022 18:08

I totally misread both posts and though wifi works

I see I made small mistake and the udev file was not changed.

Can you remove your udev rule and put this into /storage/.config/udev.rules.d/40-modeswitch.rules

# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
# Copyright (C) 2009-2014 Stephan Raue (stephan@openelec.tv)

ACTION!="add|change", GOTO="end_modeswitch"
KERNEL!="sr[0-9]*", GOTO="end_modeswitch"
SUBSYSTEM!="block", GOTO="end_modeswitch"

# Atheros Wireless / Netgear WNDA3200
ATTRS{idVendor}=="0cf3", ATTRS{idProduct}=="20ff", RUN+="/usr/bin/eject '/dev/%k'"

# Realtek RTL8821CU chipset 802.11ac NIC
#   initial cdrom mode 0bda:1a2b, wlan mode 0bda:c811
# Odroid WiFi Module 5B
#   initial cdrom mode 0bda:1a2b, wlan mode 0bda:c820
ATTRS{idVendor}=="0bda", ATTRS{idProduct}=="1a2b", RUN+="/usr/bin/eject '/dev/%k'"

LABEL="end_modeswitch"

wlk · 28 January 2022 12:25

Yes, WIFI works fine with that rule, including with the system tools addon uninstalled.
Network is up within 3 seconds after booting.

vpeter · 28 January 2022 12:36

Yes, latest nightly already have this rule fixed. It should work out of the box (hopefully).

CoolGames · 9 February 2022 16:13

I just started over with CoreElec after a year plus with Ubuntu.
Last week I used the newest img to eMMC

CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-19.3-Matrix-Odroid_N2.img.gz

My Wifi 5B seems to be an older 8811 not 8821 as in the rules.
Is there anything special with this version to be aware of when on Asus Wifi 6 / AX router ?

# lsusb -d 0bda:a811
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0bda:a811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8811AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN Adapter

What is the exact udev rule and filename to make it work ?
I use ether / ssh to admin it and system-tools is added.
Also, what Ubuntu like features such as terminal and browser will work with an attached keyboard and mouse ?
Where do I find apt update equivalent (Is it in settings ?) ?

vpeter · 9 February 2022 16:24

You have udev rule few posts above and also

github.com

CoreELEC/CoreELEC/blob/082e440c13f4a99cf4ef7e0573f85f4f323dbc9b/packages/linux/udev.d/40-modeswitch.rules

# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
# Copyright (C) 2009-2014 Stephan Raue (stephan@openelec.tv)

ACTION!="add|change", GOTO="end_modeswitch"
KERNEL!="sr[0-9]*", GOTO="end_modeswitch"
SUBSYSTEM!="block", GOTO="end_modeswitch"

# Atheros Wireless / Netgear WNDA3200
ATTRS{idVendor}=="0cf3", ATTRS{idProduct}=="20ff", RUN+="/usr/bin/eject '/dev/%k'"

# Realtek RTL8821CU chipset 802.11ac NIC
#   initial cdrom mode 0bda:1a2b, wlan mode 0bda:c811
# Odroid WiFi Module 5B
#   initial cdrom mode 0bda:1a2b, wlan mode 0bda:c820
ATTRS{idVendor}=="0bda", ATTRS{idProduct}=="1a2b", RUN+="/usr/bin/eject '/dev/%k'"

LABEL="end_modeswitch"

Regarding questions about extra features: CoreELEC is not generic distribution. That’s why you can forget on a browser and apt.

CoolGames · 9 February 2022 16:41

Thanks,
@vpeter

Reboot looks good so now learning

connman

CoolElecn2:~ # connmanctl enable wifi
Enabled wifi
CoolElecn2:~ # ip address 
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue qlen 1
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP8000> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel qlen 1000
    link/ether 00:1e:06:42:3b:ae brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.50.122/24 brd 192.168.50.255 scope global eth0
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
3: wlan0: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP8000> mtu 1500 qdisc mq qlen 1000
    link/ether 20:0d:b0:33:d6:d3 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet6 fe80::220d:b0ff:fe33:d6d3/64 scope link 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
CoolElecn2:~ # cat /storage/.cache/connman/settings 
[global]
OfflineMode=false

[Wired]
Enable=true
Tethering=false

[WiFi]
Enable=true
Tethering=false
Tethering.Identifier=CoreELEC-AP
Tethering.Passphrase=0oLgFuLJ3r

[P2P]
Enable=false
Tethering=false

CoolGames · 9 February 2022 17:06

@vpeter ,
Wifi settings are in .config but can’t see a switch to 5 GHZ wifi anywhere in Kodi interface.
How is it done if there are multiple wifi possibilities when device is moved to another LAN ?

vpeter · 9 February 2022 17:09

No idea. Check in CoreELEC Kodi settings if there is separate interface.

CoolGames · 9 February 2022 17:15

Only found eth0 in CoreELEC connections.

I suspect I need to create the settings in another place like wpa would do in /etc.
Thanks @vpeter for responding so fast.
I’ll take it from here and find another link to help with connman switch in Kodi/CoreELEC.
Maybe read the source code for hints.