Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2870

[T i m]

Hi all,

I bought a couple of tiny USB WiFi dongles to use on my Raspberry Pis but
I'd like test test them for functionality / connectivity first on this
Ubuntu 12.04 box.

I've had a quick Google and so far see:

lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 148f:3070 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2870/RT3070
Wireless Adapter


***@A300-Ubuntu:~$ lsmod | grep rt28
rt2800usb 22773 0
rt2800lib 58967 1 rt2800usb
crc_ccitt 12707 1 rt2800lib
rt2x00usb 20808 1 rt2800usb
rt2x00lib 55326 3 rt2800usb,rt2800lib,rt2x00usb
mac80211 506862 4 rt2800lib,rt2x00usb,rt2x00lib,ath9k

but

***@A300-Ubuntu:~$ dmesg | grep rt28
[ 4.668057] phy1 -> rt2800_init_eeprom: Error - Invalid RF chipset
0x3070 detected.
[ 4.668364] usbcore: registered new interface driver rt2800usb


I think I have gleaned that this device should be supported on the
current kernel but reading about it seems there are a myriad of
'solutions' that have been offered by others to others, many of which
haven't worked or weren't implemented properly I wouldn't mind having
*the* solution rather than yet another turkey hunt please.

FWIW, W7 on this same box seems to find the device ok and loads a driver
for it but it sits at disabled (and won't 'enable').

The supplied MiniCD contains a Linux folder and that contains a file
called:

2011_0719_RT3070_RT3370_RT5370_RT5372_Linux_STA_V2.5.0.3_DPO

.. which I have copied to my home folder and extracted and that contains
various files but nothing that says where and when you might need to use
it.

So, is it a blacklist thing? Do I have the driver installed? When I first
plugged it I saw a little LED lit on it. Since rebooting after an update
it's not been on since?

Cheers, T i m

Cheers, T i m

[T i m]

Post by T i m
FWIW, W7 on this same box seems to find the device ok and loads a driver
for it but it sits at disabled (and won't 'enable').

Update on that. Running the supplied 'Setup.exe' in XP compatibility
mode see it working fine (something I found recently on another RALink
card on W7). However, it does work now at least and so should also
potentially work on Ubuntu and on the RPi.

Cheers, T i m

[T i m]

Post by T i m

Post by T i m
FWIW, W7 on this same box seems to find the device ok and loads a driver
for it but it sits at disabled (and won't 'enable').

Update on that. Running the supplied 'Setup.exe' in XP compatibility
mode see it working fine (something I found recently on another RALink
card on W7). However, it does work now at least and so should also
potentially work on Ubuntu and on the RPi.

Except unfortunately it doesn't work on the Raspberry Pi, either under
RaspXBMC nor Raspbian (Debian, you can see it with lsusb).

Anyway, as is often the case with Linux I find the easiest solution is
not to fight it but buy my way out of it and I've ordered a different,
supposedly Pi compatible USB WiFi dongle that looks exactly the same
as the one I have already (but may have a different chipset).

"Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / Mac / Linux / RISC"

So, we know what they mean by XP, Vista, 7 and 8 but what *exactly* is
Mac, Linux and RISC?

The first dongle said it was supported on Linux:

"2000/XP/Vista/Linux/Mac OS X" and for me that should mean ideally
OOTB or at worst after running a simple setup util (or offering a
driver etc .. and to be fair, no mention of W7 although it did work
after a little kick from me) and at least it mentions OSX on that one
(not just 'Mac').

Ho hum ...

Cheers, T i m

[Mike Easter]

Post by T i m
"2000/XP/Vista/Linux/Mac OS X"

I know that you don't like to be bothered with details, but here is a
useful discussion by someone experienced with solving RT2870 problems.

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-install-rt2870-chipset-based-usb-wireless-adapter.html
Ubuntu Linux: Install RT2870 Chipset Based USB Wireless Adapter - It
seems that many new Linux users frequently have problems learning how to
install RT2870 driver under Linux.
... This quick tutorial will explains how to install RT2870 based
chipset device with WPA2 authentication and TKIP wireless encryption.

The article also has links to Ralink's linux drivers which support (and
link) has changed to mediatek which provides drivers for win xp-Win8,
linux, and Mac.

The above tutorial was written almost 3 years ago, and it seems the arch
wiki on the subject may be more uptodate

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup#rt2860_and_rt2870
rt2860 and rt2870 - From Linux kernel 3.0, the staging driver rt2860sta
is replaced by the mainline driver rt2800pci, and rt2870sta is replaced
by rt2800usb.

[T i m]

Post by Mike Easter

Post by T i m
"2000/XP/Vista/Linux/Mac OS X"

I know that you don't like to be bothered with details,

<weg>

Post by Mike Easter
but here is a
useful discussion by someone experienced with solving RT2870 problems.
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-install-rt2870-chipset-based-usb-wireless-adapter.html

Hmm, interesting, if only confirming that is *way* too much faff for
something that should just work OOTB. ;-(

However, my personal preferences aside, I really do aim for solutions
that would be OOTB for *anyone*. ie, If I install Linux for someone
and later it needs to be reinstalled, I don't want to be (or them to
be) in the position of not having say Internet access, and therefore
not be able to even Google up a solution (assuming such was available
etc). So, I'm not saying that even I couldn't plod though such a list
of steps to make this particular dongle work, just that it's not the
sort of thing I need to do if (as) there are dongles out there that do
work OOTB.

Post by Mike Easter
Ubuntu Linux: Install RT2870 Chipset Based USB Wireless Adapter - It
seems that many new Linux users frequently have problems learning how to
install RT2870 driver under Linux.

And unless you are looking for a new hobby, would probably prefer not
to in the first place?

Again, I can see if you were actually resolving this sort of thing
yourself, looking into the drivers, protocols etc, but if you are just
Googling up other people solutions, aren't you really just 'Standing
on the shoulders of giants'? Isn't that just the same as clicking on
'Setup.exe' and having it made to work for you (as I've just done with
that exact same dongle on this XP Mac Mini)?

Post by Mike Easter
... This quick tutorial will explains how to install RT2870 based
chipset device with WPA2 authentication and TKIP wireless encryption.
The article also has links to Ralink's linux drivers which support (and
link) has changed to mediatek which provides drivers for win xp-Win8,
linux, and Mac.

Yeah, I've found that already and where I just got the XP setup from
(as one of my pet issues with the Mac Mini is the slot loading drive
won't take the Mini CD's this device drivers often come on).

Post by Mike Easter
The above tutorial was written almost 3 years ago, and it seems the arch
wiki on the subject may be more uptodate

And again (and thanks for the feedback / links etc), unless you are
really (really) into all this you never know if you are making matters
worse / re-inventing the wheel etc.

Post by Mike Easter
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup#rt2860_and_rt2870
rt2860 and rt2870 - From Linux kernel 3.0, the staging driver rt2860sta
is replaced by the mainline driver rt2800pci, and rt2870sta is replaced
by rt2800usb.

Again, that doesn't mean much to me and as soon as I start to read a
load of Boolean algebra (IF kernel >3.4 and Driver <= 6.2 and IF there
is a 'Y' in the day THEN ...) I just switch off and look for a more
straightforward solution.

But your links might be of (real) interest to someone else so thanks
for that (for them).

Cheers, T i m

p.s. So, off to do something more interesting, rewarding and practical
re how I'm going to treat a heap of rusty chrome stuff of 'Her' VX750
Virago ...

Loading Image...

It doesn't look as bad as it did as I've already chemically stripped
most of the rust. If left out overnight in the UK though it would all
be rusty again by the morning.

Ideally I think I'd like to get the chrome chemically stripped and
then simply paint it all some suitable colour (satin black seems to be
on-trend for such bikes these days).

<Loading Image...>

[DecadentLinuxUserNumeroUno]

Post by T i m

Post by T i m

Post by T i m
FWIW, W7 on this same box seems to find the device ok and loads a driver
for it but it sits at disabled (and won't 'enable').

Update on that. Running the supplied 'Setup.exe' in XP compatibility
mode see it working fine (something I found recently on another RALink
card on W7). However, it does work now at least and so should also
potentially work on Ubuntu and on the RPi.

Except unfortunately it doesn't work on the Raspberry Pi, either under
RaspXBMC nor Raspbian (Debian, you can see it with lsusb).
Anyway, as is often the case with Linux I find the easiest solution is
not to fight it but buy my way out of it and I've ordered a different,
supposedly Pi compatible USB WiFi dongle that looks exactly the same
as the one I have already (but may have a different chipset).
"Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / Mac / Linux / RISC"
So, we know what they mean by XP, Vista, 7 and 8 but what *exactly* is
Mac, Linux and RISC?
"2000/XP/Vista/Linux/Mac OS X" and for me that should mean ideally
OOTB or at worst after running a simple setup util (or offering a
driver etc .. and to be fair, no mention of W7 although it did work
after a little kick from me) and at least it mentions OSX on that one
(not just 'Mac').
Ho hum ...
Cheers, T i m

Big Endian.