= Introduction = [[Image(RTL8188CUS-devices.jpg,300px,align=right)]] My idea was to use multiple 802.11b/g units to build a cheap WiFi stumbler using Kismet without the need of hopping channels. If you do not hop you can scan more bands and capture more useful output useful for projects like [http://www.wirelessleiden.nl/projects/heatmap wireless heatmapping]. I went for the RTL8188CUS (Realtek Wireless Chipset, 802.11b/g) because of the cheap pricing. The Realtek RTL8188CUS comes in many shapes and forms as show on the right. They include labels like: * WiFi 11N * EDUP * IEEE 802.11N * WiFi N = Comparison = == Pro == * The Linux driver is found at [http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=48&PFid=48&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true#2742 Realtek Website] * Unit is cheap: [http://dealextreme.com DX] sells them for less than 5 EUR. == Cons == * The driver does not handle multiple cards at the same time. * No driver support for BSD derivatives. * Kismet does not seems to support this devices. * The 802.11N description is properly not valid, nor the driver neither the specifications report this functionality. * Parts of the drivers are closed source. * No DataSheet available. = Conclusion = * The units are (currently) not usable for the Wireless Heatmap Multiple Cards project. = Appendix = == lsusb -vvv == {{{ rvdzwet@bunty:~$ sudo lsusb -s 1:15 -vvv Bus 001 Device 015: ID 0bda:8176 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Device Descriptor: bLength 18 bDescriptorType 1 bcdUSB 2.00 bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level) bDeviceSubClass 0 bDeviceProtocol 0 bMaxPacketSize0 64 idVendor 0x0bda Realtek Semiconductor Corp. idProduct 0x8176 bcdDevice 2.00 iManufacturer 1 Realtek iProduct 2 802.11n WLAN Adapter iSerial 3 00e04c000001 bNumConfigurations 1 Configuration Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 2 wTotalLength 46 bNumInterfaces 1 bConfigurationValue 1 iConfiguration 0 bmAttributes 0x80 (Bus Powered) MaxPower 500mA Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 0 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 4 bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol iInterface 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN bmAttributes 2 Transfer Type Bulk Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes bInterval 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT bmAttributes 2 Transfer Type Bulk Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes bInterval 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x03 EP 3 OUT bmAttributes 2 Transfer Type Bulk Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes bInterval 0 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes bInterval 1 Device Qualifier (for other device speed): bLength 10 bDescriptorType 6 bcdUSB 2.00 bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level) bDeviceSubClass 0 bDeviceProtocol 0 bMaxPacketSize0 64 bNumConfigurations 1 Device Status: 0x0000 (Bus Powered) }}}