N device with open source firmware

N device with open source firmware

[David Lynch Jr.]

I am looking for recommendations for an 802.11N device that is well
documented and has opensource firmware for a project.  I do nto care
whether it is mPCI, USB, .... so long as there is good documentation on
the chipset and good open source firmware as I will be making extensive
firmware changes for testing purposes. 


Thanks 

Re: N device with open source firmware

[Julian Calaby]

Hi David,

On Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 04:15, David Lynch Jr. <dhlii@dlasys.net> wrote:
> I am looking for recommendations for an 802.11N device that is well
> documented and has opensource firmware for a project.  I do nto care
> whether it is mPCI, USB, .... so long as there is good documentation on
> the chipset and good open source firmware as I will be making extensive
> firmware changes for testing purposes.

If I recall correctly, the ar9170 devices with the carl9170 driver use
an open source firmware and are 802.11n capable.

There was also an effort to produce a open source firmware for
broadcom devices, but I'm not sure what it's status is and what
progress they made.

Also, there's a GSoC project to open source the firmware for the USB
ath9k devices, (ath9k_htc) but I don't think any progress has been
made.

Thanks,

-- 
Julian Calaby

Email: julian.calaby@gmail.com
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/julian.calaby/
.Plan: http://sites.google.com/site/juliancalaby/

Re: N device with open source firmware

[David Lynch Jr.]

On Fri, 2012-04-06 at 13:00 +1000, Julian Calaby wrote:
> Hi David,
> 
> On Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 04:15, David Lynch Jr. <dhlii@dlasys.net> wrote:
> > I am looking for recommendations for an 802.11N device that is well
> > documented and has opensource firmware for a project.  I do nto care
> > whether it is mPCI, USB, .... so long as there is good documentation on
> > the chipset and good open source firmware as I will be making extensive
> > firmware changes for testing purposes.
> 
> If I recall correctly, the ar9170 devices with the carl9170 driver use
> an open source firmware and are 802.11n capable.

I have a fair amount of experience with the ar9170 and the carl9170
firmware. I was hoping something was better documented and supported. 
But I can live with that if i have to.

 thank you. 
> 
> There was also an effort to produce a open source firmware for
> broadcom devices, but I'm not sure what it's status is and what
> progress they made.
> 
> Also, there's a GSoC project to open source the firmware for the USB
> ath9k devices, (ath9k_htc) but I don't think any progress has been
> made.
> 
> Thanks,
> 

Re: N device with open source firmware

[Christian Lamparter]

On Friday 06 April 2012 05:09:03 David Lynch Jr. wrote:
> On Fri, 2012-04-06 at 13:00 +1000, Julian Calaby wrote:
> > If I recall correctly, the ar9170 devices with the carl9170 driver use
> > an open source firmware and are 802.11n capable.
> 
> I have a fair amount of experience with the ar9170 and the carl9170
> firmware. I was hoping something was better documented and supported. 
why? is there anything wrong with AR9170 support? If so, please tell me.

Regards,
	Chr

Re: N device with open source firmware

[David Lynch Jr.]

I was not seeking to impugn the linux-wireless AR9170 support, just
looking to see what additional alternatives exist before starting a
major project that will require substantial firmware work. 

My complaints with respect to its "openness" regard Atheros.

I was hoping for a mini-PCI device. 
The AR9170 has open source firmware - but the hardware documentation is
proprietary.

I am not looking to spark a debate, just determine what options exist. 
And more options is better. 



 
On Fri, 2012-04-06 at 13:26 +0200, Christian Lamparter wrote:
> On Friday 06 April 2012 05:09:03 David Lynch Jr. wrote:
> > On Fri, 2012-04-06 at 13:00 +1000, Julian Calaby wrote:
> > > If I recall correctly, the ar9170 devices with the carl9170 driver use
> > > an open source firmware and are 802.11n capable.
> > 
> > I have a fair amount of experience with the ar9170 and the carl9170
> > firmware. I was hoping something was better documented and supported. 
> why? is there anything wrong with AR9170 support? If so, please tell me.
> 
> Regards,
> 	Chr

Re: N device with open source firmware

[Adrian Chadd]

On 6 April 2012 08:30, David Lynch Jr. <dhlii@dlasys.net> wrote:
> I was not seeking to impugn the linux-wireless AR9170 support, just
> looking to see what additional alternatives exist before starting a
> major project that will require substantial firmware work.
>
> My complaints with respect to its "openness" regard Atheros.
>
> I was hoping for a mini-PCI device.

Ah. There's (as far as I know) no Atheros mini-PCI device that runs firmware.

> The AR9170 has open source firmware - but the hardware documentation is
> proprietary.

There's an open source NDA process at QCA now. Sign the NDA, get
access to documentation. Done/done.



Adrian

Re: N device with open source firmware

[David Lynch Jr.]

On Fri, 2012-04-06 at 15:33 -0700, Adrian Chadd wrote:
> On 6 April 2012 08:30, David Lynch Jr. <dhlii@dlasys.net> wrote:
> > I was not seeking to impugn the linux-wireless AR9170 support, just
> > looking to see what additional alternatives exist before starting a
> > major project that will require substantial firmware work.
> >
> > My complaints with respect to its "openness" regard Atheros.
> >
> > I was hoping for a mini-PCI device.
> 
> Ah. There's (as far as I know) no Atheros mini-PCI device that runs firmware.
> 
> > The AR9170 has open source firmware - but the hardware documentation is
> > proprietary.
> 
> There's an open source NDA process at QCA now. Sign the NDA, get
> access to documentation. Done/done.

I have AR9170 documentation covered by a different NDA with a prior
client. That probably had an NDA with atheros.

I do not like NDAs but will sign them where necescary.

What i am asking is is there an alternative N device besides the AR9170
that one way or another has support in depth - hardware information,
firmware, etc. 

I am gathering that the AR9170 is currently the N hardware with the best
information.  Atleast i am already familiar with it. 
 

> 
> 
> 
> Adrian