Interesting response re: wifi from BrosTrend
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Hello,
I've been looking around for affordable wifi adapters for Trisquel and have learned that just because a driver might be GPL and free, the firmware might not be.
I reached out to tech support at a company called BrosTrend and had the following exchange with them. I'm not an expert, so forgive me if I worded my question to them incorrectly. My amateur reading of this response is that it sounds positive. What do you think? Am I missing anything?
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Hello,
I would like to buy some of your networking devices, but wanted to check if both the Linux drivers AND the device firmware are free and open. I can see that the Linux drivers are released under the GNU Public Licence, but can't see any reference to firmware.
I want to use the devices with laptops using Trisquel Linux, and if there are proprietary 'blobs' on the firmware, they won't work for us.
Many thanks
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Hello,
I recommend our AC3L adapter. Since kernel 6.2, its driver (including the firmware) is included in the upstream kernel, so you won't even need to install anything.
While for older kernels, you may run our installer (see https://linux.brostrend.com), as you noticed it's GPLv2, including the firmware which is included as a file in the driver.
Best regards
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This is the device: AC3L
The firmware "is included in the upstream kernel"... as a blob: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/rtlwifi/rtl8812aefw.bin
You can try to convince Realtek to distribute the corresponding source code.
Great news.
We have the source code!
I found this on Github.
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Realtek's 5.6.1.6 source was found bundled with the Cudy WU1200 AC1200 High Gain USB Wi-Fi Adapter and can be downloaded from Cudy's website.
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I can confirm that it is working on Trisquel 11 on my Lenovo Thinkpad.
There, the blob is disguised as source code: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu/5.8.7.1_35809.20191129_COEX20191120-7777/hal/rtl8822b/hal8822b_fw.c
Many thanks for this. I'm not as knowledgeable as you are on this stuff, so it's helpful.
What confused me is that Trisquel let me install it. I had misunderstood and thought that Trisquel would block anything that contained blobs.
Trisquel does not do DRM! It just does not propose you any proprietary software in its repository. Outside it, you are on your own.
I'm reminded of https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/compromise.en.html
"The issue here is not whether people should be 'able' or 'allowed' to install nonfree software; a general-purpose system 'enables' and 'allows' users to do whatever they wish. The issue is whether we guide users towards nonfree software. What they do on their own is their responsibility; what we do for them, and what we direct them towards, is ours. We must not direct the users towards proprietary software as if it were a solution, because proprietary software is the problem."
But you should not install this. For the sake of your freedom.
Thanks. I have returned the device and ordered an Atheros one that is mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
When I first tried Trisquel ages ago, I had tried to put a blob driver in and had it in my mind that Trisquel identified it at boot and wouldn't let me run it. I must have misunderstood what was happening.
In other news, I am enjoying Trisquel and it is helping me to be much more mindful about what I install and run.
This is outdated now; the source code is available and that is what BrosTrend use to get this working on free systems.
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I will write back to BrosTrend with that. I get the sense that they are trying to do something positive here, but if you are right (and I suspect you are) they aren't quite there yet.
Shame.
If you don't get anywhere with them, have you looked at ThinkPenguin?
This site does state: "No dependencies on NDISWrapper, binary blobs, or proprietary drivers-firmware & works with most distributions out of the box", so could be worth a look :)
Link to their wifi adapter:
https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/penguin-wireless-n-usb-adapter-gnu-linux-tpe-n150usb
Indeed. As specified on the page, that adapter uses the AR9271 chipset and, as I was writing three days ago in https://trisquel.info/forum/trying-out-new-novacustom-laptop-work-today :
The Qualcomm Atheros AR7010 and AR9271 chipsets have their firmware loaded at startup. It is free, thank to the advocacy of Christopher Waid (ThinkPenguin's CEO and founder): https://packages.trisquel.org/aramo/firmware-ath9k-htc
The only problem is that they want $54 for the device and a whopping $84 for shipping...
There is no way I am going to pay $138 for something like that.
Then, search "AR9271" on a site such as ebay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=AR9271&_sop=15
$84???!!!! Holy crap! Do you live on the moon or something?!
:P lol
--EDIT--
Just saw this for myself, didn't realize it was a standard fee of $84 for all outside US shipping. That is shocking.
I've used TPLink devices that run the Atheros chipset with no need for drivers etc...
IDK how 'free' TPLink ones are but as MagicBanana wrote, the Atheros ones are good.
That was my reaction!
Particularly as the FSF were able to ship my USB membership card from the US with no additional cost to me... :-)
I am a translator!
> $84 for shipping
When I bought a Gigabit ethernet router from Thinkpenguin, I paid 18.99 $ for shipping to Europe (standard shipping) so I am surprised about this 84 $.
Fantastic - thank you everybody for the helpful links and information.
I detest how the industry considers "works out of the box" to be determined by what is present in the normal linux kernel. That is beyond dishonest and should be treated with massive amount of contempt by everyone.
I had this problem once when I tried to buy a tp link nano usb wifi adapter.
It has the N function. But strangely enough the one they sell usually now requires a blob...
BS... just plain stupid.
Eff them.
Simple and to the point:
Screw them.