Raspberry Pi: Choosing and Using USB Wi-Fi Adapters

Although most Raspberry Pi models come with built-in Wi-Fi adapters, using a USB dongle is still an option. But should you use one? Which one? Why? How? There are so many questions. I’ve summarized everything for you in this article.

USB Wi-Fi dongles can be used on Raspberry Pi to access Wi-Fi without using the onboard Wi-Fi adapter (if any). Most USB dongles are automatically detected and available in the Raspberry Pi configuration.

This post will give you a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about working with USB Wi-Fi dongles and the Raspberry Pi. Read on as we go through it all, or you can use the table of contents below to jump to a specific section.

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Why use a USB Wi-Fi Dongle on Raspberry Pi?

Using a USB Wi-Fi adapter on Raspberry Pi can add wireless capabilities to a model that doesn’t have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. It can also be useful in other cases.

Raspberry Pi 2 and earlier versions do not have an onboard Wi-Fi adapter. For these models, a USB Wi-Fi dongle is necessary to connect to a wireless network.

But even with recent models that generally come with onboard Wi-Fi, using a USB Wi-Fi dongle can still be beneficial:

• Better Performance: Some USB Wi-Fi dongles offer superior performance to the built-in Wi-Fi adapter, providing faster data transfer rates and more stable connections.
  
• Extended Range: A USB Wi-Fi dongle with a larger antenna can offer an extended range, ensuring a better connection in areas where the onboard Wi-Fi signal is weak.
  
• Dual-Band Capabilities: Many USB Wi-Fi dongles support 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. A dual-band dongle can help avoid interference and congestion on the 2.4GHz band, leading to better overall network performance.

I’ll return to these reasons in the next sections, so stick with me to know whether or not you should consider having one in your setup.

Comparing Speeds: USB Wi-Fi Dongle vs. Onboard Wi-Fi

I spent some time researching which is faster between the onboard Wi-Fi and a high-end USB Wi-Fi dongle. I even ran some tests using iPerf – a popular tool used for network performance measurement and tuning.

Several factors can influence performance when evaluating the speed differences between a USB Wi-Fi dongle and onboard Wi-Fi. And most of these factors always affect the USB Wi-Fi dongles, since most on-board Wi-Fi adapters are built for optimal performance.

Let’s look at some of these factors:

• Signal Strength and Range:
  • USB Wi-Fi Dongle: Often equipped with external antennas, dongles can capture stronger signals over longer distances, making them ideal for areas with weak Wi-Fi coverage.
  • Onboard Wi-Fi: Generally has a more limited range due to smaller, internal antennas.
    
• Interference Management:
  • USB Wi-Fi Dongle: Many support dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz), allowing them to switch bands to avoid congestion and interference, providing a more stable connection.
  • Onboard Wi-Fi: Typically limited to single-band, which can lead to more interference and slower speeds in crowded areas.
    
• Speed and Performance:
  • USB Wi-Fi Dongle: Newer dongles supporting the latest Wi-Fi standards (e.g., 802.11ac, 802.11ax) offer faster data transfer rates and improved performance for tasks like streaming and gaming.
  • Onboard Wi-Fi: This may not support the latest standards, leading to slower speeds, especially in bandwidth-intensive applications.
    
• Antenna Design:
  • USB Wi-Fi Dongle: External antennas enhance performance by providing better signal quality and range.
  • Onboard Wi-Fi: Internal antennas may not perform as well, especially in environments with physical obstructions.

When you look closely at all these factors, the USB Wi-Fi dongle performs better. However, I assume that you are using one of the high-end USB Wi-Fi dongles. I am sure you have also come across cheap Wi-Fi dongles some of which have poor performance.

In the next part of this post, I will list some of the factors you need to consider when looking for a USB Wi-Fi dongle for your Raspberry Pi.

Choosing the Best USB Wi-Fi Adapter for Raspberry Pi

When boosting your Raspberry Pi’s connectivity, a high-quality USB Wi-Fi dongle can make a world of a difference.

Onboard Wi-Fi adapters are designed for decent performance, but a powerful dongle can take your setup to the next level—especially if you’re running applications that demand high bandwidth, like media servers or network-attached storage.

General recommendations

Below are some general rules when looking to buy any USB Wi-Fi dongle.

Compatibility

The adapter must be natively supported in the Raspberry Pi model you are using and the current version of the OS installed. You can start by looking at this resource.

Real Performance Over Specs

Don’t just trust the advertised specs like 802.11n. If possible, measure actual performance using tools like iPerf to see real-world results.

Type of USB port

All Raspberry Pi models come with a USB 2.0 but we also have models like Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 with 2 USB 3.0 ports. The USB 2.0 doesn’t work well with network devices.

Therefore, even if you have a high-end USB Wi-Fi dongle but connect it to the USB 2.0, its performance will be poor. If you have a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, use the USB 3.0 ports.

Power needs

Most people often ignore the power supply and assume that as long the Raspberry Pi is booting and working, that is enough. Unfortunately, that’s not true.

Any device added to the Raspberry Pi uses power. So, a USB device, or an HDMI monitor can push the Raspberry Pi into sub-optimal performance.

According to this article, the Raspberry Pi starts operating erratically below 4.75V. You can find more details about this in this article: How to Power a Raspberry Pi: Pro Tips for Every Use.

Recommended USB Wi-Fi adapters for Raspberry Pi

Below are my top recommendations for USB Wi-Fi dongles you can use with your Raspberry Pi. I have compiled this list after researching Raspberry Pi platforms where multiple users have shared their experiences using different Wi-Fi dongles.

Panda 300Mbps Wireless N USB Adapter

This Wi-Fi dongle is the size of a thumb drive. It’s perfect for those who want reliable performance without bogging down the Raspberry Pi’s CPU. According to many Raspberry Pi users, this dongle is a plug-and-play device and works with almost all operating systems available for the Raspberry Pi.

Check the price on Amazon.

However, some users said they had to install additional drivers for this Wi-Fi dongle to work. If that is the case for you, the discussion in this forum would be a great start. It gives a detailed guide on installing the Panda Wifi USB Adapter PAU05 driver.

Edimax EW-7811Un 150Mbps 11n Wi-Fi USB Adapter

The Edimax EW-7811Un is your go-to for simple and efficient Wi-Fi needs. I also tested this Wi-Fi dongle and it worked for all various versions of the Raspberry Pi including 2, 3, and 4. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a Raspberry Pi 5 but I am certain it should work.

Check the price on Amazon.

If you are having any issues with this particular USB Wi-Fi adapter, go through the discussion on this forum which tries to solve issues with EdiMax not working on Raspberry Pi OS Lite.

TP-LINK TL-WN725N Wireless N Nano USB Adapter 150Mbps

The TP-LINK TL-WN725N Wi-Fi dongle is pretty tiny. It is perfect for those who need a low-profile solution. Despite its size, it performs well for general tasks and can easily slip into any USB port without getting in the way.

Among all the USB Wi-Fi dongles I researched, this Wi-Fi dongle seems to have the most complex setup process. For most users, it isn’t a plug-and-play device for many Raspberry Pi models.

Many users had to download and install some drivers before getting this dongle up and running. This article gives a step-by-step guide on installing the TP-Link Nano WLAN USB adapter driver on the Raspberry Pi.

Get this cheap adapter from Amazon.

RT5370

The RT5370 is the budget-friendly option in the lineup (check the current price here). It might not win any speed awards compared to the other dongles that I tested, but it’s great if you’re looking to save a few bucks. Performance can vary, so it’s best for less demanding applications.

Setup Wi-Fi on Raspberry Pi 2 and earlier versions

Setting up Wi-Fi on Raspberry Pi 2 is different from setting up on Raspberry Pi 3 as Raspberry Pi 2 or earlier models don’t have onboard Wi-Fi adapters like Raspberry Pi 3, 4 or 5 does.

Hence, to access Wi-Fi using Raspberry Pi 2, we need to use an external adapter like a WiFi Dongle.

This is a four-step process:

• Connect the USB Wi-Fi dongle.
• Edit the network interface file.
• Edit the wpa_supplicant.conf file.
• Test the Wi-Fi connection.

Read this article which provides a comprehensive guide of 6 ways to configure Wi-Fi on a Raspberry Pi. If you are specifically using Raspberry Pi 2 or earlier versions, select “Manual Configuration” from the table of contents.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Over the years of using USB Wi-Fi dongles with my Raspberry Pi, I have always faced two major issues:

• Power issues
• Driver

Power related issues

As I stated earlier, I have three power supplies but only one can give an output of 2.4A at 5.2V (12 watts) constant.

When I use the other power supplies whose output might go below 4.75V, some USB Wi-Fi dongles will not work specifically the Panda 300Mbps Wireless N USB Adapter.

Therefore, if your USB Wi-Fi dongle is not working, start by checking power. A friend of mine was also powering his Raspberry Pi with the laptop’s USB port and we noticed that the Wi-Fi dongle would not work unless he used the power supply.

Drivers

Another common issue you might face is drivers. Now I won’t give you a direct solution because each USB Wi-Fi dongle might require a different set of drivers from the manufacturer. If you have such an issue, I suggest checking online on various forums to look for solutions.

However, here is the basic step-by-step guide for solving driver-related issues:

• Check Compatibility: First, confirm your dongle is compatible with your Raspberry Pi model and OS version.
• Update the operating system: Run these commands to ensure everything is up to date.
  sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
• Install Drivers: Check if the specific driver for your dongle needs to be installed manually. You can often find this information on the manufacturer’s website.
• Check dmesg Logs: Run dmesg after plugging in the dongle to see if there are any error messages related to the device.
  dmesg
• lsusb Command: Use lsusb to check if the system recognizes the device.
  lsusb
• Blacklist Conflicting Drivers: Sometimes, generic drivers conflict with specific ones. You might need to blacklist the generic driver.

Going further

Up to this point, I believe you now have a clear understanding of how to get started with USB Wi-Fi dongles on the Raspberry Pi. In this post, I have listed only five USB dongles, but it shouldn’t limit you.

If you have access to other brands, feel free to check them out but be sure to use the criteria I provided in this article. You can also share with our readers the USB Wi-Fi dongle that worked best for your Raspberry Pi and how you solved any connection issues.

Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:

The RaspberryTips Community: If you want to hang out with me and other Raspberry Pi fans, you can join the community. I share exclusive tutorials and behind-the-scenes content there. Premium members can also visit the website without ads.

Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.

The Raspberry Pi Bootcamp: Understand everything about the Raspberry Pi, stop searching for help all the time, and finally enjoy completing your projects.

Master Python on Raspberry Pi: Create, understand, and improve any Python script for your Raspberry Pi. Learn the essentials step-by-step without losing time understanding useless concepts.

You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.