News

August 16, 2011

Alfa AWUS036NHR is Backtrack 5/Linux compatible

Alfa’s AWUS036NHR is Linux compatible. It also works with Backtrack 5 (BT5), but is not plug and play. Driver installation is needed (note: at this time it does not appear to be possible to get AWUS036NHR into monitor mode AND have 802.11n capabilities at the same time, see Alfa’s AWUS036NH or Rokland’s n3 for 802.11n and monitor mode capability in Backtrack 5).



The following is a quick-install guide for Linux users.
This should allow you to use your AWUS036NHR for Wi-Fi access in most recent Linux distributions running kernel 2.6.38, but as noted, monitor mode does not appear to be supported by this driver. Further down we have a link to a driver that is reported to allow you to use AWUS036NHR in monitor mode, but the corresponding web page notes the device will only have 802.11g functionality.

To install your Realtek RTL8188RU based AWUS036NHR in Linux, first download the driver here. The following steps were taken on an HP laptop running Backtrack 5, but the steps should be similar for other recent Linux distros.

*If you are not able to unzip the driver download file in Linux, you will need to download the file to a Windows computer to unzip and then copy the contents to your Linux computer via flash drive or another method.

1. When you have the files extracted on your Linux machine, open a terminal window and navigate to the location of the drivers.
2. Type ./install.sh to install the driver package
3. If installation completes successfully, then you can connect the Alfa adapter to the computer and open “Wicd Network Manager” from the Internet menu to connect to networks. Inside Wicd, click Preferences and change the network device to the AWUS036NHR adapter. If you are not sure of the device name, in a terminal window type “iwconfig” without quotes and it will list it there. Commonly the device will be called wlan0, wlan1, or wlan2 depending on whether you have other wireless cards installed on the computer.
4. If you receive a makefile error about “no rule to make target modules”, you may need to prepare kernel headers. As root, at the command line run these commands (you will need to have Internet access on the computer already):

prepare-kernel-sources

cd /usr/src/linux

cp -rf include/generated/* include/linux/

5. Upon completion, repeat step number 2 above to complete driver installation. Then connect the adapter to the computer and proceed to step 3.

URTWN Driver:

There is a driver called urtwn which specifies compatibility with RTL8188RU chipset-based devices, and allows for them to be put into monitor mode. The documentation for the driver explains that 802.11n functionality is not supported, so RTL8188RU devices will only operate in B/G mode. Rokland has not yet tried to use this driver with AWUS036NHR and is not able to offer installation assistance or support. You can visit this site for download information and more details:

http://resin.csoft.net/cgi-bin/man.cgi?section=4&topic=urtwn


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July 31, 2011

The Rokland n3: now just $34.97 with free shipping!

Our popular n3 wireless USB adapter from Rokland is now just $34.97 with free shipping. The n3 offers 802.11n functionality and an external RP-SMA antenna port for use with both indoor and outdoor external antennas.

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July 28, 2011

Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW USB plug and play in Backtrack 5 (BT5)

Just a quick note to let people know that Alfa's AWUS036H long range 1000mW USB Wi-Fi adapter has tested plug and play in Backtrack 5. This means that no messy Linux driver installation was needed to use the device to hook up with our office AP and go online. We have not done any advanced testing with any programs included in BT5, but as the RTL8187L Linux driver it uses has been around for some time there is no reason to think it will not work with the same programs it works with in BT3 or BT4.

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July 25, 2011

Alfa AWUS036NHR now in stock!

 If you snoozed on our pre-order deal, grab your AWUS036NHR now for just $34.97 with FREE SHIPPING within the US!



Alfa's AWUS036NHR is the long-awaited successor to their popular AWUS036NH long range 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter. What's different? Even...longer...range...to both N and G access points! Based on the sensitive Realtek RTL8188RU chipset, AWUS036NHR gives you the fast speeds of 802.11n and stronger signals than most existing 802.11n Wi-Fi products. Not convinced? Check out this range comparison test vs. Alfa's AWUS036NH model:



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July 21, 2011

Alfa Network's AWUS036NHR coming next week, pre-order now and save 10%

Alfa Network's newest 802.11n long range Wi-Fi USB adapter, model AWUS036NHR, launches next week. To see how it compares to Alfa's current long range N model, AWUS036NH,  check out this video:


 
Then you can pre-order AWUS036NHR directly from our web site and save 10% by using coupon code "AWUS036NHR" during checkout.

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July 09, 2011

Check out our 'Discussions" section on Facebook

Head over to our "Discussions" section on Facebook to find information on various topics ranging from Wi-Fi output power (and how much it really matters) to the importance of antenna cable shielding.

You can comment, ask questions, or get suggestions from Rokland staff and other Facebook users. We will be adding new discussion topics every few weeks.

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July 03, 2011

Introducing Alfa Tube-U outdoor long range Wi-Fi receivers

One of the many new products we have on our web site this month is Alfa Network's new Tube-U series of long range outdoor Wi-Fi adapters. They are great for use on boats or RVs. There are two flavors- Tube-U(N), which is an 802.11n model, and Tube-U(G) which of course is an 802.11g model. Tube-U features a high-powered Wi-Fi receiver in weather proof casing, as well as a special shielded 16' USB cable designed to prevent against signal loss. It also comes with mounting ties and features an N-male antenna connector. Check out this video:


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July 02, 2011

Come visit us on Facebook!

Timed with the launch of our new web site, we have also jumped onto Facebook.

Don't worry, you won't have to endure constant status updates regarding what our staff members ate for lunch or where they happen to be at any given moment. 

 

Instead you can view our Facebook page to read about new product announcements, see Rokland videos, join a discussion board on a Wi-Fi related topic, or compare product experiences with other people. Studies show more than 1/8 of the time the average web user spends online is at Facebook. Ideally you'd have our blog open in one browser tab and our Facebook page open in another, but we'd settle for either one!

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June 02, 2011

Our new website and blog...

Welcome to the new Rokland.com. We've updated our web site in June 2011 to bring you more products, high resolution product photos, coupon codes, and many other features. We are also incorporating our company blog, RokBlog, directly into our new site. In fact, this would qualify as the inaugural post at RokBlog's new home.

We use our blog for more than just marketing purposes. While we do announce new products and features here, we also post new support information relevant to our product line such as driver updates, Wi-Fi range tests, or demonstration videos.

Occasionally we may have some commentary about some current events in the tech industry, but for the most part our blog remains focused on our company and product offerings. Our old blog posts will continue to be visible at our Blogspot URL for some time. All new blog content will be posted here on this page you are reading now. Thank you for visiting!

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