KALI WIFI Adapter – Which are the best WIFI network adapters for Kali Linux?

Kali Linux works with a limited set of WIFI network adapters, and getting the best network adapter is like black magic.  In the good old days of Backtrack, I would always have recommended a 54 Mbps card from Alfa – called the  Alfa AWUS036H.  This card was amazing… and would pick up 2-3 times as many networks as more powerful cards.  This leads us to the first point about KALI Network adapters – the chipset is more important than the adapter itself.  The Alfa AWUS036H used the Realtek 8187L chipset  – and nothing came close to its performance.  Of course, who wants a 2.4 Ghz, 54 Mbps adapter these days?

Step 1 – Research the Chipset

The chipset is the ultimate decider of whether a network adapter will flunk or be awesome with Kali Linux – choose wisely, as even yours truly has bought an expensive adapter that proved to be utterly useless.

Atheros AR9271
Ralink RT3070
Ralink RT3572
Realtek 8187L (Wireless G adapters)
Realtek RTL8812AU (Wireless AC **Kali 2017.1 only)

The reference section links the chipset to drivers.

**Update Kali 2017.

The new Kali Linux, version 2017.1, also adds support for Realtek’s RTL8812AU wireless chipsets, it is a very useful feature because these chipsets are used by major modem-makers like Belkin, D-Link, and TP-Link.

Step 2 – Use Alfa cards – lazy option

You are humbly introduced to Alfa network cards – Alfa dominate the Penetration Testing scene.   Not all Alfa’s work with Kali on a plug n play basis.. so we still need to be selective.

We are looking for network adapters that can carry out “monitor mode ” and “packet injection”.

If your dream card cannot do this – then backtrack.. backtrack, gedit…

Step 3 – Wardriving Paddles & Antennas

Use wardriving paddles to increase your adapters signal strength.  A rule of thumb here is that every 3 db increase in power, will double your signal strength.  So an Alfa antenna with a 10 db gain – means triple your signal strength.

10 db gain antenna – for 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz networks

The panel antenna fits onto the Alfa adapters, and costs between £12 and £20.

The wardriving paddle works with only 2.4 Ghz networks, and gives 7 db gain for £11.

I really like using the wardriving paddle, however 2.4 Ghz networks are dying out.

Step 4 – Current strongest Kali Network adapters 

Alfa AWUS036ACH (with Kali 2017) 

The new Kali Linux, version 2017.1, also adds support for Realtek’s RTL8812AU wireless chipsets, but needs a USB 3 port for maximum speed.

“A while back, we received a feature request asking for the inclusion of drivers for RTL8812AU wireless chipsets. These drivers are not part of the standard Linux kernel, and have been modified to allow for injection. Why is this a big deal? This chipset supports 802.11 AC, making this one of the first drivers to bring injection-related wireless attacks to this standard, and with companies such as ALFA making the AWUS036ACH wireless cards, we expect this card to be an arsenal favorite.” continues the announcement.

The AWUS036ACH currently costs £46 on Amazon.

The driver can be installed using the following commands:

apt-get update

apt install realtek-rtl88xxau-dkms

**Comment on Amazon:

BEST RESULT is Achieved with a small improvement : ONE 9DBI ANTENNA on RIGHT PLUG , One 5DBI ANTENNA on LEFT plug ( one of the2 of the original package) the intensity JUMPED from – 63dbi(AWUS036H) to -35dbi (AWUS036ACH)…..It is plug’s order sensitive , don’t reverse R/L . Also the throughtput jumped from 110 KBytes to 140 KBytes

**Caution: Driver issues with the AWUS036ACH.

The “ACH” works well, works in monitor mode, but has issues with injection.  I’ve placed a caution in here, as I need secondary evidence that the latest drivers will successfully inject, and that they are reliable.

https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-20171-release/

Here’s an example of the driver issue – and the card failing to inject.

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Alfa Network AWUS036NHA – Black Alfa 

The AWUS036NHA uses the Atheros AR9271 chipset drivers.  150 Mbps – costs around £20.

Note the comment about region set to BO.  BO = Bolivia.  There are no radio laws in Bolivia so you can TX at maximum power.

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Alfa Network AWUS036NH – Green or Teal Alfa

Comments/test results found:

ALFA Network AWUS051NH V2 (Version 2) 2.4/ 5GHz

The AWUS051NH uses the RALink3572 chipset. It’s plug n play in Kali and injection capable.  300 Mbps – costs around £35.

ALFA Network AWUS052NH 2.4/ 5GHz Dual Band 300Mbp/s

This uses the RT3572 chipset and reportedly works with Kali out of the box for G/N/A networks and uses a USB 2 port, which will limit its speeds.  Reports found it weak when used with Windows.

Amazon comment found about AWUS052NH

It looks great too,  this adapter is plug and play with Kali Linux.   but is hard to find, therefore costs over £40. I really like the look of this.. but need to find more corroborating evidence regarding its compatibility with Kali – but it’s looking good. 

Non Alfa Adapters – TPLink WN 722N

Non Alfa Adapters – Comfast using AR9271 chipset

Alfa Adapters –  AWUS036NHR V2  -AVOID!!

Note the chipset – RTL8188RU.  This chipset is known to have issues.

In Conclusion:

• I’d go with the Orange Alfa Adapter – AWUS052NH – if you have a USB 2 port.

• If you have a USB 3 port, then take a chance on the AWUS036ACH, even though I have yet to find corroborating evidence that the latest drivers are stable.

  

• There’s no price difference between the 2 adapters.

Final words – watch out for the USB 2 port

The speed of the USB port will affect the performance of the adapter.

The AWUS036ACH is designed to be connected to a USB 3.0 port
You can connect it to a USB 2.0 port, but there will be a transfer cap issue since the USB 2.0 is capped at 480Mbps, below the theoretical 867Mbps allowed by the protocol ac.

• USB 1.1: 12 Mbps
• USB 2.0: 480 Mbps
• USB 3.0: 4.8 Gbps
• USB 3.1: 10 Gbps

 

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Increasing the signal of your WIFI adapter – this video is so funny and so informative

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Disclaimer:

Last point, am I paid by Alfa networks? No.

Do they provide me with kit to test? No, sadly.  I wish they did.

If you have a wifi network adatper that works with Kali 2 – plug n play  then please let me know.

That’s the trouble with being independent and impartial – no free lunch.

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Reference:

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Atheros_AR9271

http://www.mediatek.com/en/downloads1/downloads/

https://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/32347-recommend-wifi-adapters-working-with-kali/&page=1

http://www.cyberprogrammers.net/2015/09/best-usb-wireless-adapterscards.html

http://www.crack-wifi.com/forum/topic-11766-awus036ach-ac1200-mimo-2t2r-la-nouvelle-reference.html

https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-20171-release/

https://forums.kali.org/showthread.php?27673-New-Alfa-awus036ach-help/page3&highlight=wifi