Classification of the best powerful WiFi chip for USB adapters, features and compatibilities.

The best high-power Wi-Fi Chip.

If you are going to buy a WiFi adapter via USB for your PC or laptop, you will have found different brands that distribute a wide range of models. Before buying we can compare different models with various types of configurations, but looking at the basic chipset we soon realize that the chip manufacturers of the best selling WiFi antennas and adapters are reduced to three manufacturers that occupy the majority of the market of products Wifi.

Powerful Wi-Fi chip manufacturers

These three leading manufacturers of Wi-Fi technology for antennas and routers are: Ralink-Mediatek, Realtek and Atheros.
If you are looking to buy a plug and play wireless USB adapter that is fully compatible with Windows and Linux and also works well with Mac OS, it can be complicated because some brands incorporate an old chipset inside or that is not compatible with all Mac versions. OS, for this reason you should always look at the brand and model of chipset to make a good choice that is compatible with our equipment and with the use to which we are going to dedicate it. It is also possible that the same model of WiFi adapter has several versions and each one with a different chip, sometimes causing confusion in the user, but if to make the purchase we look at the chip that incorporates and we review its features is easier than let’s get the election right.

If for example we want to install a USB WiFI adapter on a television or a decoder, we must first check which WiFi chip supports that device and then acquire a USB adapter that incorporates that chip. Not all stores inform the buyer of the internal Wi-Fi chip, for that reason it is better to first check SILICEO Shop Online for the exact chip model and for sure we found it.
As we know the difficulty of choosing the best chip for each utility or need, we have summarized in the following article the main characteristics of the most used chipset. So we’re going to talk about the most common Wi-Fi chips and the features for which they stand out.

Before going on describing the different Wi-Fi chips, we must clarify some basic information about Wi-Fi power meters

Standard Wi-Fi power table
33dBm – 2W Maximum Chip Power> 200mW RT3070 with Linux.
30 dBm – 1W = 1000mW maximum power chip RTL8187 with Linux
20 dBm – 100mW – Maximum legal power in most countries.
15dbM – 32 mW – Standard power of a laptop.
In this table we can see the comparison of different power levels in dBm and translated to milliwatts (mW). The first thing to note is that the legal maximum levels in Europe are 100mW, therefore higher levels are only reached experimentally with Linux. Even so, buying an adapter of 1000mW or 2000mW tested in the laboratory is always a good choice since they are manufactured with more quality and are more resistant and reliable.

Is a powerful USB adapter much better than normal ones?

To be able to answer this question, it is necessary to understand that the wátios output of the WiFi chip is only one of the factors that intervene in the quality of a wireless link. Also, if we take into account that working with Windows the maximum power will be limited by the legal limits of each country, we will never take advantage of that power in quantity, but in quality. In other words, the WiFi chips that have been tested in the laboratory at 100MW or 2000mW output will have more quality, duration and usually reception sensitivity than other less resistant chip.

But in addition, factors such as receiver sensitivity, distance and power of emission of the access point must be taken into account. In all the Wi-Fi connections that we establish, each station, whether client or router, is both sender and receiver.
So if we take into account these two main actors we can deduce that the quality of our connection depends on four factors:
1.    WIFI receiver sensitivity (card or USB adapter)
2.    Power of the WIFI receiver (card or USB adapter)
3.    Access point sensitivity (AP)
Four.    Power of the access point (AP)
So acquiring a good WiFi card and putting it to work at maximum power is only one of the factors, we must also look at the sensitivity of the antenna and of course the quality of the router that we connect to.

Chip Compatible with Kali Linux / WifiWay / Beini

To perform wireless penetration test with Kali Linux, you need a USB adapter that has a compatible chip. Monitor or monitor mode from Linux tests packets injections for authentication and WiFi encryption tests.

Do not forget that in addition to the compatible chipset for long distance use it is imperative that a built-in long-distance directional antenna such as the antenna 36dbi Panel Melon N910 model

When looking for an adapter that works with Kali Linux it is the adapter chipset that does the work. It is the adapter chipset that is compatible with Kali Linux, so it is important to make a good choice. Many of these chipsets are installed in different adapters and sold with different brands but the important thing is the internal chip. These are the best chipsets to use with Kali Linux. Any USB adapter that uses these chipsets will probably work at high power.
Realtek 8187L
Atheros AR9271
Ralink RT3070 Ralink RT3072 Ralink RT3572 RT5370 MT7601

Chip Realtek RTL8187L

We started that this famous chip, pioneer in making available to users powerful USB adapters running by USB. Although it is a chip that works with 54mbps maximum b / g technology, it is still very much in demand by users who are looking for high reliability and stability of their connections.
This chip became popular with the famous Alfa Network model AWUS036H, and is always a great choice for establishing long-distance connections as it can reach up to 1000mW of power.

WIFI Antenna N4000 Melon

The most powerful chip Ralink Mediatek RT3070

Ralink has always been one of the most prominent manufacturers for powerful USB WIFI adapters. Since 2011, MEDIATEK has acquired the brand, which is why the new Mediatek chip has gone from the RT series to the MT series as the new MT7601.
A good example of a USB WIFI adapter with this chip RT3070 is the ALFA Network ALFA AWUS036NH, but also the manufacturer MELON WIFI has achieved very versatile designs with this chip as the Melon N4000 36dbi that also incorporates a directional antenna and cable 10 meters USB . RT3070 is a high performance chip for Wi-Fi devices that supports 150 Mbps PHY. It fully complies with IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11 b / g standards, offering long-distance wireless connectivity. The RT3070 chip is designed to withstand standard features in the areas of security, quality of service and international regulations, giving end users the highest performance at any time and in any circumstance.

Features chip RT3070
Wi-Fi frequency: 2.4GHz
Antenna: 1T1R
Download performance: 150 Mbit / s

The fastest high-power chip in WIFI N at 2.4Ghz Ralink RT3072

The Chip RT3072 is an evolution of the RT3070 which maintains the same features but with greater download speed reaching a transmission of 300Mbps with MIMO technology

RT3072 supports 300 Mbps PHY. It fully complies with IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11 b / g standards, offering long-distance wireless connectivity with MIMO technology.

RT3072 chip features

Wi-Fi frequency: 2.4GHz
Antenna: 1T2R
Download performance: 300 Mbit / s

The new antenna WIFI long distance panel MELON N519 incorporates the RT3072 chip getting one of the best transfer rates at high power.

ATHEROS AR9271 Chipset

This powerful chip used in Kali LInux and WiFIway is the one that carries the famous Antenna ALfa Network, the Alfa AWUS036NHA.

The new WUS036NHA with Atheros AR9271 chipset is compatible with XP, VISTA Windows 7 and also Windows 8 / 8.1 / Windows 10. The famous AR9271 chip has the best range and its driver for Kali Linux and Windows allows to reach distant networks. The black Alfa NHA antenna is impressive for its range and stability.

Atheros chipset AR9271 – IEEE 802.11B / G / N

Chip for Wi-Fi Adapters Realtek RTL8188RU

It is the ALFA antenna chip AWUS036NHR with 18dbi and 200mW output

Compatible with IEEE 802.11n, 802.11b / g / n wireless standards
► 2.4GHz frequency, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output)
► USB 2.0
► High transfer speed TX 150 Mbps
► 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES
► Support for AP software
► driver for Windows 2000, XP 32/64, Vista 32/64, Windows 7 / WINDOWS 8 / WINDOWS 8.1 / WINDOWS 10
► Mac (10.4.x / 10.5.x / 10.6.x / 10.7 / 10.8) Power PC & PC.

Chip for mini-size Wi-Fi adapters RT5370

Used especially in mini USB adapters for laptops. This chip is suitable for all types of small size mini or nano USB Wi-Fi receivers. It can work with SMA external antenna or with internal antenna occupying only a few centimeters the entire device. Very versatile is a chip widely used to be compatible with satellite decoders and autorádios.

High performance RT5370 with antenna diversity switching. MediaTek RT5370 Wi-Fi 802.11n is a system on a chip (SOC) with a USB 2.0 interface for 802.11n Wi-Fi at speeds of up to 150Mbit / s. RT5370 incorporates 802.11n baseband and MAC (media access control), power amplifier and low noise amplifier, along with the transmit-receive and antenna diversity switches. This RT5370 chip is widely used in decoders for television, satellite deco, televisions, hard drives, Raspberry Pi and arduino.

Chip features RT5370
Wifi IEEE 802.11: B / g / n
Wi-Fi frequency: 2.4GHz
Antenna: 1T1R
Data performance: 150 Mbit / s

The Mediatek MT7601 chip

MT7601 or MTK7601 is an adaptation of the RT5370 maintains all the characteristics of the previous model. This chip is widely used in decoders of television, satellite deco, televisions, hard drives, Raspberry Pi and Arduino as well as the previous RT5370.

MT7601 chip features

IEEE 802.11 Wifi:
A / b / g / n
Wi-Fi frequency: 2.4GHz,
Antenna: 1T1R
Data performance: 150 Mbit / s

WIFI antenna MT7601 for Engel decoder

** NOTE if you are looking for a USB WIFI adapter compatible with your television or ENGEL satellite decoder or similar, first check which WIFI chip originally supports this device, it is surely an RT5370 or MT7601. Once you know what WIFI chip you need, buy one of the ones that are located with this Wi-Fi chip finder.

Search USB Wi-FI adapter with chip RT5370

Search USB Wi-FI adapter with chip MT7601

Search USB Wi-Fi adapter with chip RT3070

Search USB Wi-Fi adapter with chip RT3072

Search USB Wi-Fi adapter with chip AR9271

Search USB Wi-FI adapter with chip RTL8187

Search USB Wi-FI adapter with chip RTL8188

SILICEO Online Store