pvaret/rtl8192cu-fixes
FreeRealtek 8192 chipset driver, ported to kernel 3.11.
FreeFree tier
About pvaret/rtl8192cu-fixes
A repackaging of Realtek's official 8192CU USB WiFi driver, ported to work with Linux kernel 3.11 and later (tested on Ubuntu 13.10+). This driver is now deprecated in favor of the newer rtl8xxxu driver included in kernel 4.4+, but it remains available as a fallback for devices that do not work with rtl8xxxu. It supports a range of USB adapters based on RTL8192CU, RTL8188CUS, RTL8188CE-VAU, and RTL8188RU chipsets. Installation is performed via DKMS for easy kernel updates, and includes blacklisting the native rtl8192cu driver and optional power management disabling to resolve connection issues.
Key Features
Repackaged Realtek 8192CU USB WiFi driver for Linux kernel 3.11+
DKMS-based installation for automatic rebuilds on kernel updates
Blacklists native kernel driver (rtl8192cu) to prevent conflicts
Optional power management disable for NetworkManager to fix connection drops
Compatible with a variety of devices: RTL8192CU, RTL8188CUS, RTL8188CE-VAU, RTL8188RU chipsets
Deprecated but available as an alternative when rtl8xxxu driver fails
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Supports a wide range of USB WiFi adapters with Realtek chipsets
- DKMS integration simplifies driver maintenance across kernel updates
- Free and open source under a permissive license
- Includes power management tweaks to mitigate connection drops
Cons
- Driver is deprecated and no longer maintained by the author
- Does not support dual-antenna devices (known upstream Realtek limitation)
- Requires command-line installation and build tools (git, linux-headers, dkms)
- May need troubleshooting if the newer rtl8xxxu driver already works
Best For
Getting USB WiFi adapters with RTL8192CU chipset working on Ubuntu 13.10+Fallback driver when the newer rtl8xxxu kernel driver does not workEnabling WiFi on specific adapters like Edimax EW-7811Un, TP-Link TL-WN725N, ASUS USB-N13 rev B1
FAQ
Is this driver still maintained?
No, it is deprecated. The author recommends using the newer rtl8xxxu driver introduced in kernel 4.4, which works well for most devices. This repository is only a fallback if rtl8xxxu fails.
Which devices are supported?
Known working devices include ASUS USB-N13 rev B1, Belkin N300, D-Link DWA-121, Edimax EW-7811Un, TP-Link TL-WN725N, TL-WN821N v4, TL-WN822N, TRENDnet TEW-648UBM, and others using RTL8192CU, RTL8188CUS, RTL8188CE-VAU, or RTL8188RU chipsets. Devices with dual antennas are not supported.
How do I install this driver?
Install prerequisites: git, linux-headers-generic, build-essential, dkms. Then clone the repository, add it as a DKMS module, build and install it, blacklist the native rtl8192cu driver, and reboot. Full instructions are in the README.