Tp-link TL-WN823N mini USB WIFI Adapter is Not for Monitor mode in Kali Linux Virtual Machine AND Finally, the one that supports Monitor mode is….(see the last of the post)
Yes, you heard it right.
If you are learning packet tracing in Kali Linux one topic is to enable monitor mode in Kali Linux. I was looking through several stores. Unfortunately, I bought Tp-link TL-WN823N. The chipset for this is Realtek rtl8192eu.
But the saddest part is you won’t know it unless you purchase it or search online. But some source tells you it works and some doesn’t. There are like 2–3 sites including StackOverflow and some private blogs and forum that tells you it works and it doesn’t. But the fact is that there are the so-called versions that they have added while creating this chipset. there is version v1 which is an old version and it supported monitor mode.
The packaging doesn’t tell you where the product is version v1 or v2/v3. So, it’s totally ambiguous when you buy it.
The first time you will see it is when you connect it to your PC and then to the Kali Linux and finally writing “airmon-ng start wlan0” in the terminal
The wifi adapter will include other features like the available connections and connect to them. But the Monitor mode is dormant here. U cannot change it no matter how much you try to. It’s not allowed. even after installing driver from github and trying to wok it out won’t work.
Putting the Network in NAT mode.
It also connects to Internet as a normal wifi adapter should.
You cannot even if you try by killing current processes and then switch to monitor mode. It does not let you do it there.
Don’t buy this wifi adapter if you are interested in learning Kali Linux. cause the drivers for these chipsets are not created by the Realtek company.
The problem with Realtek is their Linux support is garbage. I just want to point people away from Realtek, cause if Realtek doesn’t care to write Linux drivers.
But For some reason, even though they dominate the USB wifi market. They’re cheap, that’s why. That’s why the honda civic was the most sold car for decades. Economics.
Try using other wifi adapters with other chipsets other than Realtek.
Peace out!
UPDATE:
The tp-link wireless N Nano USP adapter works!!! it’s tl-wn725n
the driver setup: https://github.com/origamiofficial/tplink-tl-wn725n-rtl8188eus
