This article is to show how to install the EW-7822ULC/UTC AC1200 USB 2.0/3.0 nano/mini adapters on Raspberry Pi(RPi) running Raspbian Operating System(OS).  In this example, the Raspbian(9.9, Stretch) running kernel version is 4.19.42.


Please note that the instructions here are not for cross-compiling from another system.  If you want to do a cross-compile on another system, you need to look for the proper way and then transfer the driver to your RPi for installation.


Everything will be done in a Terminal program.  The commands are in green below.  The characters '$' and '#' are just the prompt to indicate you're either a regular or the root user.  You don't need to include them with the commands, i.e. do not type them.  You should input the commands one at a time.



[1.]  Make sure your RPi is able to access the Internet.


[2.]  Open a Terminal program from your Raspbian OS.


[3.]  Make sure your system is up-to-date.  A reboot may be needed if the kernel has been updated.

$ sudo apt update

$ sudo apt upgrade

$ sudo reboot


[4.]  Install the kernel headers, which are needed to compile the driver.

$ sudo apt install raspberrypi-kernel-headers

$ ls /lib/modules/$(uname -r)


You should be able to see a build/ folder with the 2nd command above.  If you don't see it, something is wrong.  You need to check the installation one more time.  Here's an example.


If you use the command 'rpi-update' to upgrade the kernel from stable to 'bleeding edge' (a.k.a. testing), the 1st command from the beginning of this Step will not install the headers properly.  Therefore, you won't be able to compile and install the GitHub driver.  At the time of writing, there is no 'easy' workable workaround available.  So, try to stay with the stable kernel if possible.


[5.]  Clone the open source driver from Jack Fan's GitHub repository (https://github.com/EntropicEffect/rtl8822bu ) GitHub repository.

$ git clone https://github.com/EntropicEffect/rtl8822bu.git 

$ cd rtl8822bu

[ Note:  Right after 'rt' is the letter 'l' (like larry), not the number '1' (like 1990).  Typing it wrong will cause GitHub to prompt you inputting a Username and a Password or saying repository not found. ]


[6.]  Modify the Makefile for Raspberry Pi architecture (ARM-based).

$ nano Makefile

[ Note:  nano is just my preferred Text Editor.  You can use any Text Editor you like, e.g. vi. ]

Change the lines #100 and #101 to the following:

CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = n

CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_RPI = y


Make sure you save the file after the modifications.


[7.]  Compile and install the driver.

$ make

$ sudo make install


[8.]  Restart your system for the newly installed driver to take effect.

$ sudo reboot



That's it!


You may need to recompile the driver whenever the kernel is being updated/upgraded provided that the kernel is being supported by the open source driver.  Otherwise, the adapter is not going to work.  To remove the installed the driver, try the following commands.


[A.]  Uninstall/remove the installed driver.

$ cd rtl8822bu

$ sudo make uninstall

$ make clean


Then, repeat the Steps 1~8 to recompile and reinstall the driver.





Enjoy!



Technical Support Team
Edimax USA

Santa Clara, CA




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Created:  2017-05-02  2:27 PM
Modified:  2019-05-21  1:29 PM