There is a greater potential for USB devices to cause interference with USB 3 on the 2.4 GHz band. If you are experiencing performance issues with wireless devices we recommend inserting a USB hub or USB extension cable to put some distance between your USB devices and the computer or otherwise disconnecting USB devices to see if the situations improves. While we have USB extension cables and USB hubs these items are not listed as stand alone products in our catalog. Feel free to contact us about purchasing these items.
If you would contact us about a networking issue with a wifi card please provide the output from the following commands (if you don't know how to open a terminal and run commands from a terminal let us know.. we can walk you through it if you can provide us with the name of the distribution and version your using):
If you're connecting a USB wifi adapter plug the card in and then immediately run the following commands:
lsusb
dmesg | tail -n 35
iwconfig
ifconfig -a (on newer systems like Debian 9 use "ip link show" instead)
ls /lib/firmware
uname -a
cat /etc/*-release
rfkill list (on newer systems you may need to install rfkill first via "sudo apt-get install rfkill")
If your wifi card shows up with iwconfig run:
sudo ifconfig [wlan0] up
Note: Replace above command with "sudo ip link set [wlan0] up" on Debian 9 and other systems with ip rather than ifconfig. See ifconfig vs ip comparison for details.
sudo iwlist [wlan0] scanning
* Replace wlan0 with whatever wifi card it is your testing (hint: look at the iwconfig output)
If your connecting a PCI wifi card then run the following commands and attach the output of the dmesg.txt file that is created and email support at thinkpenguin com:
lspci
dmesg > /tmp/dmesg.txt
iwconfig
ifconfig -a (on newer systems like Debian 9 use "ip link show" instead)
uname -a
cat /etc/*-release
rfkill list (on newer systems you may need to install rfkill first via "sudo apt-get install rfkill")
If your wifi card shows up with iwconfig run:
sudo ifconfig [wlan0] up
Note: Replace above command with "sudo ip link set [wlan0] up" on Debian 9 and other systems with ip rather than ifconfig. See ifconfig vs ip comparison for details.
sudo iwlist [wlan0] scanning
* Replace wlan0 with whatever wifi card it is your testing (hint: look at the iwconfig output)
Then email support or support at thinkpenguin com.
General Network Troubleshooting Information
General Network Troubleshooting Procedures
If you are connecting an external USB wireless adapter and having trouble with an internal wireless card here is how to disable the internal card without removing it (applies to Ubuntu and similar distributions)
First get the bus ID of the internal PCI wireless card that you would like to disable by running the following command:
realpath /sys/class/ieee80211/phy0 | cut -f 6 -d '/'
Then create a rules file with the nano text editor containing the disabling code:
sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/81-wireless-pci.rules
The below code is what needs to be copied into the rules file. In both places below replace "0000:03:00.0" (bus ID) with whatever the output of the realpath command above was.
ACTION=="add", KERNEL=="0000:03:00.0", SUBSYSTEM=="pci", RUN+="/bin/sh -c 'echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:03:00.0/remove'"
Wireless Devices
Drivers for Microsoft Windows GNU/Linux Network/Wifi Cards
Penguin Wireless G USB Adapter (TPE-G54USB2)
Connecting antennas to a computer tutorial (generic)
Penguin Wireless N USB Adapter for GNU / Linux (TPE-N150USB, TPE-N150USBL, & TPE-NUSBDB)
Penguin Wireless N USB Adapter (Note: this is out of date documentation and only applicable to USB N wifi adapters from us purchased before 2012)
Penguin 802.11N Mini PCIe and Half Height Cards
Penguin Wireless N PCI Card
Penguin Wireless N PCI Card (v3) installation & specifications
Wireless Routers (older models)
Documentation for Free Software Wireless-N Broadband Router (Models: TPE-NWIFIROUTER1 & TPE-NWIFIROUTER2)
VPN Wireless & Wired Routers
How to verify libreCMC images are authentic using GPG (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Setting up a segregated guest wireless network under libreCMC 6.x (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Setup directions for those who purchased a mesh kit (TPE-R1300-5PK, TPE-R1300-3PK)
Intro Packet for Free Software Gigabit Mini VPN Router (Models: TPE-R14000)
Intro Packet for Free Software Wireless-N Mini VPN Router (Models: TPE-R1300)
Intro Packet for Free Software Wireless-N Mini VPN Router (Models: TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Video Demonstration on different ways to configure the routers covering VPN, VPN+non-VPN configuration, and connecting switches
Connecting a serial cable to the TPE-R1200 diagram (Models: TPE-R1200)
Switching to a different VPN server/country on PenguinVPN with a libreCMC router (Models: TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Switching to a different VPN server/country on PenguinVPN 2.0 with a Wireguard libreCMC router setup/or directly from a distribution (Models: TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Flashing firmware for the TPE-R1400 to a microSD card using the computer and a card reader (Models: TPE-R1400)
VPN Mini Wireless Router Upgrade Instructions (Models: TPE-R1100, upgrading to releases prior to 1.5)
VPN Mini Wireless Router v2 Upgrade Instructions (Models: TPE-R1200, upgrading to releases prior to 1.5)
Gigabit Mini VPN Router Upgrade Instructions & creating a microSD card from scratch with libreCMC (TPE-R1400)
VPN Mini Wireless Router Upgrade Instructions if you are already using libreCMC 1.5 or newer (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, & TPE-R1300)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 1.5.13+ using the privacy friendly Mullvad.net VPN service (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 1.5.13+ using the privacy friendly Proton VPN service (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Instructions for switching Mullvad WireGuard VPN servers on the mini wireless router under libreCMC 1.5.x (TPE-R1200)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 1.5.2+ using the privacy friendly OVPN VPN service (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 1.5.8+ using the privacy friendly AirVPN service (TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1300)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 1.5.8-1.5.15 using our PenguinVPN 2.0 Wireguard service (TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1300 & TPE-R1400)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 6.x using our PenguinVPN 2.0 Wireguard service (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1300 & TPE-R1400)
Instructions for setting up WireGuard under libreCMC 1.5.8+ using the privacy friendly njalla VPN service (TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1300)
Instructions for setting up libreCMC routers to connect to NordVPN's OpenVPN servers under libreCMC 1.5 and onward (TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Instructions for setting up libreCMC routers to connect to PIA Private Internet Access's OpenVPN servers under libreCMC 1.5 and onward (TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Instructions for setting up libreCMC routers to connect to ProtonVPN's OpenVPN servers under libreCMC 1.5 and onward (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, & TPE-R1300)
Original Shipping LibreCMC ISO Source Code CDs (Models: TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Did you purchase a router with a 'non-functional' configuration? See our simpler reset instructions here.
To reset TPE-R1100 Mini VPN Wireless Router (if you forget the password): Connect power to Mini VPN Router, wait for lights to blink, then hold reset button down for 10 seconds. This should reset the device and no password / VPN configuration will exist on reboot. After performing a reset any PenguinVPN configuration you had will be lost. To setup PenguinVPN service again follow the instructions below:
Switching Between Booting From the NAND and NOR libreCMC images on TPE-R1200 routers: 1. Open a terminal and run "ssh root@192.168.3.1" 2. Enter the command "fw_setenv bootcount 3" to boot from NOR or "fw_setenv bootcount 0" to boot from NAND 3. Run command "fw_printenv" to see the status
PenguinVPN Setup Instructions for older releases of LibreCMC (applicable to libreCMC releases prior to 1.5, TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
PenguinVPN Setup Instructions for LibreCMC 1.5+ (when connecting to the internet using an ethernet cable connected to the WAN port)
PenguinVPN Setup Instructions for LibreCMC 1.5+ (when connecting to the internet through a USB 4G modem)
General instructions for connecting to any VPN provider (Models: TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
How to do a full reset & upgrade: Free Software Wireless-N Mini VPN Router (TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Detailed instructions on unbricking a TPE-R1100 router using Fedora, a reset button, and uboot (TPE-R1100)
Setting a static LAN or WAN IP address on a LibreCMC Router (TPE-R1100 and other routers)
Installing packages on LibreCMC tutorial
Convert Mini VPN Router to Non-VPN Configuration (TPE-R1100 & TPE-R1200)
Creating an Ethernet to Wireless Bridge (TPE-R1300, TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1100, use your mini wireless router like a wifi card to connect via ethernet to a wireless acess point)
Creating a Wireless Relay (TPE-R1300, TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1100, computers can connect to the mini router and traffic is relayed through another wireless router)
Creating a wireless relay that tunnels all traffic through PenguinVPN servers (TPE-R1300, TPE-R1200 & TPE-R1100, computers can connect to the mini router and traffic is relayed through another wireless access point, ultimately all encrypted until its exit at the VPN server)
How to setup a mesh network using completely free software under libreCMC 1.5.x (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300)
How to setup a mesh network using completely free software under libreCMC 6.x (TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300)
Using a serial interface with U-boot and libreCMC
Configuring a router for use with a USB 4G modem under libreCMC (from scratch, TPE-R1100, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Switching to Modem Manager for managing 4G modems on libreCMC (TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400)
Initial documentation on setup for customers who've purchased a USB 4G modem with a 4G router configuration (TPE-R1300, TPE-R1400, libreCMC v6.x)
Setting up PenguinVPN service on a mini wireless router v2 & v3 when using a 4G USB modem for internet connectivity (from scratch, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1300)
A simpler setup of a 4G USB modem under libreCMC video when a TPE-R1200 router and TPE-USB4GLTE USB 4G modem are purchased together
4G Cellular Modems
Using a 4G modem under Microsoft Windows 10 (we don't support MS Windows, but directions here should work with our modems in MBIM mode)
Inserting a SIM card on a laptop video demonstration (applicable to users of our M.2 4G modems: TPE-EM7455CHIP & TPE-LT4120CHIP and J3 specifically, but picture below in the troubleshooting section may be easier to see how to insert properly in terms of orientation on our J3 laptop)
Troubleshooting a ThinkPenguin 4G modem (TPE-EM7455CHIP, TPE-LT4120CHIP, & TPE-USB4GLTE & Penguin J3 GNU/Linux Laptop TPE-PENJ3LAP)
Switching Between QMI & MBIM Modes with a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (w/ a LT4120 chip, TPE-USB4GLTE)
Switching Between QMI & MBIM Modes with a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (w/ a EM7455 chip, TPE-USB4GLTE)
Updating the firmware of the 4G EM7455 chip and/or the USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem with same chip
Permananetly resolving the FCC lock issue for the EM7455 chip 2024 (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Connecting to Verizon using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Connecting to AT&T using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Activating SIM and connecting to AT&T using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (TPE-USB4G2US)
Activating an AT&T SIM card & Connecting to AT&T using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (TPE-USB4GLTE2)
Connecting to T-Mobile using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Connecting to PureTalk using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (and other AT&T MVNOs ie mobile virtual network operators,TPE-USB4GLTE)
Connecting to Three using a USB 4G-LTE Advanced Modem (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Using your 4G LTE modem on Mageia (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Using your 4G-LTE Modem on OpenBSD (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Using your 4G-LTE Modem on Raspbian GNU/Linux / Raspberry Pi OS (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Using your 4G LTE modem from the terminal (TPE-USB4GLTE, tested on Trisquel 8 & Debian 10, but should work for most distributions)
Using your 4G LTE modem from the terminal (TPE-USB4G2US)
Using your 4G LTE modem on libreCMC & similar embedded distributions designed for routers (TPE-USB4GLTE / TPE-USB4G2US / TPE-R1100 / TPE-R1200 / TPE-R1300 / TPE-R1400)
Setup Directions For Using The USB 4G Modem With A Mini Router (when a Three, AT&T, or Verizon SIM card are purchased with modem/router, TPE-USB4GLTE, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1100, initial setup directions for users who purchased router with 4G USB modem)
Setup Directions For Using The USB 4G Modem With A Mini Router (when no SIM card is purchased with modem/router, TPE-USB4GLTE, TPE-R1200, TPE-R1100, initial setup directions for users who purchased router with 4G USB modem)
Setup Directions For Using The USB 4G Modem With A Mini Router & PenguinVPN Service (TPE-USB4GLTE, TPE-R1200, these are the initial setup directions for users who purchased router with a 4G USB modem and PenguinVPN service)
How to set an APN on a ThinkPenguin mini wireless router that is setup in QMI mode for use with a 4G modem also setup in QMI mode (video demonstration starts at about 33 minutes in)
Coverage area of Three, Verizon, and AT&T SIM cards (TPE-USB4GLTE)
Adding a heatsink to your USB 4G modem
802.11N AP / Master Mode Instructions
Setting up a master node / access point using the terminal (this link may be out of date, try link below instead)
Setting up a master node / access point using the terminal (works under at least Debian 10 and probably newer distributions and releases)
How To Setup An Access Point Utilizing GNU/Linux And Your Systems Graphical Networking Tools
Setting up an Ad-hoc Network Instructions
Ad-hoc network setup instructions (tested with our atheros wireless cards & 802.11N USB cards with carl9170 driver)
56K Dial-up Modems
Penguin 56K Dial-Up Modem Setup Instructions
USB Data Transfer Cable
USB-A 3.0 Data Transfer Cable Support Documentation(TPE-3TRANCBL)
Network Area Storage Devices
How to setup network file sharing in GNU/Linux (TPE-2BAYNAS)
Connecting to a wireless network using the terminal (Geared to Debian/Ubuntu/Trisquel based distributions)
Howto connect to a password protected network using the terminal/command line
FreeBSD General Network Configuration Tutorial & Documentation
Did your USB wifi adapter stop working after applying security updates? For the TPE-N150USB & TPE-N150USBL wifi adapters there was a kernel regression in 5.4.47 (also affects 5.7.3+, including 5.7.6) that should be reverted shortly, but until then here is a temporary resolution:
This issue is known to impact Arch & probably other rolling releases as well as Fedora 32 & Tails 4.9 at the moment (July 28th of 2020). Sadly there is no simple work around for Tails, but the issue has been reported to Tails & upstream. The temporary solution to work around the issue on Fedora until the distribution releases an updated kernel fixing the problem is as follows:
1. Run the command below to find out what kernels you've got to choose from:
ls /boot/vmlinuz*
You'll see output something like this:
/boot/vmlinuz-5.6.6-300.fc32.x86_64 /boot/vmlinuz-5.7.7-200.fc32.x86_64
The older one will be the kernel version that works with your wifi adapter.
2. Then run the command below, but replace /boot/vmlinuz-5.6.6-300.fc32.x86_64 with the older version of your kernel as seen from running the command in step 1:
sudo grubby --set-default /boot/vmlinuz-5.6.6-300.fc32.x86_64
3. Unplug the USB wifi adapter and reboot... plug it back in after you boot the system back up and you should now be able to connect again