Why not Atheros ath9k_htc for wifi?

[TRS-80]

I am not trying to speak for tllim, however my interpretation is that they cannot get them in quantity from known, reliable supplier.

As individuals, we can still get them off AliExpress (and similar) in small quantities, in fact this is what I am still doing to this day, and encourage others (who care about freedom) to continue to do the same.

[altulke]

TRS-80, but I guess, in the phone, the wifi chip is soldered, so whatever I buy in AliExpress, as you are encouraging, I cannot use this in the phone (unless I have good soldering skills, which I don't have in fact).

[TRS-80]

Sorry for long delay, I was moving.

IIRC, the ath9k driver is for PCI/PCIe, where ath9k_htc driver is for USB based devices. So you would have to run it off of a USB hub or adapter, which would be sort of inconvenient for a phone. However, if you really wanted to...

You can still find the latter on AliExpress, eBay, etc. Search for chipsets like AR9271 or AR7010, etc. In Debian (Mobian) you will then need the firmware package firmware-ath9k-htc.

[auanta]

OK, this was my question too, lol. OK so we have to use a USB hub or adapter... You know, if this was attached to a docking station like the PinePhone keyboard is (remove the battery and back cover, plug in with pins), that would be cool. I am interested in the idea of an ergonomic convergence accessory for the PhonePhone. Put atheros or some other opened/liberated wifi in that by way of USB. Not only would we have linux-libre for ARM, we'd have a portable ergonomic keyboard.

Something a little bit like this.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqooxqrTTKU

But I guess it's a question of how to get it to communicate by USB.. Probably could have a piece that plugs in.

To the drawing board... >.>