Panda WirelessPAU0D AC1200 Wireless AC USB Adapter w/Dual Antennas - Windows 7/8/10/11/2019/2022, Zorin, MXLinux, Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, Rocky, Kali Linux and Raspbian

My mini-PCs have horrible internal (PCIe) network hardware. Needed USB antenna to move transfer speeds into the 20-40Mbps range. This Panda, the third one I've tried, worked perfectly immediately after unboxing. Still does. If you've installed more than a few Linux distros, you know how sad it can be to have a poor wireless connection. I've githubbed too many one-off drivers. This one was connected in seconds, no errors, no downloads, no recompiles. I'm usually in the debian/ubuntu/mint area, but it worked fine with Rocky/CentOS too. Don't know nuthin' about Windows.

Product works as described and is the most affordable option for a Linux Wi-Fi adapter that works out of the box, at least with Debian/Ubuntu based distributions. It's plug and play. High connection speeds with decent signal gain thanks to the antennae, it should work for absolutely any consumer need or want.

This guide is intended for those who are facing issues when using the adapter with Kali, or those who are considering purchasing it despite negative reviews. The adapter is advertised as Plug and Play (PnP) which is correct. However, if you are running Kali on VirtualBox from a Windows host and experiencing problems, here are some troubleshooting steps to help you out:1. Make sure you have the latest VirtualBox and Extension Pack installed before proceeding.2. Configure USB settings:- Plug the adapter into your Windows host.- In your Kali VM settings, go to Settings > USB.- Check "Enable USB Controller."- Select "USB 3.0 (xHCI) Controller" from the list.-Under "USB Device Filters," add a new USB filter and choose the adapter (at the time of this written review the PAU0D, should appear as "MediaTek Inc. Wireless").- Click OK to apply the changes.3. Verify the adapter connection:- Start Kali and run "ip addr" from the terminal. Note that "ifconfig" may not work on all Linux distributions.- You should see the adapter listed as "wlan0." Keep in mind that your adapter may be assigned a different number than 0.4. Further troubleshooting (if necessary):- If the adapter still doesn't appear, follow these additional steps:- Shutdown Kali and press Windows + E to open File Explorer.- Press the ALT + D shortcut and go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers. Then use the Ctrl + F shortcut to search for "vbox.sys."- If you find the five "vbox.sys" drivers with dates older than the current year, uninstall VirtualBox. Note that updating the VirtualBox doesn't always update these drivers. Your configured VMs should remain intact.- After uninstalling, delete the old "vbox.sys" drivers from the mentioned directory.- Install the latest version of VirtualBox and the Extension Pack.- Repeat the USB settings configuration mentioned earlier, if necessary.- Launch Kali, and the adapter should now function correctly.By following these steps, you should be able to resolve any issues with the adapter's compatibility with Kali on VirtualBox. Also, you're welcome for the shortcuts ;)

The led does not always light, But it is still working. Works with all the Linux distros i've tried with no fuss. It even works with windoze.

I am certain that the improved reception possible is tied into the bipole antenna on the unit. It is modest in its size, but the attached cable is perhaps a bit less flexible than might be ideal in some areas of tight spaces. Function is not at all an issue. If I had a suggestion, it would be to make the area of the cable to the bipole unit a tad more flexible at both ends allowing a bit of rotation so that the fit is less problematic where space is limited. There are means to give both durability and yet some more numerous means to position the attached devices without their impinging upon or pushing against local space limitations.The nature of this criticism is not cosmetic, but it does reflect ease of utility if not being an issue of function.