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Brian Santacruz
ALFA AWUS1900 Kali Linux
Hacking, Linux, Networking

How to install ALFA AWUS1900 on Kali Linux

ALFA AWUS1900 is a powerful antenna 802.11 ac WIFI USB Receiver with a connection speed up to 1900 Mbps, 1300 Mbps at 5Ghz, and 600 Mbps for 2.4GHz.

It uses USB 3.0 and we can utilize both bands 5.0 or 2.4 GHz,

Here are the instructions to set it up on Kali Linux.

 

Update and upgrade your OS

sudo apt-get update; apt-get upgrade

Update dependencies

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y

Verify that the antenna is connected to the VM or PC.

sudo lsusb

Realtek RTL8814AU should show up on the list.

Installing the drivers 

sudo apt install realtek-rtl88xxau-dkms

Reboot and connect

sudo reboot

Verifying that the card is up and running

sudo ifconfig

Setting up the card in monitor mode

#Set interface down

sudo ip link set wlan0 down

#Set monitor mode

sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode monitor

#Set interface up

sudo ip link set wlan0 up

Verifying monitor mode

sudo iwconfig

Testing card by sniffing nearby networks

sudo airodump-ng wlan0

Changing the adapter back to manage mode

#Set interface down

sudo ip link set wlan0 down

#Set monitor mode

sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode managed

#Set interface up

sudo ip link set wlan0 up

 

Happy hacking!

17 Comments

  1. Hello Brian,

    Great article.

    I’m currently still deciding which WiFi USB Adapter to get for Pen testing under Kali Linux 2019.3

    Do you by any means know if it’s better to get AWUS1900 over the AWUS036ACH or vice versa?

    I want to use it for monitor/injection but i read many contradicting posts (both recent and older posts) on the internet so hopefully you can give me some advice on which one to get for the aformentioned purposes?

    Best regards,
    copyitright

    1. Hi Copytright, thank you for leaving your comment.

      The Alfa 1900 has more power and support for dual band but in the other hand the 036 has more compatibility with Kali than the other one, so pretty much the only difference would be the price and the range each one has.

      So if you do not mind to spend a few more bucks, just go for the 1900.

      Hope that it helps.

      Brian.

    2. I have both and am running them concurrently right now and the 1900 is picking up way more signal by far (I am running 8dbi antennas on the 1900). the ACH is good, but the difference is striking in the amount of packets each is picking up.

      1900 for the win

  2. Hello again,

    So (if i get this right), you’re saying that the difference in compatibility between the two is neglectable and i’m better off with the slightly more expensive and newer model?

    Regards,
    copyitright

  4. Hi Brian,

    If i tell you that AWUS1900 is almost the same price as AWUS036ACH where i am living, would you suggest i should go for AWUS1900?

  5. Hello and greetings of the day Brian,

    I wanted to tell you firstly that it’s a great writeup.

    Secondly, I have it installed on my Linux kali 5.10.0-kali3-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.12-1kali1 (2021-02-03) x86_64 GNU/Linux

    The MAIN problem is that of the testing of the packet injection. It can sniff networks but no injection or handshakes are being done. Could you please please please help me out with this? Me and many people like the likes of me will bless you for ever.

    We can’t afford to purchase another expensive adapter

  6. hi brian. i try to install awus 1900 to my kali linux 2020.4 and when i want to verifying that the antenna is connected to the VM or PC, i can see it.

    1. Hello Liviu, maybe it is because the VM is not passing the USB controller to the VM, try to configure the devices properly on the Virtualization tool you are using, after the OS detects the device, you should be able to run commands and install drivers. Let me know how it goes.

  7. Hello Brian, my AWUS1900 work in Kali Linux 2020.4, but when i made command: airodump-ng wlan1mon, terminal gives me this error:
    Interface wlan1mon:

    ioctl(SIOCGIFINDEX) failed: No such device
    Failed initializing wireless card(s): wlan1mon

    What’s the problem?

    Thanks

    1. Seems that your distro is not detecting your device, did the installation of drivers gave you any error?

  9. hey brian ive got the awuzs 1900 installed but the range on it is next to nothing. it only picks up my AP when im right next to it and that is all it see.

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