Review Request: WisdPi USB 3.2 5Gbps Wired Base-T Ethernet Adapter (WP-UT5) based on Realtek RTL8157

[talynone]

There's a three year old review roundup of 5gbe to USB adapter all basically based on the Marvel chipset:

Jeff Geerling recently did a review of the new Realtek based 5gbe to USB adapter worth a look, the WisdPi
USB 3.2 5Gbps Wired Base-T Ethernet Adapter (WP-UT5) Realtek RTL8157.

It'd be nice to have a more comprehensive STH review of it.

Can be purchased here:

Realtek RTL8157 USB 3.2 5Gbps Wired Base-T Ethernet Adapter (WP-UT5)

WP-UT5 is the first batch is expected to be shipped before August 1st 2024. The first 50 orders can use the coupon(B5H8BWKS7VTT) to enjoy a $5 discount. Thank you for your support. Features Chip: Realtek RTL8157. All support 10/10/100/2500/5000 Mbps links and consumes under 1.5 watts, against...

www.wisdpi.com

 

[MountainBofh]

Can be found on Amazon for under $35

https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Adapter-WP-UT5-Realtek-RTL8157/dp/B0DF2TTT9H

 

[jerrythea]

There is also a Wavlink version using the same chipset.

A more main-stream brand, but not necessarily good quality.

Amazon reviews are quite mixed, but it looks like they mix up all of the various versions of this USB LAN (some gigagbit, some 2.5, etc).

Also, the reviews are not necessarily from informed readers.

https://www.amazon.com/WAVLINK-Ethernet-5000Mbps-Converter-Aluminum/dp/B0DBZ41BPL/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[talynone]

Looks like the driver is required to get full speed which seems to max out at around 4.7 gigabits. Much better than the Marvel chipset. One of the Amazon reviews of the WAVLINK has a video of a speedtest going 4.7 gigabits in OSX. Jeff has a test of the WisdPi in Windows 11 of it going that speed once the drivers were installed.

The WisdPi product page indicates the Realtek Windows 10 driver is unstable, Windows 11 should be fine.

The WisdPi wiki has instructions on how to load the driver for Linux, Proxmox and Synlogy NAS systems:

USB 3.2 5Gbps Wired Base-T Ethernet Adapter | WisdPi

Model: WP-UT5

wiki.wisdpi.com

 

[MountainBofh]

I wonder if their driver is the newest or not. Newest drivers can be found here.

Realtek

www.realtek.com

 

[jerrythea]

So the next question is which smart managed switch supports multi-gigabit?

the best option (ignoring price) appears to be the Netgear:

Smart Switches - MS510TXUP | NETGEAR

Looking for Smart Switches? Discover Netgear MS510TXUP 8-Port Multi-Gigabit/10G Ethernet Ultra60 PoE++ Smart Switch with 2 SFP+ Ports. Buy Now!

www.netgear.com

 

[jerrythea]

Or perhaps this one, without PoE++

Smart Switches - MS510TXM | NETGEAR

Looking for Smart Switches? Discover Netgear MS510TXM 8-Port Multi-Gigabit/10G Ethernet Smart Switch with 2 SFP+ Ports. Buy Now!

www.netgear.com

 

[MountainBofh]

The Unifi XG24 supports it. I know a lot of the newer enterprise switches do as well.

 

[talynone]

Someone just did a video of the Wavlink model in action:

 

[Zerreth]

I received the Wavlink WL-NWU340G-A today which uses the same realtek chipset, and it's currently super unstable with the latest Realtek drivers.

Before driver installed (windows auto assigns driver microsoft driver from 2016):


After the driver install you can get 5Gbps, BUT....
Whenever you perform a full load test on it, USB drops out.

Rear USB-C:


Front USB-C: (other devices are plugged in as well so it's probably sharing bandwidth)


This is on an AMD B550M platform, with latest chipset drivers installed. USB drop-outs happen on both front & rear USB-C connections.

 

[talynone]

I received the Wavlink WL-NWU340G-A today which uses the same realtek chipset, and it's currently super unstable with the latest Realtek drivers.

Are you running WIndows 10 or Windows 11? The driver download page says the drivers are unstable on Windows 10, but should be ok on Windows 11.

 

[Zerreth]

Windows 11 Pro Version 10.0.22631 Build 22631

 

[Zerreth]

Re-tested the Wavlink WL-NWU340G-A on a HP Spectre 15 (Intel i7-8750H) & Windows 11 Home Version 10.0.22631 Build 22631
Performance is heavily dependant on the power state.

One weird quirk with it is that I always have to unplug & replug after reboot, otherwise webpages endlessly load.

On Battery (3.2Gbps):

On 80W USB Power Delivery (3.6 - 4.1Gbps):

With Included Barrel Charger(4.5 - 4.8Gbps):

 

[MountainBofh]

I ordered the Wavelink. I'll test it on a HP Spectre X360 laptop with a 10th gen I7 running Windows 10 LTSC 21H2.

Curious to see how unstable it will be when using the latest drivers from Realtek.