USB 2.0 to Ethernet Adapter: Fast 10/100 Mbps Wired Network Solution for Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and Nintendo Switch - Driverless Setup, Compact & Portable Design

My Wii got kicked off Wi‑Fi because apparently it’s “not secure enough.” Thanks Eero! I shoved a Plugable USB 2.0 to Ethernet Adapter into the back and plugged in a cable. Instant internet. No drivers, no begging, no overpriced Nintendo nonsense. It works because it has the same ASIX AX88772 chipset as the original Nintendo adapter - basically Nintendo’s secret handshake. The original? Overpriced and probably haunted by ghosts of Mario past. This one? Cheap, legal, and actually gets the job done. My Wii is online, and my wallet didn’t cry.

Pros: • Worked with Onn 40” Roku TV • Works even after power cycling TV • Name brand that I’ve used other Plugable products • Will likely work on other brand Roku smart TVs • AX88772A chip set based, identifies as ASIX Elec Cons: • Costs more for a 10/100 USB 2.0 adapter than a 2.5 Gbps USB-C 3.1 adapter! • Runs rather warm This worked flawlessly on an Onn brand 40” Roku smart TV. If you look you will find that almost no 40” smart TVs come today with built in Ethernet. I looked. Most manufacturers only put ethernet in 43” and above TVs now and only provide WiFi. I was replacing an older 40” smart TV and could only fit a 40”. I had pulled ethernet to the TV years ago, and strongly preferred using wired ethernet and not putting the traffic on WiFi. The official Roku web site does recommend this USB Ethernet adapter for streaming players, but does not provide any information about any TVs, either their own brand, or other brands running their software. The only information they provide is related to 43” and above TVs that have ethernet built in. I contacted Roku by chat (they don’t have telephone support). I was unable to get a direct answer from the support person. Based on a few YouTube videos, and the fact that this specific adapter was mentioned as supported on streaming players with somewhat similar software I figured I would try it. It ended up working fine. I’ve only just set it up, but did power cycle without having fast turn on enabled. This apparently powers down the USB port. I found comments from users using other brand adapters that they need to set up networking after waking up the TV. This does not seem to have any issues, although I did just set it up. The procedure I found others use successfully, and that I also used successfully is as follows: 1. Perform initial TV set up and account login using WiFi. 2. Plug in this adapter connected to your network through Ethernet. 3. Perform a network setting reset to clear the WiFi set up. After the TV reset after clearing the WiFi settings, it still was working fine, and was showing all the icons, and other content from the internet. Going back into the network settings showed that it was in fact using ethernet and showed the IP address. The wired network did not show up until the WiFi settings were cleared. This TV, like most only has a single USB port though. I have ordered and I am waiting to be delivered a small powered USB hub and USB flash drives. Roku TVs also support pausing live TV if you have a flash drive installed. This should allow both live TV pause, and ethernet through USB. If there are any issues, I will update this review. My only complaint with this USB Ethernet adapter is the price. It is significantly more expensive than USB 3.0 10/100/1000 adapters and even more expensive than 2.5 Gbps ethernet adapters! That seems wrong for an old technology USB 2.0 10/100 adapter. I guess it is the price to pay though for Roku software compatibility. I would only recommend this adapter if you have some specific use case, such as the Roku TV though for software compatibility. For a computer, or even other TVs that run other operating systems I would definitely suggest a gigabit or 2.5 Gb adapter for higher performance and surprisingly lower price. Roku software is apparently only compatible with a limited number of 10/100 ethernet chip sets. This pluggable uses one of those compatible chip sets, and in a reliable design. UPDATE 5/9/2025: Confirmed that the Plugable USB Ethernet adapter is based on the (Roku supported) AX88772A chip set. It identifies as ASIX Elec I also confirmed that on the Onn 40" Roku TV it did work with a powered USB hub and a USB Flash drive. This allows simultaneous use of both an ethernet connection through USB, and Live pause for OTA TV. While I can't confirm this, I fully expect that this will be the case on most Roku TVs, at least those with the current software version.

It works for my Wii U

This adapter appears in my car as the Asix AX8872A chipset, but in my 2013 Audi RS5 with MMI 3G+ it is recognized and working as valid ethernet port when I have "Fair Mode" enabled. Hooray!

Works! I bought another product similar to this and it didn't work out. I read that this would do the trick and indeed it did! My only gripes are that it does warm up a bit and stays warm when powered. And, if it is plugged in to my smart TV for too long after my TV changes to it's lower power state, this will lose internet connection. I have to power cycle my TV to get it connected again. Usually I have to do this once or twice a month. It does do its job great otherwise, but it's annoying to have to power cycle my TV as it takes me a minute to sort through the menu in order to initiate the restart. Rich people problems! jk jk! I recommend the Plugable USB 2.0 as it is reliable, plug and play, and I hear it works very well with Wii! Don't do what I did and go for the 3.0 from the other company because most of these smart TVs don't recognize 3.0. This did the trick!

Works on my 32" Roku tv. No setup needed. Very happy.

Works wonderfully on my Nintendo Wii U. If you're getting this for your Wii U make sure either ⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎ 1. The router your Wii U is connected to is your main router OR 2. The alternate router your Wii U is set to "AP Mode"

Works perfectly for wii u, definitely the model I would tell friends and others about.