Hello LG webOS Team,
I am writing to formally request the addition of USB Ethernet adapter support in a webOS firmware update.
Context:
- TV Model: LG OLED B5 (webOS 25, kernel 5.4.268-ptl4tv)
- USB Adapter: ASIX AX88179A (Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0)
- Issue: The adapter is physically connected but completely invisible to the kernel.
There is no /sys/bus/usb/ in the filesystem, meaning the USB subsystem is not included in the current kernel build.
Why this matters: The LG B5 has a built-in 100Mbps Ethernet port, but modern streaming (4K@120fps via Moonlight/game streaming) requires sustained ~100Mbps+.
A USB Gigabit adapter would allow users to achieve Max Mbps + speeds, unlocking the TV’s full potential without additional hardware like a WiFi 6E access point.
What I am requesting:
1. Include the AX88179A driver (ax88179_178a) in a future kernel build compiled with USB subsystem support (CONFIG_USB=y, CONFIG_USB_NET_AX88179=y)
2. OR allow kernel modules to be loaded via Dev Mode for trusted developers
Technical note: The driver is open source (Linux kernel 5.4+ includes it natively).
It would be a minimal addition but would greatly benefit users who rely on wired connectivity for low-latency streaming applications.
Thank you for considering this request.