ALFA WiFi USB Adapter Transmit Power (TX) under Kali Linux

Updated: May 17, 2026

Below is a quick guide on how to adjust the transmit power of an ALFA USB WiFi adapter in Kali Linux via the terminal.

Important Note: Always ensure you comply with the specific transmission power regulations of the country you are in. As an example: The regulatory domain NZ (New Zealand) allows 30dBm and all 13 channels.

Step-by-Step Commands:

  • Start Kali Linux
  • Open a terminal window/console
  • Run the command iwconfig and check the current TX-Power value.
  • Run the command iw reg set NZ – This sets New Zealand as the regulatory domain.
  • Run the command iwconfig wlan0 txpower 30 – This increases the transmit power for the wlan0 interface to 30 dBm.
  • Run the command iwconfig again – This verifies whether the 30 dBm setting has been successfully applied.

FAQ: ALFA Adapters in Kali Linux


Does this command work for every ALFA adapter?

It depends on the chipset used and the driver loaded in Kali Linux. For most popular models (Atheros, Ralink), this command works without any issues.


Is setting the zone to NZ legal?

In many regions (like the EU), operating at 30 dBm (1000 mW) on the 2.4 GHz band is strictly illegal for regular use. This should only be used in shielded laboratory environments for pentesting.