Can I add a WiFi adapter to my pfSense box?

bearhntr

Currently running pfSense 2.5.2-RELEASE on an HP T620 Plus ThinClient and it is running wonderfully.

I am considering adding the HP BroadCom 802.11ac miniPCI adapter to the box. Will this card work? Will I need to re-install the software to see it?

Will I be able to set pfSense to use it (in addition to the Netgear ORBI - which is my AP)?

Thanks in advance,
Curtis

SteveITS

@bearhntr The short answer is I don't know.

Generally on this forum the opinion of Wi-Fi drivers in FreeBSD seems to be relatively low. If that card has a driver and you are confident installing it then you could try it. Otherwise if you just install a regular wired NIC and plug an access point into that, it will be its own interface/network that way anyway and you don't have to deal with anything about the wireless NIC.

bearhntr

@steveits

This is from my pfSense.

I am using the built-in NIC for the WAN port on my pfSense, and I have added a dual-NIC card in the PCI Slot which is my LAN - and it is working great (only using one of the NICs in slot). pfSense was installed with all this hardware already installed....which is why I asked if I would have to re-install if I add the Wi-Fi card.

I am guessing that pfSense is not going to auto-detect it? Not being a LINUX buff - guessing I will have to do it manually.

stephenw10

@bearhntr said in Can I add a WiFi adapter to my pfSense box?:

I am considering adding the HP BroadCom 802.11ac miniPCI adapter to the box. Will this card work?

Probably not. It definitely won't work in .ac mode. It might not work in hostap (access point) mode if it is supported.
You would need to know what chipset it's using to know more.

Steve

NollipfSense

@bearhntr I could not say for sure because when I had my Mac Mini as pfSense, I had intentionally disconnected the WIFI card. I would think that if HP Thinclient came with a WIFI card by default; it most likely would work.

NollipfSense

This post is deleted!

Cool_Corona

Use this working in repeater mode.

https://www.asus.com/dk/Networking-IoT-Servers/Range-Extenders-/All-series/RP-AX56/

It works flawlessly running with pfsense all over the house :)

bearhntr

@nollipfsense

I guess I will just have to try it. This WiFi .ac card "IS FOR" the ThinClient. It was just not in there when I got it. I purchased it after getting the HP t610+.

I will make a full backup of the pfSense, and if I have to - I will reload it with the WiFi card added. So that it is detected during installation. Worst case - I upgrade one of my laptops

I will be sure to update this post once I find out.

Curtis

stephenw10

Do you have the part number or any further details from it?

bearhntr

@stephenw10

I will have that information once it arrives here.

The HP Part number is: Broadcom 802.11ac with dual internal antennas [ 724935-001 ] - I Believe. It has already shipped, seller cannot give me the part number on it.

stephenw10

Looks like it's a bcm4352 device which doesn't appear to be supported by bwi(4):
https://github.com/pfsense/FreeBSD-src/blob/devel-12/sys/dev/bwi/if_bwi_pci.c#L89

bearhntr

@stephenw10

Could that not be added to that file, if you know the 'vid' and 'did' - could get that from someplace (like Windows). I have another non-Plus t620 coming as well - which has Windows installed on it.

stephenw10

Very unlikely. The 802.11ac chipsets are markedly different to the N/G/A chips that are supported.

And in fact other people have tried that and failed.: https://www.mail-archive.com/freebsd-wireless@freebsd.org/msg05524.html

Steve