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    PCI-E Card for WiFi AP

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Wireless
    wifipci-eaccess point
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Yup using an external AP is better in almost every way.

      But if you really want to you should be looking for some based on an older Atheros chipset. Something supported by the ath(4) driver.
      See: https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=ath_hal

      Steve

      M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • M
        MasterLog @stephenw10
        last edited by

        Thanks @stephenw10
        Yes I know that I can use a separate AP but less devices I have, better it is ๐Ÿ˜…
        Also the point would be to limit the power consumption even by a few watts.
        I have taken a look on Ebay and there are a plenty of Atheros cards (PCI-E and mini PCI-E) but the model is just partially matching to the URL you have shared:
        e.g. AR5B95, AR5B22, AR5B97, etc.
        Which I am guessing can't be used ๐Ÿค”
        Any other ideas or devices?

        Regards,

        johnpozJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by stephenw10

          It's often difficult to find the actual chipset that cards are using and the driver only cares about the chipset.
          You can see the actual, PCI device IDs the driver supports here:
          https://github.com/pfsense/FreeBSD-src/blob/devel-main/sys/dev/ath/ath_hal/ah_devid.h

          You want an older card that only supports 802.11n. Most of those older Atheros chipsets are supported.

          [23.09-RELEASE][admin@6100.stevew.lan]/root: pciconf -lv ath0
          ath0@pci0:17:0:0:	class=0x028000 rev=0x01 hdr=0x00 vendor=0x168c device=0x0030 subvendor=0x168c subdevice=0x3112
              vendor     = 'Qualcomm Atheros'
              device     = 'AR93xx Wireless Network Adapter'
              class      = network
          

          Steve

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • johnpozJ
            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @MasterLog
            last edited by

            @MasterLog said in PCI-E Card for WiFi AP:

            less devices I have, better it is

            Normally not the case when it comes to wifi ;) Also your router (pfsense) normally is not in the best location for wifi coverage..

            But dude you do you - if your goal is shitty wifi with N speeds, have at it ;)

            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • provelsP
              provels
              last edited by provels

              I use both the AR9280 and AR9380 chipsets (in mini-PCIE format) and get a solid 300Mb up and down at 11ng.
              But pickings are slim for slot cards. No experience with any of these directly, just the chipset. As long as you are relatively close to the router, probably get a decent connection. My location is about 15' away from router line-of-sight, but through a floor, wall and around some heating ducts. I do this because I can, not necessarily because I should. I have old g-APs as well. Not a gamer and only a 70Mb line anyway.

              https://www.newegg.com/p/0XM-062S-000J2
              https://www.newegg.com/p/3C6-012A-000T5
              https://www.newegg.com/p/1HD-00JE-01EW6

              Maybe this, I'd try it.
              https://www.ebay.com/itm/252506432034

              22a35db0-1341-4a0f-9186-7e647c0614f4-image.png

              Peder

              MAIN - pfSense+ 24.11-RELEASE - Adlink MXE-5401, i7, 16 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD. 500 GB HDD for SyslogNG
              BACKUP - pfSense+ 23.01-RELEASE - Hyper-V Virtual Machine, Gen 1, 2 v-CPUs, 3 GB RAM, 8GB VHDX (Dynamic)

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                Yup, or get a PCIe - miniPCIe adapter.

                provelsP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                • provelsP
                  provels @stephenw10
                  last edited by

                  Yeah, get something like this, you can mix/match. Any good? Dunno.

                  https://www.newegg.com/p/0XM-06C7-00001

                  Peder

                  MAIN - pfSense+ 24.11-RELEASE - Adlink MXE-5401, i7, 16 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD. 500 GB HDD for SyslogNG
                  BACKUP - pfSense+ 23.01-RELEASE - Hyper-V Virtual Machine, Gen 1, 2 v-CPUs, 3 GB RAM, 8GB VHDX (Dynamic)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • M
                    MasterLog
                    last edited by

                    Hello guys,
                    Thank you for your suggestions on this thread.
                    I think I will give a try using a WiFi card before (eventually) moving to a separate AP!
                    I just have a doubt about the protocols: basically for my smart devices I need something on 2.4GHz (802.11b/g/n) and better have 5GHz (802.11a/n/ac..) for the laptops.
                    If I could find a supported PCI-E Card, is it possible to have an AP on multiple frequencies and bands?
                    Or I may need to have 2 PCI-E Cards each one working no a specific frequency?

                    Regards,

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JonathanLeeJ
                      JonathanLee
                      last edited by JonathanLee

                      I have a 2100-MAX I use an internal pcie card for guest WiFi and an external AP for the secure side. It works fine.

                      But the pcie card can't do both 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz at the same time. So with that said it's great for my guest and unfiltered Internet for gaming systems. Things like MFPs need 2.4 ghz. But I run both APs at the same time so it works for what I need.

                      This way you will end up with 2 DHCP servers and you can set up two different private IP blocks, like 192.169.1.1 and a 10.0.0.1 network block. It's really cool.

                      Yes they do work but I played with every setting this is the best coverage for my internal card set to a/n -40 and fcc anywhere. All the other options have issues.

                      No more bssid errors it runs good.

                      Screenshot_20231117-181345.png Screenshot_20231117-181404.png Screenshot_20231117-181439.png

                      5dbi antenna also for mine. Has a oval coverage shape.

                      Make sure to upvote

                      M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • M
                        MasterLog @JonathanLee
                        last edited by

                        @JonathanLee said in PCI-E Card for WiFi AP:

                        But the pcie card can't do both 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz at the same time.

                        Hello. Sorry, is that a limitation of that specific card, or in general?

                        JonathanLeeJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • JonathanLeeJ
                          JonathanLee @MasterLog
                          last edited by JonathanLee

                          @MasterLog it's a limitations for PfSense on the 2100MAX I assume it's for all. That's why everyone loves external AP plus wifi AC support is not available on the drivers for the internal cards.

                          External APs got it all and then some.

                          https://forum.netgate.com/topic/184066/pfsense-how-to-guide-guest-wifi-secure-wifi-on-a-sg2100-max

                          I made a quick how to guide if you want to check it out.

                          Make sure to upvote

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            You need something with dual radios to do more than one channel at a time. Most access points have that. Some have 3 or 4 radios these days. They can run at 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6Ghz and have a radio dedicated to monitoring.
                            You could put two NICs in pfSense if you really wanted to. But..... external AP. ๐Ÿ˜‰

                            M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • M
                              MasterLog @stephenw10
                              last edited by MasterLog

                              @stephenw10 said in PCI-E Card for WiFi AP:

                              You could put two NICs in pfSense if you really wanted to.

                              Unfortunately on my device (which is a Thin Client) I have only 1 PCI-E slot (used by the 2nd LAN port) and 1 mini PCI-E slot (for the AP) so I can put only 1 Card for AP.
                              Hopefully I can find a compatible one with 2 radios (2.4 and 5 GHz).

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                I think you're very unlikely to find one. And if you do it may be, literally, 100x more expensive! However you don't need dual band like that to run as an AP.

                                JonathanLeeJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • JonathanLeeJ
                                  JonathanLee @stephenw10
                                  last edited by

                                  @stephenw10 the Compex has 2 radios but FreeBSD and pfSense software only allow use of one of the channels at a time. Also auto mode does not function however PfSense has an option to use auto. Maybe it will work in a future version.

                                  Make sure to upvote

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    WLE200NX is dual band but it only has one radio. It can only use one band at a time in any OS.

                                    JonathanLeeJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • M
                                      MasterLog
                                      last edited by

                                      Thank you guys.
                                      It seems that using 2 Cards is the only solution at this point.

                                      Regards,

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • JonathanLeeJ
                                        JonathanLee @stephenw10
                                        last edited by

                                        @stephenw10

                                        Screenshot_20231118-190317.png

                                        It shows 2 rx 2 tx and 2 radios. . . I just think the software doesn't have code yet to enable both at the same time.

                                        Make sure to upvote

                                        M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • M
                                          MasterLog @JonathanLee
                                          last edited by

                                          @JonathanLee said in PCI-E Card for WiFi AP:

                                          @stephenw10

                                          Screenshot_20231118-190317.png

                                          It shows 2 rx 2 tx and 2 radios. . . I just think the software doesn't have code yet to enable both at the same time.

                                          Sorry, do you mean also with 2 different devices (e.g. 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz)?

                                          JonathanLeeJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • JonathanLeeJ
                                            JonathanLee @MasterLog
                                            last edited by JonathanLee

                                            @MasterLog that's my Compex card just one. I only can get one radio to run with PfSense FreeBSD. I have a external AP for most of the secure traffic.

                                            Use 2 cards, I didn't know PfSense could do that.

                                            Make sure to upvote

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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