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    Which Mini-PCI board for WRAP Platform?

    Wireless
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    • R
      rneily
      last edited by

      I am thinking of adding a Mini-PCI Wireless card to my wrap platform that is running PFSense.  Can someone recommend a Mini-PCI board that is supported and easy to set up..

      I was looking at Ubiquiti Super Range 2 SR2 400mw 802.11b/g miniPCI at www.mini-box.com which seems to have the most power output, but it seems it's out of stock?  Is this a good one to get?

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      • P
        pcatiprodotnet
        last edited by

        EMP-8602 400mW is similar and in stock, see froogle.com.
        It works with WRAP (1.11 bios) and pfSense (v03-27-2006).
        -pc

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        • H
          hoba
          last edited by

          I use CM9. They are nearly available anywhere and can do a/b/g including turbo modes (depending on country settings).

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          • R
            rneily
            last edited by

            Thanks I will look into those.  Here is another question. I have access to some Thinkpads that have built in Mini-PCI Wireless.  I belive that they are Intel Wireless cards (2100/2200) will these work for something quick and cheap???

            Am I reading right that the higher the mW'age the better?

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            • H
              hoba
              last edited by

              You most likely want better antennas and not higher power. Higher power adds additional noise AND might even be forbidden due to restrictions for your location. Additional to that wraps need to be modified to drive high power wifi cards (some soldring needed).
              Intel nic's will work in client mode afaik but not as accesspoint. This is due to firmware copyrights I think.

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              • B
                billm
                last edited by

                @hoba:

                You most likely want better antennas and not higher power. Higher power adds additional noise AND might even be forbidden due to restrictions for your location. Additional to that wraps need to be modified to drive high power wifi cards (some soldring needed).
                Intel nic's will work in client mode afaik but not as accesspoint. This is due to firmware copyrights I think.

                And we don't include the driver in pfSense.  I'm not sure there's even an opensource driver for FreeBSD for this card anyway.

                –Bill

                pfSense core developer
                blog - http://www.ucsecurity.com/
                twitter - billmarquette

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                • N
                  nima.m
                  last edited by

                  I have access to some Thinkpads that have built in Mini-PCI Wireless.  I belive that they are Intel Wireless cards (2100/2200) will these work for something quick and cheap???

                  rneily,
                  I have two thinkpad at home, one Z60m and one R50p, I can try to use pfsense through CD image and find out if pfsense can detect the min-pci wirless card inside them.

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                  • L
                    lsf
                    last edited by

                    The intel cards will work with the firmwares in ports, atleast they did last time i checked. The intel 2915 card is atheros based so that one will work, the rest needs the firmware afaik. We do not currently support those cards, and also as hoba mentioned, they work in client mode only (or they did last time i checked).

                    -lsf

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                    • P
                      pcatiprodotnet
                      last edited by

                      " … WRAPs need to be modified to drive high power wifi cards (some soldring needed). "

                      You won't need to do it with current production boards.

                      -pc

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                      • L
                        lsf
                        last edited by

                        That is correct, the soldering for highpower cards was a older mod iirc.

                        -lsf

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