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    Best mini-PCIe wireless for accesspoint mode.

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Wireless
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    • valnarV
      valnar
      last edited by

      Buy a separate access point.  Your life will be a lot easier.

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      • X
        xopah
        last edited by

        @valnar:

        Buy a separate access point.  Your life will be a lot easier.

        Thank you for the tip but that is not an option.. Then I could skip the whole motherboard and server.
        I would like to use pfsense as access point.

        do you have any suggestions?
        I found this: Atheros AR5BXB72 AR5008 802.11n
        Will it work?

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        • M
          mhotel
          last edited by

          Why is a separate AP not an option?

          Honestly, Ubiquiti makes such good stuff at such low prices that I don't even bother to build APs any more.

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          • X
            xopah
            last edited by

            @mhotel:

            Why is a separate AP not an option?

            Thank you for your comment. I might rethink my decision I need to find a good WLAN card that supports my proposed hardware. Somebody?
            I'am not familiar with Ubiquiti's products. Do they have something similar hardware vise to what Im looking for?

            An separate AP is not an option because as my intention is to deploy this AP/router/server/VPN link/Backup/../.. at my cottage out in the archipelago and there first I like to save energy and second I like to save space and frustration on several systems. I do not want to look for failures in more than one system.
            It should be as easy to flip the switch to get it working again. (my sister has to be able to handle it)
            I also need external antennas and thought this was the easiest way. But maybe it isn't..

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            • valnarV
              valnar
              last edited by

              I can see that.  I personally won't be interested in pfSense to deploy to relatives until somebody makes hardware that not only includes wireless as you want, but a 4-8 port switch without software bridging.  Until then, dd-wrt is my usual recommendation.  But for my home, three separate devices is not only mandatory, but preferred.

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              • M
                mhotel
                last edited by

                In addition to their outdoor gear Ubiquiti also makes a range of high performance embedded radios and several embedded system boards.  They use a lot of Atheros.

                Oh, and their spectrum analyzers start at $39 US.

                Looks like someone is already tinkering with pfSense on a RouterStationPRO (which does have an onboard switch, GigE no less!)

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                • valnarV
                  valnar
                  last edited by

                  @mhotel:

                  Looks like someone is already tinkering with pfSense on a RouterStationPRO (which does have an onboard switch, GigE no less!)

                  Not enough ram though.

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                  • X
                    xopah
                    last edited by

                    @valnar:

                    I can see that.  I personally won't be interested in pfSense to deploy to relatives until somebody makes …

                    I do understand that.. but when it comes to this deployment the only need for a copper connection would be extensive administration on the wifi settings. As I mentioned earlier the place of the AP will be in a storage house that is not heated during the winters so the temperatures could drop down to about -30 Celsius. And i really doubt that anyone (especially my sister) would like to sit connected with a cable in those temperatures…
                    That is why I would like to have as fast WiFi as possible and my question is still unanswered.
                    Will the Atheros AR5BXB72 AR5008 802.11n work in pfsense 2.0 and AccessPoint mode (AP)?
                    Or what other mini-PCIe card allows AP and fast speeds 150Mbit+?

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                    • E
                      Efonnes
                      last edited by

                      The card probably does work in 2.0, but only using at most the 54 Mbps speed of 802.11g or 802.11a.  No 802.11n rates yet on any card, as far as I know.

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                      • X
                        xopah
                        last edited by

                        @Efonne:

                        The card probably does work in 2.0…  ...No 802.11n rates yet on any card, as far as I know.

                        Thank you for a quick reply!
                        Could you please hint me a mini-PCIe card that will certainly work in AP mode and might get the n capabilities later?
                        I guess I have to settle for 54Mbit for now but would like to have n speeds in the future.

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                        • E
                          Efonnes
                          last edited by

                          The card you last mentioned should probably work, but I don't have any experience with mini-PCIe cards on pfSense, so I couldn't really say for certain (I've only used PCI and mini-PCI).  As far as I know, I think the driver for Atheros-based cards gets the most work, so it may be your best bet if you are buying it hoping for 802.11n speeds later.  It could possibly be the first that will get 802.11n rate support, unless there is another driver where it already works or if someone pays to get it working on some other card.

                          If you want 802.11n speeds now, I think your only option is to use a separate access point.

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                          • K
                            kew
                            last edited by

                            I use a Atheros AR5007EG on the plate D945GSEJT
                            AP mode working properly.

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                            • X
                              xopah
                              last edited by

                              @kew:

                              I use a Atheros AR5007EG on the plate D945GSEJT
                              AP mode working properly.

                              Looks really interesting!
                              And on what software are you running that on?
                              the 1.2.3 or the 2.0 ?

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