Mini PCI express wireless card for hostap mode

wallabybob

Edit: Reading it again, perhaps the code references hostap but doesn't actually support it?

I found a number of occurrences of the string HOSTAP inside #if 0/#endif blocks. In particular, the code that sets "HOSTAP supported" in the device capabilities bitmap is enclosed in a #if 0/#endif block.

stephenw10

Exactly, like it was an intended feature but was never implemented.

Steve

woni

I have ordered a new card with Atheros chipset.
I will give feedback next week.

Thanks so far

woni

Ok, now I have installed Atheros 5416 and what a surprise , it works in hostap mode.
But, next problem, I can't see this AP from a WiFi-Client.


ifconfig ath0_wlan0 list caps
drivercaps=6f85ed01 <sta,ibss,[b]hostap[ b],ahdemo,txpmgt,shslot,shpreamble,monitor,mbss,wpa1,wpa2,burst,wme,wds,bgscan,txfrag="">cryptocaps=1f <wep,tkip,aes,aes_ccm,tkipmic></wep,tkip,aes,aes_ccm,tkipmic></sta,ibss,[b]hostap[>

This the pert from my config.xml


		 <opt1><if>ath0</if>
			 <wireless><standard>11g</standard>
				<mode>hostap</mode>
				<protmode>off</protmode>
				<ssid>i-access.woni</ssid>
				<channel>0</channel>
				 <authmode><txpower>99</txpower>
				 <distance><regdomain><regcountry><reglocation><wpa><macaddr_acl><auth_algs>1</auth_algs>
					<wpa_mode>3</wpa_mode>
					<wpa_key_mgmt>WPA-PSK</wpa_key_mgmt>
					<wpa_pairwise>CCMP TKIP</wpa_pairwise>
					<wpa_group_rekey>60</wpa_group_rekey>
					<wpa_gmk_rekey>3600</wpa_gmk_rekey>
					 <passphrase><ext_wpa_sw></ext_wpa_sw></passphrase></macaddr_acl></wpa> 
				 <auth_server_addr><auth_server_port><auth_server_shared_secret></auth_server_shared_secret></auth_server_port></auth_server_addr></reglocation></regcountry></regdomain></distance></authmode></wireless> 

			 <spoofmac><enable><ipaddr>192.168.2.1</ipaddr>
			<subnet>24</subnet></enable></spoofmac></opt1>

Any idea? Thanks a lot.

wallabybob

Channel 0 is "unusual" (Auto?)

If you have an Android phone you could use app Wifi Analyzer to get an idea what channels are in use in your vicinity, otherwise I suggest you pick 6 or 11 to be comfortably away from 1 which seems to be a common default. Wifi Analyzer will also help you tell if you have sufficient signal strength at your client location.

Is the card connected to an external (to the box) antenna?

woni

The channel 0 means "auto" and there is a external antenna connected to the box.
I don't have a Android phone.
I have put my notebook very near to my pfsense accesspoint and could recognize a litte signal of my ap.
The atheros card have 3 connectionpoints for antenna and I try port 2 instead port 1.
The signal is now not the best, but I can work so far.

Near the my pfSense AP I positioned a netgear ap. With the software inSSIDer from my notebook I get for the netgear ap -54dB and for the pfSense ap -61dB.

I don't know, which of these 3 ports should be the correct one.

Any idea, to get a stronger signal?

stephenw10

If you only have one antenna it's important to switch off Diversity and to set both the transmit and receive antennas to use the same, correct, number.

From config.xml:


				<diversity>0</diversity>
				<txantenna>1</txantenna>
				<rxantenna>1</rxantenna>

Steve

woni

Sorry, the problem is not gone. I have less signal strength.
Any idea or do you know a better mini PCIe wireless card?
What chipset will be supported for hostap?
Now, I have spent a lot of time and money to solve the problem.
Should I give up? ???

stephenw10

Did you try my suggestions above? Reboot after making the changes?
Also antenna 1 happens to be correct for my card but may not for yours.

Steve

woni

Thanks for response.
I have tried all antenna (1,2,3) but only 2 is working with the named limitation.
So, I think, I buy two antennas, connect their and give feedback.

And sure, I had rebooted after every change.

woni

Now, I have build in 2 further antennas. So I have one external and two internal antennas. Without luck. Nothing changed.
It seems, only antenna 2 is working. It doesn't matter, what I configure. In example the channel: I configure 10 but the system comes up with 1.

Further, I have recognized that the signal strength is always going down and up.
I have configuered a <shellcmd>to restart ath0_wlan0 after bootup. This solves the behavior and the channel is 10 which I have configured.

I think, there is a problem in startup. I would like to try a complete reconfigure-script after startup, but I don't know how.
Any help woukd be fine.</shellcmd>