High powered USB/mini PCIe card in AP mode
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Thanks for the input! I'd really like to get a mini-PCIe, but I read somewhere that some Atheros chipsets didn't support AP mode. The waters get so muddy sometimes. I'll do a little more searching and see what I can come up with. As cheap as that USB adapter is I might get it even if just for laptop use. That's a great price and 500mw is alot of power.
Edit: I did try looking on ebay for "atheros mini pcie" and there's tons. But alot of them are low power per the FCC ID. After 3 hours of searching FCC IDs I never found one over about 20dbm. I was hoping for at least 23dbm.
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I'd really like to get a mini-PCIe, but I read somewhere that some Atheros chipsets didn't support AP mode.
In FreeBSD the supported Atheros USB chipsets don't support AP mode. (see the FreeBSD man page for uath at http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=uath&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+8.3-RELEASE&arch=default&format=html
As best I can tell, the supported Atheros PCI/PCIs chipsets all support AP mode. (See the ath man page at http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=ath&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+8.3-RELEASE&arch=default&format=html ).Edit: I did try looking on ebay for "atheros mini pcie" and there's tons. But alot of them are low power per the FCC ID. After 3 hours of searching FCC IDs I never found one over about 20dbm. I was hoping for at least 23dbm.
Sometimes a better antenna (directional but higher gain) is a better (more considerate) option than higher power.
See http://www.compex.com.sg/productinfo.asp?item=miniPCIe&acc1Panel=1&acc2Panel=0 for some mini PCIe cards with Atheros chipsets claiming 23dBm power at 5GHz or 2.4GHz.
Edit: Add a couple of missing URLs.
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Thank you for the feedback wallabybob. Since the permanent installation of a high powered card would be in the middle of nowhere(nothing but farmland for at least 1/4 mile in all directions) I think I'm being fairly considerate of others. If the permanent installation would be in a city I would definitely agree with you. I try to be considerate when I can. At home I have a low powered router with a 14dbi antenna(it looks like a baseball bat) and I get great coverage in my entire house.
BTW… Your first link doesn't work. Not sure what exactly you were linking to.
The last link is very nice! I would order a WLE200N2-23 but I can't find anyone selling it on ebay/Amazon/Google. Rather odd. I've emailed them(Singapore!) to see how to purchase one.
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BTW… Your first link doesn't work. Not sure what exactly you were linking to.
Sorry, try this: and http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=ath&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+8.3-RELEASE&arch=default&format=html for the man pages for the uath and ath drivers.
I would order a WLE200N2-23 but I can't find anyone selling it on ebay/Amazon/Google. Rather odd. I've emailed them(Singapore!) to see how to purchase one.
If you say where you live, another reader might be able to suggest a local seller of Compex cards.
I have no idea if any of those Compex cards work with FreeBSD. Compex may be able to tell you.
Now I'll go fixup that earlier reply.
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I'm outside Chicago, Illinois in the USA.
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Got those devices in the mail from the ebay link. They work great! Thanks for the help!
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Just ordered the one in the ebay link. Not bad for $11.55.
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There seem to be a few cheap Chinese USB devices based on the Ralinktech RT3070.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB2-0-High-Power-500mw-RT3070-150Mbps-150M-b-g-n-11n-Wireless-WiFi-Adapter-card-/230689039571?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item35b62364d3 - Reported as Functioning in hostap mode
http://www.geetek.net/products/janus-ii/6/2
http://www.meritline.com/geetek-janus-ii-usb-high-power011n-300mbps-adapter-with-dual-high-gain-5dbi-depole-antennas–-p-92493.aspx?source=s2010&strcoup=MLCR19JN&dealid=47025
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDUP-High-Power-150M-1000mW-WiFi-USB-Wireless-N-Adapter-Card-RT3070-Ralink-6DBI-/321004532728?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item4abd5c73f8
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ralink-RT3070-Long-Range-High-Gain-1000-mW-Wireless-N-USB-WIFI-B-G-N-Adapter-/290661632668?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item43acc88a9c
http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Power-150M-1000mW-WiFi-USB-Wireless-Adapter-RT3070-/250824909812?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item3a665463f4
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150M-Hight-Power-USB-Wireless-Wifi-Adapter-1000mW-RT3070-/150937983715?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item23249adae3
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wlan-WiFi-Wireless-150Mbps-802-11N-USB-Adapter-6dBi-Antenna-LG-N23-Ralink-RT3070-/200845866526?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item2ec358b61eSome venders are posting the chip with a suffix on the end RT3XXXL
Anyone know why the L?<–----------------------------------------
It's been posted and reported that the Ralinktech RT3572 chip is functioning in client mode.
http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,55794.0.html
Ralinktech
http://www.ralinktech.com/en/02_products/product_list2.php?cata2_sn=301&cata3_sn=Device: Rosewill RNX-N600UBE - RT3572 chip
Reported as Functioning in client mode
Problems Reported: None as of YetDevice: Linksys/Cisco AE1000 300Mbps 802.11n Dual-Band Wireless - RT3572 chip
No Data as of Yet
Problems Reported: N/A
–---------------------------------------->Please test and report back details.
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Wireless Range?
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Are Connections/Connectivity Rock Solid?
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Up and Download speed on USB 2.0?
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Unit Cold, Warm or Hot to the touch?
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What your setup - IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n?
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What Ver. of Pfsense are you running?
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What Driver for hostap mode?
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And anything else worth mentioning.
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Has Anyone tried the TP-LINK TL-WN7200ND word is it's based on the RT3070
I would think there would be less chance of burning your house down versus these CHEAP fly by night China outfits.
http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?model=TL-WN7200ND
http://wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_TL-WN7200ND -
The slow boat from China finally arrived and I can confirm that this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB2-0-High-Power-500mw-RT3070-150Mbps-150M-b-g-n-11n-Wireless-WiFi-Adapter-card-/230689039571?pt=US_USB_Wi_Fi_Adapters_Dongles&hash=item35b62364d3
works perfectly in hostap mode on my Alix box running 2.0.2
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UPDATE:
After a couple of weeks of testing, unfortunately I have found that this wifi dongle causes my Alix boards to reboot randomly at least once a day or more and when it is working, the wifi signal is not very stable.
Oh well, I can't expect much from a $11 device. -
UPDATE #2:
After changing all the "Regulatory settings" back to default instead of setting them manually, I haven't had a reboot in 5 days, so it may be working after all.
For the record I'm running 2.1 build from dec.23. -
I bought the same USB wifi device as you did on ebay.
I tried it twice, it worked somewhat, but my pfsense system crashed twice and my config got wiped both times. I had perform a restore/reload of the firmware/config.
I have since removed the device from the system, hasn't crashed since.The signal level was lower than using a separate WRT54G running Tomato as an access point. Not sure I will retry this device as it , I think, caused the only crashes I have ever had of pfsense.
Running the latest 2.1 beta. -
Mine keeps working well and I have reached 7 days uptime since I made the changes in the configuration. As for signal strength I can't complain, I have my Alix box setup in the basement and get good signal up to the 2nd floor of my house. Hopefully it will stay this way.