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    AP with WIFI N and choose mini PCIe card

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Wireless
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    • R
      remlei
      last edited by

      report back here if you manage to get it work properly.

      i have 0% chance making it work on my side, not even 2.4 saves it.

      my pfsense console is flooding with beacon errors and wireless reset errors. it just doesnt work well to me.

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      • johnpozJ
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by

        "In the idea I seek to have a "unique" device, for energy reasons"

        How much power do you think an AP uses?  The max power draw for a UAP AC access point is 6.5watts - that is MAX…

        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

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        • F
          FranciscoFranco
          last edited by

          With those specs I am pretty sure you cannot use just any old MiniPCIe card. The SIM slot is a giveaway. USB signaling slot, not MiniPCIe signaling.
          But yes the SR71E is a good choice for full length card. I do notice the standoff's holes for a full length MiniPCIe card.
          I doubt it will work due to the slot type. For cheap experiment try a AR5BXB112 for 10 bucks first, See if recognized.
          Not a bad consumer grade card.
          http://www.ebay.com/itm/AR5BXB112-Wireless-WIFI-Card-for-Apple-iMac-Mac-Pro-607-7211-A-/232479279259?hash=item3620d8489b:g:OQcAAOSw~fpZsBz2

          https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Atheros_AR5BXB112

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          • F
            FranciscoFranco
            last edited by

            In your first picture I see the module is marked "Wireless USB Half Mini Card".
            So right there it is telling you it is a USB module made for MiniPCIe slot.
            I think the description on the Qotum site is misleading. That MiniPCIe slot is a 3G modem slot with the sim right next to it.
            This RT3070 is made solely for machines with only a 3G slot. (usb signaling)

            Why else would they have a sim slot for a wireless card slot?

            As I stated this RT3070 module is the only USB signaling MiniPCIe that I have ever seen.
            They are not too common.

            Some boards BIOS do have the capability to discern from a MiniPCIe signal device and a USB signal device and communicate accordingly.

            Checkout the pinout chart in the answer here. It shows what is missing in usb signaling mPCIe devices.
            https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/26961/wifi-module-says-mini-pci-e-format-with-usb-host-interface-what-does-this

            Same topic different model:
            https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=114867.0

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            • F
              FranciscoFranco
              last edited by

              From the other post I quoted I see that the FoxConn WFUR6 is indeed a USB signaling MiniPCIe Card. 2T2R as well.
              https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Foxconn_WFUR6
              The chipset is not yet supported on FreeBSD. There does appear to be a diff for the utwm interface though.
              https://github.com/s3erios/urtwm

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              • G
                GuyGreg
                last edited by

                Hi,
                I have a mini-PC with that card and it doesn't seem to be detected at all.  How did you get it working?  I downloaded PFSense yesterday, it's the latest release.

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                • F
                  FranciscoFranco
                  last edited by

                  From the pfSense console go to shell and see what usbconfig shows.

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                  • G
                    GuyGreg
                    last edited by stephenw10

                    @FranciscoFranco:

                    From the pfSense console go to shell and see what usbconfig shows.

                    It says:

                    ugen0.4: <802.11 n WLAN Ralink> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480 Mbps) pwr=ON (450mA)
                    

                    I was actually able to get the wireless up and running, and bridged with the LAN, using the instructions posted here:
                    https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-configure-wireless-bridge-access-point-in-pfsense

                    So, I'll put it through its paces, I understand speed may be an issue.  Thank you for your help!

                    C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • C
                      cioby23 @GuyGreg
                      last edited by

                      @GuyGreg Is this the same card you used https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000617905029.html ?

                      N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • N
                        netblues @cioby23
                        last edited by

                        @cioby23 This is rtl based, not atheros. Also it creates a usb interface, can't work in 2.4/5 concurrently, and I doubt it supports ap mode altogether.

                        Not worth the hassle. Use an external ap.

                        C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • C
                          cioby23 @netblues
                          last edited by

                          @netblues I know this card is based on Realtek chipset RTL8812AU. I have tested a different external USB 2.0 wifi card TP-link Archer T2U nano using the same chipset RTL8812AU and it works even AP mode. I have done the tests on the development pfSense version 2.5.0. It's not a problem if the card doesn't allow 2.4 and 5GHz at the same time.
                          I do not want to use an external AP due to some personal reasons.

                          A J 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • N
                            netblues
                            last edited by

                            This looks like an emulated usb interface on a chip card
                            If it worked externaly, it would do so internally too.
                            But I wouldn't touch a usb interface on pf.
                            if for any reason is not found on a restart, then pf goes into lan reassignement mode and you need console access.
                            Usually hell breaks loose after that.

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                            • stephenw10S
                              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                              last edited by

                              It's much less likely to not find it on a mPCIe card even if it's using the USB lines. You can't pull it out by mistake.

                              I have had success with such cards but you may not. 😉 An actual PCIe device will always be better.

                              Steve

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                              • A
                                akuma1x @cioby23
                                last edited by

                                @cioby23 said in AP with WIFI N and choose mini PCIe card:

                                I do not want to use an external AP due to some personal reasons.

                                What does this mean?

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                                • J
                                  jly2680 @cioby23
                                  last edited by jly2680

                                  @cioby23 Hi I have the same issue , i have mini fanless pc from aliexpress , only supports mpcie usb interface..what card did you use??

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                                  • C
                                    cioby23 @jly2680
                                    last edited by

                                    @jly2680 Right now I have the AzureWave AW-NU706H USB mpcie Wifi card installed on the mini pc. There is also Foxconn WFUR6 USB wifi card which has supports AC. You can find it on AliExpress too. In the end I have ordered an VONETS AC1200 Mini Wireless Bridge Repeater Wi-Fi Dual Band Bridge Range Extender (VAP11AC) from Aliexpress which also has AP functionality and can be powered on by USB without external power plug.

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