Problem with using wireless AP after switch
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I've not posted this in wireless as it is nothing to do with cards but to do with separate wireless AP. As I only have 2 slots (plus the onboard ethernet connection - which I don't really want to use) I cannot install a wireless card in my box. One card is for the LAN and one for the WAN which feeds a TP Link 16 way switch. One of those then feeds an INtellinet 300N Wireless AP (on which the DHCP is off). I've a second INtellinet WAP set up as a universal repeater as per the instructions. The problem is that sometimes phones, tablets etc seem to lose the wireless connection and then I cannot get it back without unplugging both the WAP and booting again. When it goes the WAP that I also have plugged into the onboard port (for playing about purposes) also seems to vanish and suddenly nothign can connect wirelessly. For the main wireless network it seems that it gets stuck again at issuing an IP address but I can't be certain.
Is there something I am doing wrong here or is this sort of thing just flaky as a rule?
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What does this have to do with pfsense at all??
As to using a AP as a repeater - yeah that is going to be flaky..
Those devices are like 50$ And they are only 300N?? WTF dude really.. That seems like some really crappy hardware.. They don't even do 5ghz.. only 2.4..
I would really suggest you wire your AP verse using "repeater" mode.. So /2 your already crappy max 300 PHY.. Which then again it only has a 10/100 lan port.. So what you can not even get what 300 PHY can do even if you connected with it..
Do not "repeat" wifi if your wanting it to be stable and good.. Wire your AP.. if you need wifi in another area and only way to get there is with wifi - then get a real AP that can do wireless uplink using another band vs the band your wanting your clients to use, etc. Use powerline adapters if you have too.. Repeating wifi is just not going to be worth anything.. And repeating 300N??
Just out of curiosity.. All your wifi stuff is 5 plus years old or something.. And you have what for internet speed? How many wifi clients are you talking total? For 80$ you could get the unifi lite AC… is AC 2x2.. Does vlans as well.. And can do wireless uplink if need too. And its poe to allow for proper placement.. Those devices look horrific and huge as well.. Where do you have them placed?
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Most of the stuff is indeed a few years old. Remnants from when I actually had spare cash. Wiring the second AP is not an option in this case due to the property I am in. I'm in the UK and the max speed I can get on my line is 72Mbps so pretty much any of the hardware I have is up to the job I think. If you don't like that hardware you should see the ancient PC it is running on!
There is another TP LInk WAP that does PoE but it is not in use yet (same sort of age). The intellinets do VLAN and also multiple ESSID (neither of which I need). As for wireless clients - only about 6 max at a time I'd guess. It's only a home set up after all. The boxes are largely out of the way (1 is in my room / ofice which is a tip in any event) and the other hidden above a kitchen cabinet so the "view" isn't exactly important.
As for what it has to do with PFSense I am wondering if there is something I am doing wrong with it. And why do you say repeaters are not that much use? I see them regularly out and about without being wired.
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Pfsense doesn't care if your wired or wireless it doesn't even know.. If your having problems with dhcp - then the packets are not getting to pfsense, etc.
Repeaters are horrible!!! They repeat!! so you automatically /2 whatever possible bandwidth your wifi could do.. And they also add latency, etc.. You do understand that wifi is half duplex.. There can only ever really be 1 device talking at a time.. So while your AP is sending data to the other AP, it can not be sending data to a client. Nor can the recv AP be sending anything, etc.
Yes you see lots of "repeaters" in the world.. That is because users do not understand the tech, and the companies making the stuff prey on this and using marking numbers.. Oh use are 1750AC AP/Router.. You do understand the numbers they post are PHY.. they are not real world. And you can not add up the PHY of the 2.4 and the 5ghz radio and think its any faster than whatever band your own.. There are no clients that can use 2.4 and 5 at the same time in any sort of bond, etc.
"hidden above a kitchen cabinet so the "view" isn't exactly important"
That really doesn't make for best coverage area ;)
There is nothing you need to do on pfsense different for a wired client or some wifi client connected to your network via an AP..
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I figured it hadn't a clue but couldn't work out why it was all going to hell. What I've done now is to move the 2nd one (here, it was high up and while you couldn't see it it was in the open - not IN the cupboard ;) ) to a different room, where there is another switch so I could plug it in. SAme details as the other one so I am presuming my devices will swap from one to another depending on signal. The coverage is really just needed to get to the garage which is away from the house. The original point is as far away from that as is physically possible!
Just thinking there that the usual 10/100 card that was teir originally would have been fine for the 72Mbps connection. I did replace the PCs in the house onbaord cards (and the pfsense cards) with 1GB just for internal traffic - a lot of file shifting going on.
Thanks for the help.
