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    USB Wireless Adapter not showing up

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    • N
      Nathantrinh23
      last edited by

      My usb wireless adapter is not showing up in the web configurator or the console. I checked with all the usb ports. What do I do?

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      • H
        heper
        last edited by

        It's best to get a wired accesspoint. It'll save you lots of time & headaches

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        • jimpJ
          jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
          last edited by

          If it doesn't show up, even under Interfaces > Assignments, Wireless tab in the list when you add an entry, then it doesn't have a driver available. Thus, not supported. If you're on 2.3.x, maybe try 2.4.x instead.

          Your best option is to use an external AP if you are looking to be an access point. If you want to use it for a wireless WAN connection, you'll need to find a supported device to use instead.

          We'll need more info about the hardware you have and what version of pfSense you're running to make any proper suggestions.

          Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

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          • N
            Nathantrinh23
            last edited by

            @jimp:

            If it doesn't show up, even under Interfaces > Assignments, Wireless tab in the list when you add an entry, then it doesn't have a driver available. Thus, not supported. If you're on 2.3.x, maybe try 2.4.x instead.

            Your best option is to use an external AP if you are looking to be an access point. If you want to use it for a wireless WAN connection, you'll need to find a supported device to use instead.

            We'll need more info about the hardware you have and what version of pfSense you're running to make any proper suggestions.

            The wireless adapter is a Realtek RTL8811AU. I have pfSense version 2.3.4. Also, I have the driver on a disk. Its not under Interfaces > Assignments, Wireless either.

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            • K
              kpa
              last edited by

              RTL8811 is not listed here so it's very likely not supported by FreeBSD 11.1 and there for not supported by pfSense 2.4.0 or older.

              https://www.freebsd.org/releases/11.1R/hardware.html

              The best bet will be the rsu(4) driver in FreeBSD 12 if it gets support for RTL8811 and then backported to FreeBSD 11.x.

              https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=rsu&apropos=0&sektion=4&manpath=FreeBSD+12-current&arch=default&format=html

              Also, I have the driver on a disk

              The disk is 100% useless for you because Realtek doesn't actually support FreeBSD/pfSense in any way. They have made some drivers of their own for FreeBSD in the past but they are binary only (because they refuse to offer documentation for free) and only for select quite old versions of FreeBSD. For pfSense the drivers they offer are of no use.

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              • N
                Nathantrinh23
                last edited by

                Will the Ralink RT5370 work with pfSense?

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                • M
                  monstermania
                  last edited by

                  @Nathantrinh23:

                  Will the Ralink RT5370 work with pfSense?

                  Well,
                  the RT5370 should work. I use one USB Wifi on my OPNsense Box.
                  But, not all wifi sticks will work in AP Mode!
                  I tried several models with the RT5370. Some works very bad (very often connection problems). Some works perfekt but run very hot. So they died after some weeks.  >:(

                  So it will be a bit lucky to get one that works stable!

                  best regards
                  Dirk

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