What do you use?
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Hey Everyone,
First post so a bit about myself - I've had PFSense installed as a home firewall/Router for about 4 months. I had a Linksys router directly attached running as my AP and Hub but the ports blew on it so it's time to upgrade ;D. I've checked out some other threads but my main question is "what are you using for your internal Wireless NIC acting as your AP for your pfsense box"? I'm not 100% confidant with one Wireless card to support my "home infrastructure" which is listed belowXBOX (Media Center) Pulls from VM box
XBOX360) WAN gaming
Notebook 1 (light surfing)
PC 1 - VM BOX / Multi Function Sever / File Print Share / DHCP /
PC 2 - Light gaming, torrents, surfing ect.Can someone recommend a card to support this, do I need two or should I just stick with another router?
If you need some more information for my home setup please specify
Thanks a bunch
Adam -
Atheros based PCI wireless cards have a good reputation. I use a TP-LINK TL-WN651G which gives good service around my 200 sq metre home supporting 3 Windows laptops surfing, gaming over the internet and light printing duties to a printer on the wired LAN.
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Hey thx for the quick reply. My deilma is I need something that can brodcast 2300sqft (perferaby the lot size 110x45).
I suppose I have no choice but to get another device…
Atheros based PCI wireless cards have a good reputation. I use a TP-LINK TL-WN651G which gives good service around my 200 sq metre home supporting 3 Windows laptops surfing, gaming over the internet and light printing duties to a printer on the wired LAN.
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I suppose I have no choice but to get another device…
I'm curious how you came to that conclusion.
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Indeed…
Maybe an antenna with different radiation pattern could be beneficial as well. But that has absolutely nothing to do with your router (and not even with the W-LAN card installed). Just a thought...
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I suppose I have no choice but to get another device…
I'm curious how you came to that conclusion.
I've must of read your post to quickly now that I think of it - I jumped to the conclusion that a wireless nic can't do what a AP can do in terms of performance (In a home environment).
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Sorry I didn't spell it out. My configuration in an earlier post in this topic is configured as an access point and acts as an access point.
Not all wireless LAN NICs that are supported by FreeBSD (and pfSense) are supported as access points. The Atheros PCI chipsets supported by the ath drivers are supported in infrastructure mode (uses an external access point) and "access point" mode.
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Sorry I didn't spell it out. My configuration in an earlier post in this topic is configured as an access point and acts as an access point.
Not all wireless LAN NICs that are supported by FreeBSD (and pfSense) are supported as access points. The Atheros PCI chipsets supported by the ath drivers are supported in infrastructure mode (uses an external access point) and "access point" mode.
That's cool, preferably I would like a wireless NIC to be configured as a AP - I didn't think that would have to be configured but it makes total sense. Prior to my first post I new I had to get a Atheros PCI chipset and that's the plan. I just need to figure out which NIC is most effective for my home. I've been doing some searching but I'm not doing so well :P…. wireless PCI NIC with a Atheros chipset that supports being an AP and can handle decent amount of load + have good range!
Adam