Adding a wireless adapter
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Hi all,
as I built my pfSense system I added an an additional network adapter to the PCI Express x1 expansion slot (there are still 2 PCI Express x16 expansion slots and one PCI expansion slot free). The problem is I cannot access some devices via WiFi as with a traditional router. If I add a wireless adapter to the system, how I can have the devices of the 2 adapters in the same subnet?
What kind of wireless adapter do I need? How can I check which one is well supported by FreeBSD/pfSense? -
If devices can connect, then it's not an adapter problem. Judging from your description, the WiFi devices are on a different subnet from the main LAN. This means it's a routing issue or you may want to bridge the WiFi to the main LAN.
BTW, the consensus here is it's best to go with an external AP. That way, you can avoid the WiFi support issues with BSD and put the AP in the best location.
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@jknott Thanks for the quick response!
If devices can connect, then it's not an adapter problem. Judging from your description, the WiFi devices are on a different subnet from the main LAN. This means it's a routing issue or you may want to bridge the WiFi to the main LAN.
Not sure if was clear enough. What I want to finally achieve, is to have access from mobile phone to services of my QNAP. I would like have them all behind pfSense. Currently only the router of my network provider has WiFi, my pfSense system has not.
BTW, the consensus here is it's best to go with an external AP. That way, you can avoid the WiFi support issues with BSD and put the AP in the best location.
Please give more details. What do you mean by "external AP"? Where?
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@sensori said in Adding a wireless adapter:
If devices can connect, then it's not an adapter problem. Judging from your description, the WiFi devices are on a different subnet from the main LAN. This means it's a routing issue or you may want to bridge the WiFi to the main LAN.
Not sure if was clear enough. What I want to finally achieve, is to have access from mobile phone to services of my QNAP. I would like have them all behind pfSense. Currently only the router of my network provider has WiFi, my pfSense system has not.
You didn't mention that configuration in your first post. First off, you want the modem in bridge mode, not gateway. Then use the WiFi connected to pfsense for everything.
BTW, the consensus here is it's best to go with an external AP. That way, you can avoid the WiFi support issues with BSD and put the AP in the best location.
Please give more details. What do you mean by "external AP"? Where?FreeBSD support for WiFi adapters is poor. Yours may work, but many others won't, so you have to be careful in selecting one. Also, it puts the antenna at the computer, where it might not be in the best position. As for external APs, I recently bought a UniFy AP AC-Lite, which is mounted high on the wall in my laundry room, roughly in the middle of my condo. This provides a good signal throughout my home. If I were to use an internal adapter, with pfsense, it would be near the floor, almost at the extreme corner of my unit, with poor coverage at the other end. My furnace & water heater would also be in the way. Also, since my AP uses PoE, I don't have to worry about having AC power handy.
Some people create an "AP" from an old WiFi router.
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This hangout we did covers this: https://youtu.be/EprxEKcYVfU
It's old, 2015, but still pretty much applies including most of the hardware support which may tell you all you need to know.
Generally using an external AP is better in almost every way.Steve
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Thanks both!
I've set an ASUS Router I had to AP mode and put it behind pfSense. My exact setup looks like this:
Provider Router - pfSense - Switch - AP. QNAP is connected to the switch and I can access it with my mobile phone.