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    Limited WiFi Range on PFSENSE

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Wireless
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    • B
      biomecanoid81
      last edited by

      Hello,

      status_output.tgz

      I have an APU board with an AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter and the range is limited only inside the room the router is installed, while a normal AP installed exactly at the same spot covers the whole house.

      Anything I can do to boost the range ? pigtail is connected properly and is not disconnected also tried different antennas without any improvement.

      I have attached that status output of my pfsense so you get an idea about my setup. Let me know if you need more information.

      Thank you
      Chris

      JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • JKnottJ
        JKnott @biomecanoid81
        last edited by

        @biomecanoid81

        Your problem has nothing to do with pfsense and everything to do with the hardware. Generally, using WiFi NICs with pfsense is a bad idea, as support is poor. The proper way is to get a separate access point, which you can place for best coverage.

        PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
        i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
        UniFi AC-Lite access point

        I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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        • B
          biomecanoid81 @JKnott
          last edited by

          @jknott I already have an access point that covers the house on its own. I am just looking to get rid of it and have everything consolidated into the tiny factor of my pfsense box to save cabling, space and clutter in general.

          What is the best WIFI card I can get for the APU ? that is the challenge as I already have everything working with dedicated AP

          bingo600B JKnottJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • bingo600B
            bingo600 @biomecanoid81
            last edited by

            @biomecanoid81

            You will prob. have a hard time finding anything better than a dedicated AP.

            /Bingo

            If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a šŸ‘ - "thumbs up"

            pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

            QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
            CPUĀ  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
            LANĀ  : 4 x Intel 211, DiskĀ  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

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              biomecanoid81 @bingo600
              last edited by

              @bingo600 OK I will rephrase my question. which WIFI card is the least problematic to use with pfsense ? There should be better ones than the one I currently have.

              My computers, TV boxes etc are wired I just need WIFI for devices that don't have an alternative with phones/tablets.

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              • JKnottJ
                JKnott @biomecanoid81
                last edited by JKnott

                @biomecanoid81

                The problem with that is you will limit performance, as you have experienced. With WiFi, you want to be as high and clear as possible. For example, my AP is mounted high on the wall in my laundry room and is roughly in the middle of my condo. I used to use consumer type routers near my desk and found they were unusable at the other end of my home. Also, proper APs may have a stronger signal than what you are using.

                PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                UniFi AC-Lite access point

                I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • G
                  gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @biomecanoid81
                  last edited by gabacho4

                  @biomecanoid81 a quick Google search got me this.

                  https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/wireless/hardware.html

                  EDIT: I'd read that page very carefully as there are some significant nuances like no 802.11ac support and no ability to run dual channels (2.5 GHz and 5 GHz) at the same time. I'd use an AP any day before accepting those limitations.

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                  • B
                    biomecanoid81 @gabacho4
                    last edited by

                    @gabacho4 I know where the compatibility list is but nothing beats actual experience with the hardware. That's why I ask here.

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                    • G
                      gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @biomecanoid81
                      last edited by

                      @biomecanoid81 "Most pfSense developers work with Atheros hardware, so it tends to be the most recommended hardware. Many have success with other cards as well, and Ralink is another popular choice."

                      I'd go with a card from one of those two manufactures.

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                      • B
                        biomecanoid81 @gabacho4
                        last edited by

                        @gabacho4 Well my AR9285 has very limited range. Covers only one room. Apart from that is works fine its stable.

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                        • G
                          gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @biomecanoid81
                          last edited by

                          @biomecanoid81 unfortunately there are a lot of factors with wifi. Depending on what your home is made of, you might have to have a couple or few APs in order to get good coverage. Especially if you're using 5Ghz . What freq are you using? 2.4 is best for long distance coverage but is also prone to issues with interference if you have lots of neighbors or other devices using the 2.4 spectrum.

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                          • B
                            biomecanoid81 @gabacho4
                            last edited by

                            @gabacho4 Its not the house, I have a Cisco Linksys AP next to the PFSENSE box and it is able to cover my whole house

                            status_output.tgz WiFi.JPG

                            G 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • G
                              gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @biomecanoid81
                              last edited by

                              @biomecanoid81 basically you've proven that the wireless card in your Pfsense box is a POS then. Stick with the Cisco.

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                              • G
                                gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @biomecanoid81
                                last edited by

                                @biomecanoid81 looking at your logs, I am seeing a ton of errors on your wireless interface. ( Significant Ipkt Ierrs and Opkt and Oerrs) Something doesn't appear to be configured right. Have you tried some different settings? Maybe set it to use g only or something like that? I'm taking stabs here as this isn't my realm of expertise and I'm sure you have figured out where I stand in the wireless card vs APs matter.

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                                • B
                                  biomecanoid81 @gabacho4
                                  last edited by

                                  @gabacho4 OK sure I can try that. Could it also be something wrong with the regulatory domain ?

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                                  • G
                                    gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @biomecanoid81
                                    last edited by gabacho4

                                    @biomecanoid81 i honestly don't know. I noticed the pfsense manual had a pretty explicit walkthrough for setting up wireless. If you read it and followed cool. If not, I'd do that and maybe start from scratch as far as configuring the wireless. Other than that you may have to play with the settings some. Try g or n or g and n but not b. B is ancient in the wifi world. Also you haven't said what frequency your card is using. 2.4 GHz or 5ghz? What is the frequency your Cisco uses, if not both? What channel does the Cisco use? Try to mirror your wireless card settings to the cisco ones as much as you can since you know the Cisco settings are good.

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                                    • G
                                      gabacho4 Rebel Alliance @gabacho4
                                      last edited by

                                      @gabacho4 i know you want to get rid of the AP, though I don't understand why but the AP is dialled in to work as efficiently as possible. Cisco did all the work for you other than some small tweaks you can make to the channel etc. Simpler sometimes is really the best way to go.

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                                      • B
                                        biomecanoid81 @gabacho4
                                        last edited by

                                        @gabacho4 I am using 2.4Ghz since 5Ghz does not go that far. I will post screenshots of my settings when I get home.

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                                        • B
                                          biomecanoid81 @gabacho4
                                          last edited by

                                          @gabacho4 Well ideally I would like to get rid of the AP, so that I have one less device, one less cable going to the switch and one less power brick, makes for a cleaner setup.

                                          Well If I can not make PFSENSE work even with a new card of course I am keeping the cisco.

                                          bingo600B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • bingo600B
                                            bingo600 @biomecanoid81
                                            last edited by

                                            @biomecanoid81
                                            In the end on a "Low Volume / Client setup" it prob. comes to the antennas & placement used. Running MIMO on the AP would also have a positive impact.

                                            An AP is designed to serve multiple clients , a "card" is prob. designed to serve "one".

                                            /Bingo

                                            If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a šŸ‘ - "thumbs up"

                                            pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                                            QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                                            CPUĀ  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                                            LANĀ  : 4 x Intel 211, DiskĀ  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

                                            B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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