Would like to use two AP to extend my wireless network.

lovingHDTV

Currently my system is setup up as:

<cable modem="">-wire- <pfsense (lan)="">-wire- <netgear 108s="">-wire- <computers>-wire- <ap>-wireless- <laptop>My AP does not do DHCP, but just sends it on to pfsense that handles all that.

I would like to add a wirless card to pfsense and use it as a second AP to extend my coverage. I would like it to work the same as my existing AP, but don't know for sure what I need to do. I imagine it would look like:

<cable modem="">-wire- <pfsense (lan)="">-wire-<netgear>-wire-<computers<br> -wire-<ap>-wireless- <laptop><pfsense (opt)="">-<wireless card="" in="" pfsense="">-wireless- <laptop>I'm not sure what happens with this second AP. Do I set up the WEP and SSID the same as the existing AP or does it need to be different? I still only want a single network, just that as I move my laptop to the other side of the house I would like to still be able to use the wireless connection.

Suggestions on how to do this? I'm not even sure that the technical nomenclature for this would be.

thanks,
David</laptop></wireless></pfsense></laptop></ap></computers<br></netgear></pfsense></cable></laptop></ap></computers></netgear></pfsense></cable>

lovingHDTV

OK maybe I'm getting some terminalogy down.

I believe that I have my current AP running in bridging mode. It does nothing but forward wireless packets to my router.

So I guess what I need to do is setup the wlan on the pfsense and bridge it?

thanks,

hoba

Yes, you want to bridge the wlan interface to lan and set up firewallrules to allow any traffic at the wlan interface.

lovingHDTV

I guess I should start at the beginning.

I first need to get my card setup.

I'm using an Orinoco Gold card in a pcmcia->pci adapter. It has been detected and I assigned it to the OPT1 interface. While configuring it I've a couple questions.

1. Should it be a DHCP configuration or Static? I assume this refers to the wireless card itself?
2. Mode I set to access point
3. SSID I set to my current SSID for the other AP
3. I set wep to be the same as my other AP.
4. everything else was left as default.

I then apply the settings and check the status. It shows "no carrier". If I hit renew the pfsense hangs and I have to reboot. Ideas?

thanks,

Horu

1. Should it be a DHCP configuration or Static? I assume this refers to the wireless card itself?
I would suggest static, IP doesn't matter as it's bridged.

2. Mode I set to access point
Access Point

3. SSID I set to my current SSID for the other AP
Same as the other AP

3. I set wep to be the same as my other AP.
Same WEP key and key number(s) as the other AP

4. everything else was left as default.

I'd suggest your AP's should be 5 channels apart (1, 6 and 11) so they don't overlap. Pick a different one for each AP rather than Auto.

lovingHDTV

Are the Orinocco cards supported in hostap mode? I read a really old (2003) monowall thread that states you cannot run these cards in hostap mode. Is this still the case?

thanks,

hoba

I don't know. Browse the appropriate freebsd mailing lists. pfSense is based on 6.1 where m0n0 still runs a rather old 4.x. Things might have changed concerning this card.

lovingHDTV

Just in case anyone else is interested the Lucent Hermes chipset cards do not support AP mode in BSD.

http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=wi&sektion=4&manpath=FreeBSD+6.1-RELEASE

bummer as that is all I have for cards :)

Interestingly enough my Orinoco BG2000 AP uses this exact same card and works just fine as an AP.