Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    USB 802.11n

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Virtualization
    7 Posts 2 Posters 3.5k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • E
      evilecho
      last edited by

      Hello all,
        I'm getting ready to move to a place that only has wifi available for internet (less than three weeks). So, I will have to use my wifi adapter as a client and use that connection as the WAN connection. I'm running ESXi 5.0 and I've spent the last 2 days after work trying to find a working solution to no avail. Everything I've found is from 2008-2010 and doesn't seem to be relevant. I've got a usb ralink (rt3070 and it loads rt2870 firmware) 802.11b/g/n long-range wireless usb adapter, alpha network… I'm pretty sure that the device I have is not supported.
        Basically I am asking if anyone is running something similar to my situation and knows of a usb device that is supported out of the box ( a direct link would be awesome ), so that I could get this working before I move.

      v/r
      -Nate

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • K
        kejianshi
        last edited by

        Dump the USB WIFI.  Get a cheapie E1000 or E2000, load DD-WRT and run it strictly as an wifi client mode.  You can also buy a simple AP and run it in client mode.  Use that as your wan.  You will also get the wireless N speed this way, which is better.

        You will have a little box (DDWRT on linksys router) connected to distant wifi and you will plug the WAN of your pfsense into that.
        A tew-430apb will also do the job.
        Be careful not to attach to some poor neighbour by accident…  Thats easy mistake to make in this configuration  ;)

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • E
          evilecho
          last edited by

          Thanks kejianshi… that was my backup option... I have a couple of devices with dd-wrt loaded on them. I was just trying to have a direct network interface to the pfsense box as opposed to the bridge type connection.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • K
            kejianshi
            last edited by

            From everything I know and have heard, i would avoid the built in wifi options on pfsense.  It all seems shakey to me.  Its just not the main strength of pfsense, but it can work if the chips are all perfect and the moon in the right phase and jupiter aligns with venus…  But I think not N.  N isn't so supported I think.

            http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Is_802.11n_wireless_supported

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • K
              kejianshi
              last edited by

              I did find this and quoted it for you.

              "i bought a tp-linnk tl-wn321g adapter. It's USB and it working rather well. Can still stream youtube and VoIP (not expecting to do both @ once) without issues."

              (incase you don't mind using wireless G to connect to their N hotspot.  It usually works)

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • E
                evilecho
                last edited by

                yea, I read that… I was just hoping that someone had done something with 802.11n.... it's been out long enough, I was just  hoping that something was out there.... one less link makes the signal flow easier to follow and firewall rules easier to manage.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • K
                  kejianshi
                  last edited by

                  Personally, I think at best you save yourself about .1 ms latency and not much more advantage.
                  Many disadvantages though - Like N not working being the primary one.  But G is ok.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • First post
                    Last post
                  Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.