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Linux wireless access point

R

rahvin

Elite Member
Ok, short story is I want to setup a wireless access point in the house. I want something relatively secure though so I want to install a PCI card in my linux server and run the access point off it that requires WPA and authenticates against freeradius. I also have the server in the basement but want to install a higher gain antenna in the attic so the card needs to support an external antenna that I can route up into the attic via a wired connetion.

The problem is that all the info I can find on wireless cards is 2 years old and the manf. change the cards like every six months so I'm having a hell of a time finding a PCI wireless card that is supported natively. I would prefer a prism GT chipset so I can use the HOSTAP drivers (I need wirelss G). Anyone know of a good PCI card that has the GT, that allows a high gain antenna? It's such a pain in the ass to try to find the chipset for a card, I swear it's a bloody state secret for the manf. to say which chipset they use.

Alternatively does anyone know another method to accomplish my goal? If I'm installing a router like the WRT I need a method to power it with POE.
 
running a long antenna causes signal loss. We usually try to keep it under 3 feet with <3 connectors in between the AP/Antenna
 
Prism54 (prism gt I guess) use to have great support under Linux. The original designers released fully GPL Linux drivers themselves. The drivers got entered into the Linux kernel, too.

However they got bought out eventually by Conextent and that's when everything took a sh1t.

First thing they did is take the card and remove the proccessor and replaced it by a software-based proccessor (like a winmodem) so they could produce it cheaper. Then in order to make that work they modified the firmware, which they lied about.

This modifing the firmware made it very incompatable with the old Linux drivers that worked perfectly with the old versions.. then they refused to work with the maintainers of the Linux drivers to update the drivers for the new versions.

They released it using the same names, same PCI card codes and all that. So the only way to tell it is the new version vs the old is to try it out in Linux and see if it works. Which it usually doesn't now.

The developers are trying to support the new cards, but reverse engineering is slow.

What you need is a card that can support 'Master Mode'. Anything that can support that mode of operation can be used as a Wireless AP.

Some other modes are Ad-hoc, Monitor (I think), and Managed.

This page, beleive or not, is up to date.
http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tou...x/Linux.Wireless.drivers.802.11ag.html

They pages are dated when they are updated. The information about 802.11g was last updated on 19 January 05 and should be accurate.

Looks like the only ones are the older Prism54 cards and the Atheros using Madwifi drivers. It's very difficult to find old prism54 cards.
 
Been there, done that page. Your explanation explains some of the problems I had with the Prism54 chip in my PMCIA adapter. The question I'm asking is do you know of an up to date list of cards that contain which chipset? I found one off of one of the main linux pages but the list is fairly old with only a few G series cards on it and I can't find half the cards for sale on NewEgg on the list.

As far as the antenna goes, I can use 12 gage wire if need be, I need the length to be about 15 feet at the most, it's nearly a straight shot straight up to my attic. My other option is to buy a router and use power over ethernet to handle it, the question is can I get something that won't be a router and will just pass through to linux, preferably through an ethernet nic.

Wireless is all fairly new to me.
 
you Will lose signal strength every foot. The best option would be a POE AP. If you are trying to reach a server in the basement, the 15ft to the attic is going to make it worse, not better.

My wireless stuff is limited, I know the Cisco 1231 AP will do all modes (bridge, repeater, AP) except router and is POE.
 
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