Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 10:14:38 -0400 From: Jesse Guardiani <jesse@wingnet.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: 802.11g and FreeBSD based access point ... Message-ID: <bk4hgf$fls$1@sea.gmane.org> References: <D913221A882FD31198D90008C75D69090A1EA8CA@cwnl-ams-pri01.nl.compuware.com> <20030913191751.GH4453@adelaide.lemis.com>
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Greg Lehey wrote: > On Friday, 5 September 2003 at 17:55:14 +0200, Hans Vledder wrote: >> All, >> >> I am considering building a 802.11g FreeBSD access point. I've read >> that I will need a network adapter that supports hostap (access >> point mode). Does anyone known a brand/model (PCI) that's being >> supported by FreeBSD ? > > I don't have a direct answer to this question, but a bit of > information: > > Last weekend I bought a couple of 802.11b/g wireless routers (AirLink, > I think). These boxes contain an access point, a four-port Ethernet > switch and an additional downlink Ethernet port. They're intended as > cable or ADSL gateways, accessed by the downlink port. You can > configure the downlink port to access the other networks by NAT or > directly, and you can run a mini-firewall if you want. It can also > function as a DHCP server. These boxes cost me $80 at Fry's, the same > price as a basic 802.11b access point. > > This weekend I went back to Fry's looking for Atheros-based wireless > cards. The cheapest I could find cost $100. > > Based on that, it's not clear why you would want to build an AP from a > wireless card. It depends on what you're doing. For example, if your access point is going to be a Soekris box: http://www.soekris.com/ Then it makes sense to use wireless PC Cards because when the next wireless standard comes out, you can just toss the old card and buy a new one, while preserving your investment in the soekris hardware. Why would you pay $250 for a Soekris box with two PC Card slots instead of a $50 DSL/Cable router that does roughly the same thing? Flexibility, reliability, and power, IMO. I bought a Siemens SpeedStream 802.11b wireless DSL/Cable router for $35 a few months ago for personal office use, but I'd never sell it to a customer. It locks up under moderate load. (Yes, the firmware is up-to-date) I would, however, install a custom FreeBSD or OpenBSD Soekris box at a customer location because I _know_ it'll do the job with BSD reliability, and if the customer's needs change in the future, I can probably adapt the box's hardware/ software to meet them. -- Jesse Guardiani, Systems Administrator WingNET Internet Services, P.O. Box 2605 // Cleveland, TN 37320-2605 423-559-LINK (v) 423-559-5145 (f) http://www.wingnet.net
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