Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Tue, 12 Aug 2014 23:23:37 +0200
From:      CiPHER nl <cipher_nl@hotmail.com>
To:        "freebsd-wireless@FreeBSD.org" <freebsd-wireless@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Best supported WiFi adapter
Message-ID:  <DUB129-W823FB36FCE3E30577AB53A97EA0@phx.gbl>

next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
Dear BSD users=2C=0A=
=0A=
I am looking for the 'best supported WiFi adapter' for use with FreeBSD. I'=
ve searched a bit=2C but could use some help.=0A=
=0A=
My requirements would be:=0A=
- use with hostapd (to act as access point=3B not as client)=0A=
- reliable operation without packet loss with a variety of clients in a hom=
e network (i.e. not many clients)=0A=
- WPA2 security=0A=
=0A=
Nice extra's would be:=0A=
- support power saving mode (low power consumption)=0A=
- 802.11n support (up to 300Mbps)=0A=
=0A=
At the moment i am using a USB WiFi adapter that uses the 'rum' driver. Tho=
ugh it works in hostap mode=2C it does not support client power saving. Thi=
s causes some clients to work while others can only connect to the WiFi but=
 not communicate or ping or do anything. Obviously this is not desirable=3B=
 i need something that works! Additionally=2C as someone who is very keen o=
n lowering power consumption especially for 24/7 equipment=2C i would love =
the power consumption to be lowered of both the server and the clients conn=
ecting via WiFi. Thus power saving mode is highly desired. Having a more mo=
dern 'n' 300Mbps network is a nice extra=2C but no hard requirement. Note t=
hat i am in Europe=2C and 5GHz is not available/allowed as far as i know. 2=
.4GHz is the norm here.=0A=
=0A=
Now i did some homework=2C like looking at the Wiki and reading manpages. A=
lso looked at the hardware notes of 10.0-RELEASE. But what i am missing is =
a list of 'best supported' network adapters=2C and product names which are =
known to work properly. Perhaps this should be added to the Wiki=2C since i=
 can't believe i am the only one looking for a well supported WiFi adapter =
for use with FreeBSD.=0A=
=0A=
Any suggestion or help is highly appreciated!=0A=
=0A=
Links:=0A=
=0A=
Manpage of rum(4)=2C describing the bug/issue that client power saving has =
to be disabled=3B but not all clients offer this option - like Android phon=
es.=0A=
- http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=3Drum&apropos=3D0&sektion=3D0&ma=
npath=3DFreeBSD+10.0-RELEASE&arch=3Ddefault&format=3Dhtml=0A=
=0A=
Wiki on WiFi with many links:=0A=
- https://wiki.freebsd.org/WiFi=0A=
=0A=
Wiki listing support for newer chips like Atheros AR9287=2C but no products=
 mentioned which use these chips=0A=
- https://wiki.freebsd.org/WiFi80211n=0A=
- https://wiki.freebsd.org/dev/ath%284%29=0A=
=0A=
Manpage of Atheros ath(4) driver=2C listing limitations with power saving=
=2C incompatbility with WPA with one chipset and even worse=2C the newer ch=
ips like AR9287 are not mentioned:=0A=
- http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=3Dath&apropos=3D0&sektion=3D0&ma=
npath=3DFreeBSD+10.0-RELEASE&arch=3Ddefault&format=3Dhtml=0A=
 		 	   		  =



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?DUB129-W823FB36FCE3E30577AB53A97EA0>