linux based wireless AP

[rbelt]

I'm in the process of building a Linux based wireless AP -- my laptop card is an Orinoco gold card... I wanted to get some advice on what I should buy for the AP station. I'm looking @ another pcmcia gold card @ $75 and an ISA or PCI card for this @ $59... $134+ seems like a high price to pay for just the radio card/connection. In addition to this, what antenna would people suggest I get for these cards (custom tails for the orinoco cards, etc.)?

I'm also looking for any pointers as to where to go for a howto on setting up the AP. I might be using nocat (http://nocat.net/) but I have not found a 'beginners guide' to this stuff yet... I've never compiled a kernel, etc. and I believe that I'm going to have to add services like pcmcia support, ipchains, radius, etc and so far, I haven't worked w/linux in this capacity. I figure this will be a great intro into real linux networking so...

thanks for any info!

//RB

[Uncle Nancy]

You'll need an 802.11b card based off the Prism 2 chip. Some good cards to use are the Dlink 520, Linksys WPC11, and the Senao 200mw card.

If you get a PCI card, it should come with a rubber-ducky antenna. If you go for PCMCIA (like Senao and WPC11), you'll need a pigtail.


Here's an AP setup guide (http://www.trekweb.com/~jasonb/articles/linux_wireless2.shtml)

And here's a nocat setup guide (http://www.itlab.musc.edu/~nathan/authentication_gateway/x67.html)

I've built (literally) dozens of these boxes. If you have any questions, just ask. Odds are I've already run into the problem before.

Good luck!
Andrew

[rbelt]

thanks for the info. Why should the card be prism II based (I'm assuming that this has to do w/something about kicking the card into AP or bridge mode...). I'm also assuming the orinoco gold card is not prism II.

//RB

[Uncle Nancy]

You're right. The Prism2x has built-in AP functions in the firmware and the HostAP driver can turn it on. None of the Orinoco cards work in AP mode, to the best of my knowledge. They work great as clients though.

[rbelt]

Time to buy the card but which one? I'm looking for low price since this is just a project 'for fun'

the linksys wpc11 is now based on the BroadCom chipset (not prism2/2.5 based)

the dlink 520 has also moved away from a prism based chipset... so what options do I have?

(I can buy senao for $120 + pcmcia-isa card for $50 but this is getting expensive now...)

options?

thanks

//RB

[Uncle Nancy]

I've been looking at the Senao 200mw card, the Netgear MA401, the ZComax XI-300B, the Gemtek 311(?), and one of the Belkin cards. The Belkin is the cheapest IIRC, but the Senao and Zcomax can be found for $60-$85.

Hope this helps!

[rbelt]

where are you finding senao @ $60-85? I think I'mn going to go with the SL-2511CD PLUS if I can find a good price...

thanks

//RB