[GTALUG] Seeking a Linux specialist who can help us solve some Linux-related issues on older computers
William Park
opengeometry at yahoo.ca
Thu Jul 18 23:27:57 EDT 2024
I have Asus repeater (dual-band, wireless-N), and Canada Computers now
has AC-band units. I use it in "client mode" to connect wired-only
devices to the main wireless router. Sort of wireless ethernet dongle,
like wireless usb dongle.
For "hotspot" mode, you want "AP" mode, because you are turning it into
wireless router. If your "Lenovo IdeaPad V460" doesn't have ethernet
port, then ethernet usb dongle will give you ethernet port, and connect
them together using network cable.
If I remember, "AP" mode requires software support on the computer side.
In KDE, it's called "Shared to other computer" Method under "IPv4" tab.
On 2024-07-17 14:35, Mauro Souza via talk wrote:
> You can grab this one:
> https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-TL-WR802N-Wireless-Repeater-300Mbps/dp/B00TQEX8BO?th=1 <https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-TL-WR802N-Wireless-Repeater-300Mbps/dp/B00TQEX8BO?th=1>
>
> It's similar to the one I have, just a couple generations newer than
> mine. Costs CA$34, can be powered by the USB port, it's small and light
> so double sided tape can support it on a wall or behind the monitor,
> supports AP mode, repeater mode, and has great reviews. My router was
> set up 15-ish years ago, and still works just fine. IIRC, I had to plug
> it on USB, connect an Ethernet cable to it and my PC, and a captive
> portal let me adjust network name, password, mode and so on. It's as
> plug and play as it can be.
>
> A USB wifi dongle solves the kind of problem you don't have. It's great
> when the internal wifi isn't powerful enough, or the old computer does
> not have internal wifi. Not for creating a wifi network.
>
> And it gives you a new problem to solve. Messing around with hostapd can
> be fun when you are the kind of guy who likes a tech puzzle out of
> nowhere, or can be a waste of time. You can grab a great USB dongle,
> make it work after hours fiddling around, just to forget what you did
> and a new kernel version breaks it and you don't know if it's the
> kernel, the dongle, the USB port, or the moon. If only you depend on the
> network, it's one thing. But others depend on it, so save you time and
> sanity, and a travel router was made for this.
>
> Mauro
> https://www.maurosouza.com <https://www.maurosouza.com> - registered
> Linux User: 294521
> Scripture is both history, and a love letter from God.
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 17, 2024 at 2:52 PM Alvin Starr via talk <talk at gtalug.org
> <mailto:talk at gtalug.org>> wrote:
>
> You could try OpenWRT.
>
> It supports a number of hardware routers along with generic versions
> for
> CPUs like the X86_64.
>
> It can be a good way to repurpose an older wifi router and with a
> bit of
> luck it may work on a laptop.
>
> On 7/17/24 11:25 AM, Giles Orr via talk wrote:
> > Hi Paul.
> >
> > I understand your desire to keep costs down, and to keep all the
> > functionality in one box. But Mauro's advice is sound: Linux isn't
> > particularly good at being an Access Point. It's good at many
> things,
> > unfortunately you've found something it's not great at. If more
> > people used Linux as an AP, more development would be done, and the
> > path you're choosing to walk would be easier. Support for Wifi cards
> > and dongles as clients is pretty good on Linux, but as an AP ... not
> > so much. You solicited expert advice on the subject, and I think
> > Mauro qualifies - particularly on this subject, given his experience
> > with `hostapd`. Here's a second (dubious expert) opinion: admit
> > defeat on this particular aspect of the server and follow Mauro's
> > advice ... Sorry, but I suspect you'll be saving yourself a lot of
> > grief.
> >
> > Of course the great thing about experts is that they rarely agree:
> > someone here may come up with different advice for you. Enjoy the
> > diversity of opinions!
> >
> > On Wed, 17 Jul 2024 at 06:26, Paul Stevers via talk
> <talk at gtalug.org <mailto:talk at gtalug.org>> wrote:
> >> Hello Mauro,
> >>
> >> Thanks for the feedback.
> >>
> >> I did a quick search for a travel router and found this one:
> >>
> >> TP-Link: TL-WR902AC - AC750 Wireless Travel Router
> >> • Travel-Sized Design – Conveniently small and light to pack
> and take on the road, creating Wi-Fi network via Ethernet, 3G/4G USB
> modem or WISP
> >> • Dual Band AC750 Wi-Fi – Strong, fast connection for HD
> streaming on all your devices
> >> • One Switch for Multiple Modes – Perfect for Wi-Fi at home,
> your hotel room or on the road
> >> • Flexible Power – Micro USB port to an adapter, portable
> charger or laptop
> >> • Versatile USB – For file sharing or internet access from a
> 3G/4G USB modem
> >>
> >>
> >> Amazon sells this router for about CA$50.
> >>
> >> Can you recommend a D’Link travel router model that can work? I
> would like it to be powered and receive data via the USB port.
> >>
> >> Instead of a travel router, I would prefer a more compact option
> such as a USB Wifi dongle. Amazon sells a range of these devices.
> Since I do not have time to check out all the options to find a
> solution, I prefer if a linux specialist would do this for me. I am
> pretty sure the Linksys AE6000 Wireless USB Adaptor can work but if
> it does not, I expect we can purchase a different one that will work.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Paul
> >>
> >>
> >> On Jul 16, 2024, at 6:29 PM, Mauro Souza via talk
> <talk at gtalug.org <mailto:talk at gtalug.org>> wrote:
> >>
> >> A little tangent here, but wouldn't just buying a cheap AP work
> better?
> >>
> >> I ran hostapd several years on different hardware, and something
> consistent was the inconsistency... Worked or not, depending on
> kernel version, on clients, on internal wifi cards, on external wifi
> cards... A cheap D'Link travel router fixed all the issues, and now
> it's honored as my personal wifi printing server.
> >>
> >> It cost 10 dollars, maybe it could work for you too.
> >>
> >> Mauro
> >> https://www.maurosouza.com <https://www.maurosouza.com> -
> registered Linux User: 294521
> >> Scripture is both history, and a love letter from God.
> >>
> >>
> >> On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 5:01 PM Paul Stevers via talk
> <talk at gtalug.org <mailto:talk at gtalug.org>> wrote:
> >>> Hello Linux Community,
> >>>
> >>> We are seeking a knowledgeable Linux specialist who can help us
> solve some Linux-related issues on older computers that we convert
> into educational information servers. As well, we are also seeking
> someone who is interested to help us provide refurbished computers
> with free educational information to people around the world who do
> not have access to or cannot afford high-speed Internet.
> >>>
> >>> Currently, we have a Lenovo IdeaPad V460 laptop computer that
> has been converted into a Linux Mint-based educational information
> server using this instruction: Setting Up An Educational Information
> Server (Linux Mint). Unfortunately, the hotspot feature did not
> work on the built-in WiFi hardware so we added this USB-based WiFI
> transmitter/receiver; Linksys AE6000 Wireless USB Adaptor. It works
> but other devices are not able to connect to it. My phone says “it
> cannot obtain an IP address” from the SSID transmitting from this
> laptop.
> >>>
> >>> I look forward to your reply.
> >>>
> >>> Regards,
> >>> Paul
> >>>
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> Netvel Inc. || Cell: (416)806-0133
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