Hello Mauro, Thank you for you recommendation to purchase a TP-Link-TL-WR802N-Wireless-Repeater <https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-TL-WR802N-Wireless-Repeater-300Mbps/dp/B00TQEX8BO?th=1>. I have ordered and received it. I tried to configure it but do not see any option to create a data connection to the Linux laptop computer (which is running two apps to that serve education content) through the USB cable to this router. Then I plugged a standard ethernet cable into the Linux laptop and into the Tp-link router. (If one of ethernet ports will not switch to server mode from climate mode, I may need to have a special ethernet cable to that enables a connected to two devices in client mode). I then set the TP-Link router to “Wireless Router” mode and set it to “auto-detect”. It then chose “Dynamic IP” connect type but it did not connect to the Ethernet port on the Linux computer. I then assumed that both the Tp-link ethernet port and the laptop computer ethernet port are both looking connect via DHCP to a router providing internet access. As a result, I set the IP Address on both devices to manual. The laptop was set to 10.42.0.1 and the TP Link router was set to 10.42.0.2, however, it did not appear to work. Using my phone via WiFi, I connected to the TP Link router to its ip address, which is 192.168.1.1. When I did, I could not connect to the linux laptop. Is there another way to get the TP-Link router to become WiFi hotspot for my linux laptop, which is running two apps that serve educational content? Regards, Paul Note: The two apps that serve educational content on the linux laptop are Kiwix and Kolibri. On Jul 18, 2024, at 8:31 PM, Paul Stevers <steversp2@charityhelp.org> wrote: Hello Mauro, Thanks! That is useful info. Regards, Paul On Jul 17, 2024, at 2:35 PM, Mauro Souza via talk <talk@gtalug.org <mailto:talk@gtalug.org>> wrote: You can grab this one: https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-TL-WR802N-Wireless-Repeater-300Mbps/dp/B00TQEX... <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@gtalug.org <mailto:talk@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@gtalug.org <mailto:talk@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@gtalug.org <mailto:talk@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@gtalug.org <mailto:talk@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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