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Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time

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On 2024-02-13, David Brown wrote:
> On 13/02/2024 13:36, Dan Purgert wrote:
>> On 2024-02-13, David Brown wrote:
>>> Is it possible to use a single Wifi adaptor as a client on one Wifi
>>> network / SSID while also acting as an AP for a dedicated local Wifi
>>> network / SSID?
>> 
>> Yes - see products like the Ubiquiti Unifi lineup that offer "Wireless
>> Uplink".  Though, these are a product, and I think you might be more
>> asking from the perspective of using a regular PC...
>
> Yes, these devices have more than one radio which can be controlled 
> independently (that's common for devices intended as AP's for lots of 
> clients).

They've only got one, it can just do both bands (well, some may have
multiple chips, haven't taken one apart in a few years to see what all's
inside :) )

>
> The target use would be an embedded Linux card rather than a PC, but one 
> where I have full control of the software and the setup for the device. 
> I'd have influence over the choice of Wifi adaptor, but not a free 
> choice (if the hardware needed is too expensive, we'll have to think of 
> a different solution).

Most APs these days are embedded linux, so it's definitely doable, with
the right chipset / driver / etc.

Not so much that it's necessarily "expensive", but that it's a "niche"
type feature in the consumer market, which might make finding the right
chip fun.

>
>> 
>>> The expected use here would be with a cheap and simple single-radio 2.4
>>> GHz adaptor.
>> 
>> Nope, you'll just be able to repeat the existing SSID on the existing
>> channel.
>> 
>
> I know I can do that.  And I know the radio can only operate on one 
> channel at a time, so the local AP would have to share the channel with 
> the external AP.  (And I know that sharing a channel like this would not 
> be ideal.)
>
> I have had one Wifi adaptor acting as several different APs / SSIDs, on 
> different nets, but all on a single channel.

Oh? Which chipset is that?  I've not seen multiple SSIDs supported from
the same chip in the consumer kit I've got laying about (or maybe it's
less "the chip" and more hostapd...?)


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Thread

Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-13 11:46 +0100
  Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time Marco Moock <mm+usenet-es@dorfdsl.de> - 2024-02-13 12:49 +0100
  Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2024-02-13 12:36 +0000
    Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-13 13:47 +0100
      Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2024-02-13 14:26 +0000
        Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-13 16:39 +0100
          Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2024-02-13 16:51 +0000
            Re: Using a Wifi adaptor as a client and an AP at the same time David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-13 20:22 +0100

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