Wireless NIC support
Per Hallström
phand03 at student.vxu.se
Fri Feb 6 11:39:38 PST 2004
Hi!
I recently set up a small network at my parents' place, where my old
desktop computer now serves as an IMAP/file/random stuff server. Now,
since the network is wireless, with the only exception being this
FreeBSD machine, I would of course like the wireless NIC in it to work.
I also prefer to not buy a new, currently supported card, (if I don't
have to) since I already have this card. But I don't want to switch OS,
since FreeBSD is what I am used to, so I'll do what I have to do...
This is what I know about the card:
From dmesg I get:
FreeBSD 5.2-RELEASE #0: Sun Jan 11 04:21:45 GMT 2004
root at wv1u.btc.adaptec.com:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/GENERIC
... <snip> ...
pci2: <network> at device 8.0 (no driver attached)
And pciconf -lv:
none3 at pci2:8:0: class=0x028000 card=0x041814e4 chip=0x432014e4 rev=0x02
hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Broadcom Corporation'
device = 'BCM4306(??) 802.11g Wireless NIC'
class = network
The card is made by CNet Technology Inc. and has model number CWP-800.
It is called "Wireless-G PCI Adapter".
Two questions:
What is the probability of this card being supported within the near
future? I would like to get rid of the cable on the floor pretty soon,
and I am not much of a kernel hacker so writing a driver for the card
is not an option for me :)
What other, now supported and confirmed working, cards are recommended?
I have had a look in the FreeBSD Handbook, and noticed that there are
some supported chipsets listed. However, I rarely stumble across
sellers who actually can give me a card if I say I want one with "that
and that chipset, revision 4" ;)...
From someone who successfully are using wireless NIC(s) with FreeBSD:
what cards would you recommend? (I REALLY prefer a card where the
antenna can be somehow mounted (screwed) onto the back of the card, and
not one where I need to have an "external" antenna with a cord.)
Finally I appreciate if replies are CC'ed to me since I currently have
only sporadic Internet access and don't want to lose the replies.
Thanx in advance!
Per Hallström
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