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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