[MLB-WIRELESS] WL-500GP / USB-Wifi (was: Meraki Mini)

[Dan Flett]

Yeah, I'd also recommend the WL-500G Premium for anyone who wants to take
their node to the "next level" - i.e. multiple radios, extra services,
attached storage and peripherals (webcams, etc) via USB.

I'm keen to see if anyone can get a USB WiFi device to work on a USB-enabled
router such as this one.  Doing so means we can cheaply and easily add extra
radios without having to worry about extra CAT5 runs or extra power supplies
for multiple routers.

The main problem with USB-WiFi radios is they tend to be lower power -
typically 13dBi, and they rarely have external antenna connections - still,
they may be useful in some situations.

Someone on the OpenWRT forums has gotten a Ralink RT2570 USB WiFi dongle to
work with OpenWRT Kamikaze after compiling it themselves...

http://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=9623

If you download the current Kamikaze source, or a known good revision of the
Kamikaze source, you should be able to easily add support for the RT2570 to
the kernel and compile the driver just by doing "make menuconfig" and
selecting the RT2570 package.

OpenWRT makefile for the rt2570 driver
https://dev.openwrt.org/browser/trunk/package/rt2570/Makefile

How to use the rt2570 driver
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=106846

Lists of devices that use the rt2570 driver
http://www.vendorwatch.org/index.php?title=Ralink

http://ralink.rapla.net/

How to get the Asus WL-167G to work (using the RT2570 driver)
http://folk.ntnu.no/gronslet/blog/2005/06/05/asus-wl-167g-usb-wireless-wlan-
adapter-in-linux/
Staticice shows the Asus WL-167G for $AU33 at msy.com.au

Link to the Netcomm wlg25usb adapter which has a non-removable external
antenna (which might be easier to hack another antenna onto)
http://www.dynalink.com.au/products/wlg25usb.htm
Staticice lists these as AU$32.39 from Minidigital in WA.

This is a funny USB-wireless solution which might actually be useful:
http://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=9412
I.e. you could use the USB power from a WL-500GP to power a Meraki Mini, and
connect the two routers with a crossover cable inside a weatherproof box.
Or it might be possible to power the Meraki with PoE and then pick 5V off
the Meraki's board to power the WL-500GP.

Cheers,

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: melbwireless-bounces at wireless.org.au 
> [mailto:melbwireless-bounces at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of 
> Peter Buncle
> Sent: Friday, 16 March 2007 8:58 PM
> To: Phil k; melbwireless at melbournewireless.org.au
> Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] Meraki Mini
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> Also consider the ASUS wl500g premium - a great powerfull 
> access point With mini pci radio & usb 2 ! (266 mhz cpu , 32 
> meg ram, 8 meg flash)
> 
> I've standardized on these units now.
> 
> I've seen them as low as $120 new , but you should be able to 
> get them about $150 without too much trouble.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Peter
> NodeGUR
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: melbwireless-bounces at wireless.org.au
> [mailto:melbwireless-bounces at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of Phil k
> Sent: Friday, 16 March 2007 5:26 PM
> To: melbwireless at melbournewireless.org.au
> Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] Meraki Mini
> 
> Fair enough, yeah i always like playing around with a new 
> piece of gear
> so i 
> might still consider getting one. But i will soon be moving to Taylors
> Hill 
> and i will want to connect to a node, but to connect to a 
> node i think i
> 
> will buy a wrt54gl or another buffalo whr hp 54g if i can track one
> down.