linux - Use router as external high powered Wi-Fi adapter

08
2014-07
  • skywinder

    I need a powerful external Wi-Fi adapter for a couple of days. I heard that some types of router support this mode, allowing me to connect the router to my notebook and just use it as an external Wi-Fi interface.

    Is it possible to connect a router as an external Wi-Fi adapter?

    How can I determine it?

    Updated: My purpose is to set the router to monitor mode and check networks around through my notebook to provide better configuration for my network (power, channels, etc).
    My internal notebook Wi-Fi adapter is too weak for this purpose.

    Should I use special drivers for that? If yes, can someone describe, step-by-step, how to do it?

    p.s.

    I want to use ASUS RT-N56U (with Linux-based firmware and root access to CLI) as an external Wi-Fi adapter on OS X or Ubuntu.

    If someone have info about support this feature of OpenWrt firmware - it also be helpful.

    • Answers
  • Andrew

    If you're trying to perform a monitor mode capture then you're going to need to use a direct attach WiFi device, something like a USB WiFi dongle. OS X by default does offer the ability to put the built-in Airport card into monitor mode, but if the signal is not strong enough, and you can't relocate to a better vantage point, then an external USB device with an attachable high-gain antenna is the only option.

    Most USB devices don't have the necessary driver's for OS X to toggle monitor mode on, so you'll be better off using some form of *nix (aka, Debian, Kali, Ubuntu) where you can use open source drivers to get monitor mode going wit the USB device -- virtualization works great for this (https://www.virtualbox.org). Most of the newer kernel's work with almost every major card out there, but you're now diving into a new world when it comes to monitor mode captures. Check out this page to get started: http://www.aircrack-ng.org


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  • codemonkey

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    2 x iphone 4 2 x PC 1 x XBOX 360 1 x laptop

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    We had a wireless router before this one and the same would happen. Although the range on that one was not as a good as we thought it was, we thought it was probably that so we decided to get a better one in hope that it would solve the issues. I don't think the range is the issue here though as the devices are all within about 20 meters of the router.

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    It might also be worth noting that connecting to the wireless router via network cable does not have any problems with dropping out.

    It seems I am not the only person to suffer with this problem as I've come across a few posts on the internet from people with the same problems. I have been reading this article http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399897,00.asp and apparently a dual band wireless router helps with crowding and also enabling WMM is meant to help with streaming multi-media. These features are not included in my router.

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    I have solved this problem by going to the routers control panel, going to the channel SSID menu item and turning protection mode on and also WMM.