Wireless access points: consumer, commercial, or DIY?

[Scott Lambert]

On Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 10:32:07AM -0500, Doug Poland wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I'm a long-time FreeBSD user (servers, desktops, laptops) and have lately
> become disillusioned with the quality of consumer WAPs.  
> 
> I want reliable wireless in my home.  So what do I need to do, to get it?
> I'm not convinced there's a low-cost solution.  If I have to go up to
> commercial quality and spend near $500, I could build my own Soekris
> net5501-based WAP and use FreeBSD 7.x. for $100 less.
> 
> What are your thoughts, experiences, and/or recommendations?

If you do go the homebrew route, be sure to check out www.pfSense.org.
I've not used it as a WAP, yet, but it makes a dandy embedded FreeBSD/pf
router.  There are several small form factor boards you can use to do
this.  Using the Soekris/other SBC setup would probably save you money
long term versus just putting it on a PIII.  But you could see if that
general idea works for you on a spare PIII before deciding to spend the
real money.

-- 
Scott Lambert                    KC5MLE                       Unix SysAdmin
lambert at lambertfam.org