The combination of a modern ARM CPU and a full-sized USB port is perfect for running custom container projects. You could run a Pi-hole adblock on this router, for example. Or you could use the USB to add an LTE modem of your choice. Imagination is the real limit here.
My imagination tells me that I want to insert a USB Wi-Fi client adapter there to connect it to a remote network. I insert it. The system sees it in the devices list. But nothing appears in the interfaces. I suspect that theoretically it's possible. But has anyone encountered this in practice? Do I need drivers or some kind of package? Or is this completely impossible, and it's easier to just forget about it?
Any ideas from experts will be appreciated. Thank you.
It already HAS wifi.
Why do you want to add a second interface ?
You never completely described what you wanted to do.
Maybe you are unaware with ROS you can create virtual WIFI interfaces on the same radio which then can either provide different SSID or use one interface to connect to another SSID and one interface to provide wifi for your local environment.
Something I sometimes do with mAP or mAP Lite or AX Lite (as road warrior / travel devices) to connect to other wifi for network access and then provide my own secure wifi to connect my own devices to.
Also devices with only 1 wifi radio.
Two devices. One client with high gain antennas connects to a remote Wi-Fi network and shares the internet connection locally via a wifi router. I found Wi-Fi devices with LAN connectivity with PoE which is nice. But they're all some kind of nameless chinese junk that I absolutely refuse to buy, because they have network sniffers and backdoors embedded in all (100%) of their devices, including phones.
There are also Mikrotik wireless/wifi devices which can be powered via PoE ... nothing suitable for you ?
What are the requirements for that remote wifi connection and how far away is the AP it needs to connect to ?
Thanks for the urls.
SXTsq 5 ax - really good one, but supports only single band 5ghz. I might buy it as an option.
wAP ax - It seems an option. Thanks!
I completely forgot about the "wireless" section. I overlooked it. Thank you for reminding me. It seems there are some really interesting options there. Especially LDF 5 which can work with dishes.
p.s. However, I think it wouldn't be difficult for the manufacturer to add drivers to support USB Wi-Fi dongles. Just to expand the capabilities of their devices. With a USB dongle, my travel setup would be as compact as possible.
Remember that the WaP AX (unllike most AP's) has about 90-120° beam width (it is NOT omnidirectional), so whether it is suitable for your use depends on its placement.
The LDF is Wi-Fi 4 device, it is intended for (slow) and long distance links.
The SXTsq 5 ax is a WI-FI 6 device, much faster (but of course only within a smaller distance).
