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  • Author Author: linuxengineer
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Raspberry Pi Access Point

linuxengineer

This Project automates the configuration of a Raspberry Pi into a WiFi Access Point using my opensource Github Repo "pi-ap". If you can edit a file with nano and change a few values in a variables file, you  can do this project. Wireless Communications Technology Wireless

 

SOFTWARE:

- My Opensource repo Github repo "pi-ap"

 

HARDWARE:

- Raspberry Pi 3B+ or 4 running Raspbian Stretch or Buster.

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- DHCP enabled port in a router or switch to connect the Pi's eth0 Ethernet port to.

- Ethernet Cable: Good quality *24* AWG Cat6 cable is recommended for uplink from the Pi to the Router

- POE Hat (optional): If lacking free mains sockets, could use a POE Hat to power your Pi.

 

NOTE: Avoid using a metal case for your pi-ap: this can impede the signal and cause Layer 1 problems.

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Connect Pi's eth0 interface to a DHCP enabled port on an Internet-connected router.

2. ssh into Pi (as "pi" user) on IP the Router asssigned to Pi's eth0 interface.

3. Once logged in execute: git clone https://github.com/f1linux/pi-ap

4. Change working path: cd pi-ap

5. Edit the variables file: nano variables.sh. This is the ONLY file in repo you need to edit!

6. Execute the install file: sudo ./install.sh. This script call all the other scripts in the repo which source the variables.sh file you edited.

 

Feedback is echo'ed to your screen as install progresses allowing you to review the progress or notify of any errors

 

Wiki/Video Help:

Wiki:         https://github.com/f1linux/pi-ap/wiki

YouTube:   https://youtu.be/NUyRc2_YHzI

And of course the README.md included in the pi-ap repo with the scripts

 

Terrence Houlahan, Linux & Network Engineer

www.linkedin.com/in/terrencehoulahan

www.YouTube.com/user/LinuxEngineer

  • in reply to diazer

    Check if you have set the AP properties correctly.

    Search for the keyword `ignore_broadcast_ssid` to see the explanation:

    # 1 = send empty (length=0) SSID in beacon and ignore probe request for # broadcast SSID

    Change to 0 if you do not want the name hidden

  • HI,

    I have tried different ways to get an AP to work but it even with this script on a fresh install of the latest Buster i am getting an AP but it is always showing as hidden.  Any help would be greatly appreciated image

     

    -Erica

  • in reply to clem57

    I've only tested it on Stretch & Buster on a Pi 3B+ and a Pi 4. I haven't tried running it on a Pi with Ubuntu Server, but "pi-ap" **should** be largely extensible though: eth0 is expected to get an IP via DHCP from the router(no static IP set anywhere), but "pi-ap" assigns a static IP for the WLAN0 IF in /etc/dhcpcd.conf.  The firewall is UFW and the key programs which are shaped by "pi-ap" to configure the AP functionality are hostapd, wpa_supplicant, dnsmasq & dhcpcd. If their config files live in expected paths and have the same default values (I use sed a lot to modify values), then "pi-ap" ***should*** "just work" on a Pi running Ubuntu **SERVER**.  Ubuntu Core however is a different ballgame- it uses snap packages and it's a different beast altogether.

     

    Having said that, I've abstracted the hell out of everything, so a lot of paths and directive values in config files are aliased as variables allowing users to tweak them centrally in "variables.sh" if thigs differ from the Raspbian setup.

     

    Give it a go Clem and let me know how you got on.  If shoot me the results of your testing- including model of  Pi and flavour of Ubuntu it's running,  I'll update the Wiki and the "README.md" in respect to compatibility.

     

    -Terrence

  • Is this dependent on Rasbian or any Debian release should work?

  • in reply to colporteur

    Yeah, that was a big pain in the wazoo.  Figured I'd save other folks the grief of that exercise in self-abuse ;-).  Glad it helped you out-