Atheros

HardwareComparison | LinuxDrivers

Chipset

• AR2112: Radio A/G
• AR521x
• AR5001

• AR5002: http://www.atheros.com/pt/AR5002GBulletin.htm

• AR5003
• AR5004
• AR5004X
• AR5004G
• AR5005
• AR5005G (Jan 2004)

• AR5006: http://www.atheros.com/pt/AR5006XS.htm

• AR5006AP-G (Dec 2004) Single Chip solution
• AR2313A?? (11A/B/G)
• AR5210, AR5211, AR5212 (Chipset Set)
• AR5312
• AR2313

• AR5005VL (MIMO)

• AR5414

Cards using Atheros Chipset are supported by MadWifi driver, for a completed list of Wireless card supported, check out: http://madwifi.org/wiki/Compatibility

The primary advantage of using Atheros is that their architecture places most functionality on the host processor as software, as opposed to putting it in hardware. The provide a HAL which is a compiled binary, for support of most API calls to the MAC and PHY. This architecture allows developers more flexibility in controlling the radios. The trade off is more complexity in driver design.

Software

http://openwrt.org/AtherosPort

how to make an AP with openBSD and a atheros card http://ihsan.synthexp.net/bsd/wap_openbsd.html

Devices

Devices are using Atheros chipset:

AP

• NetgearWGR614

• NetgearWgt624

• Linksys WRT55AG v2

• Compex WP54G

Client Bridge 5GHz

• CAP2/5

Cards

• DlinkDwl520

• CM9

• SR5

• Compex WLM54AG(1A)

• Compex WLM54AG(1B)

• Netgear WPN511

Card Sellers

These cards cannot be bought from most conventional online and brick-and-mortar stores.

• Diswire Diswire --> has CM9 - AR5213 - 802.11a/b/g 45 euro - 200mW MinPCI card, SR5 - 802.11a - 400mW MiniPCI card 99 euro and SR5 - 802.11a - 400mW MiniPCI card 99 euro for sale in the EU.

HauteSpot Networks builds outdoor access points, customer premise bridges and access concentrators based on the AR5004x and AR5006x chipsets. See their web site for a complete list of products.