[HOW TO] Wireless Hotspot With Realtek RTL8188CUS

[Jenkins]

As part of my project use the raspberry pi to control my dlsr I wanted it to create a wireless hotspot if it was unable to connect to a wireless network. This is how I got it working for me with a Edimax EW-7811Un (Realtek RTL8188CUS) .
I used the latest Raspbian image so did not need to install any drivers for the wifi dongle.

You need to check the name of your wifi dongle mine was "wlan0" , this can be done using the command.

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ifconfig

To connect to wifi on boot you need to configure the interfaces file. This is the network which the pi trys to connect to first.

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nano /etc/network/interfaces

My interfaces file looks like this, make sure you change "your-ssid" and "your-password"

auto lo wlan0

iface lo inet loopback
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-ssid your-ssid
wpa-psk your-password

iface eth0 inet dhcp

Next install the dhcp server

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apt-get install isc-dhcp-server

Now so set up the dhcp, edit the file

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nano /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server

So the bottom line reads

INTERFACES="wlan0"

Now edit this file

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nano /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf 

So it looks like:
Change any names/settings to suit your requirements. The hardware address will need changing to match yours, it can be found by running

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ifconfig

DDHCPDARGS=wlan0; # to specify to which interface your dhcpd server have to listen

default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
option broadcast-address 192.168.1.255;
option routers 192.168.1.255;
option domain-name "DSLR.PI";

subnet 192.168.1.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.10;
}

host raspberrypi {
hardware ethernet 80:1f:02:61:0e:b1;
fixed-address 192.168.1.3;
}

Because this file is not created when isc-dhcp-server is installed you need to create it.

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touch /var/lib/dhcp/dhcpd.leases

Finally so that the wifi hotspot is created if you are not connected to a network edit this file :

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nano /etc/rc.local

Adding this in changing "your-ssid", and any of the settings sicha s teh essid and the key.

if iwconfig | grep your-ssid
then
echo "Already conneced to wireless network"
else
echo "Setting up wireless hotspot"
ip link set wlan0 down
iwconfig wlan0 mode ad-hoc
iwconfig wlan0 channel 4
iwconfig wlan0 essid 'RasPiDSLR'
iwconfig wlan0 key password
ip addr add 192.168.1.255/16 dev wlan0
ip link set wlan0 up
/usr/sbin/dhcpd wlan0
fi

Hope this helps people.

[DOSSTONED]

I'll try it.
1. Always wanted to use IPv6 in the subnet(IPv6 advertisement is handled by the gateway, and I just pass the traffic from eth0 to wlan0)
2. Maybe we can wait for the new driver cause the current driver DOES NOT provide AP mode, but I made the AP possible under Fedora 17 X86_64. You know, ad-hoc seems not support with smart phones.

[Jenkins]

You know, ad-hoc seems not support with smart phones.

Hopefully it works for you, I can connect to the ad-hoc network and ssh into my pi with my htc desire and the connect bot app.

Edit: I am running the oxygen rom

[Colly]

As part of my project use the raspberry pi to control my dlsr I wanted it to create a wireless hotspot if it was unable to connect to a wireless network.

What's a "dlsr"? Something new I hadn't heard of?
Is it one of the things in this list? http://www.acronymgeek.com/DLSR

I especially like your idea that it should create a wi-fi hotspot even if it can't connect to the net.

[Jenkins]

What's a "dlsr"? Something new I hadn't heard of?
Is it one of the things in this list? http://www.acronymgeek.com/DLSR

I especially like your idea that it should create a wi-fi hotspot even if it can't connect to the net.

DSLR stands for digital single lens reflex digital camera such as these ones by Nikon http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Produc ... index.page

[Colly]

What's a "dlsr"? Something new I hadn't heard of?
Is it one of the things in this list? http://www.acronymgeek.com/DLSR

I especially like your idea that it should create a wi-fi hotspot even if it can't connect to the net.

DSLR stands for digital single lens reflex digital camera such as these ones by Nikon http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Produc ... index.page

Ah - so then "DLSR" was just a typo with the L & S swapped,

[Jenkins]

Opps had not spotted that thanks!

[Tickle]

Sweet! I'm so glad you included what Wifi dongle you used, I had been usure of which one to buy. I will use this as soon as my Pi comes in the mail (literally the slowest few weeks of my life )