Hello, I am very new to routers. I am working on a project that requires a small router, ideally with multiple ports so I can avoid using a switch. This router will need to host a wifi network, as well as do a reasonable amount of processing (hosting a VPN and more importantly, being an always-on, always-accessible device to start up and shutdown a more powerful, energy-hungry device). I was looking at the BPI-RV2, since it seems to meet my needs. One big question I have is whether the wifi NIC that can be added can be used to transmit/host a wifi network, or is this just to receive wifi signal? I have used these NICs on laptops only, so I am unfamiliar with how they would work on a router. I would like to be able to host at least a Wifi5 network for a few devices, connecting external antennas.
most WIFI NICs from laptops only supporting STA mode (client), not AP (access point).
also the SiFlower Soc is afaik not supported by mainline linux, you will be stuck on the bpi-image…for internal routing possibly enough, but not on public internet.