I have a use-case where installing a micro sized AP would solve a problem.
What is the smallest (basic/simple 2.4only, usb powered, one lan rj45 port) AP one can buy?
Would not even need dhcp, all static IP. Crappy stripline antenna would suffice, long range not needed, etc.

As example, small PC box, it has rj45 lan port on it's mobo, but I want it to have it's own wifi AP so that I can connect to the PC IP exclusively via it's AP. I would like to add a "micro" sized AP inside the pc box and use short cable to wire PC lan port to the AP. I could just add a palm sized AP as a wart to the box, but am looking for something "micro" that could fit inside the box.

PC box does also have a USB-A port, so even a wifi AP the size of the tiny USB-A wifi client adapters would work too. Tiny USB hotspot, in size of wireless usb for mouse, does it exist?

USB is less preferred because of driver issues.

 

With considerably more information about the intended application it will be possible for some of the folks who frequent ths thread to provide much more detailed assistance. Based on the information so far, the answer is "YES."

 

then stick with nano adapter from any of popular brands.

 

With considerably more information about the intended application it will be possible for some of the folks who frequent ths thread to provide much more detailed assistance. Based on the information so far, the answer is "YES."

I have a device that can do wifi, but I want it to connect to a dedicated AP, and I was hoping to install that AP directly onto or into the device, so that later I can use my laptop to connect to that AP and manage the device that way. It may not exist and I will look to do it another way.

 

then stick with nano adapter from any of popular brands.

Those are wifi client adapters, I already have a tiny USB wifi adapter for my device.. I need a wifi AP, looking for something the size of the nano, etc.

 

In my experience an "AP" is short for "an application", which is an executable bit of code that has a defined function. So it seems that another meaning has been attached to a bit of slang, resulting in a bit of confusion.

 

How would "AP" (an application) be used in a sentence? Can't really use the word "an" in front it, because expanded it would read "an an application".
"I need an AP to make this work" --> "I need an an application to make this work" ??

In a conversation about wifi, with "nano" and "usb" too, "AP" is an access point, and well known.

When we are talking about smells, we kinda know "scents" are not pennies, or if I did write "cents" you know I probably left off the "s", etc.

This is literally how Markov chains work, which today is so advanced it can predict the next words using only a few letters.

 

access point

 

A Raspberry Pi Zero WH with a hat or cheap OTG USB Ethernet dongle will do the job.

(L to R) RPi Zero WH, Waveshare Ethernet/USB hat mounted on the RPi, OTG Ethernet dongle
​

The RPi Zero runs Linux (I strongly suggest installing DietPi, in my experience the best option). It is easily configured to be a full featured AP using readily available information and software.

The RPi itself is only 65x30mm with the header requiring about 12mm clearance—you can cut this down to ~5mm if you get a headerless board. You will need an SD card, but it doesn't have to be very large.

It requires a 5V 2A supply but should idle well under 1W. The power can be supplied via the PWR IN micro-USB port or a pair of solder pads on the backside of the PCB.

 

In my experience an "AP" is short for "an application", which is an executable bit of code that has a defined function. So it seems that another meaning has been attached to a bit of slang, resulting in a bit of confusion.

The short form of "application" is app not AP.

You might not be familiar with the nomenclature used for Wi-Fi network hardware but "AP" shouldn't be interpreted as application even with that. The upper case strongly hints it is an initialism and not an abbreviation. That it is missing a "p" is also a clue.

It would have been appropriate to question the meaning of it rather that assume one and answer extensively. I doubt you intended to be offensive, but that behavior is effectively rude.

"What do you mean be AP?" would not have rankled, and would have saved you a lot of typing time.

 

OK, I apologize for not being an expert on the jargon of a particular field.
Please consider, though, that this great site is frequented by self-admitted "Newbies" who are unfamiliar with a whole lot of the aspects of circuits and electronics in general.
After hearing "aps" as a spoken abbreviation for Application Software for a few years, it continues to be a bit obnoxious laziness on the part of the speakers. Probably more so for me because so much of my career included creating descriptions not subject to misunderstanding.
Especially when presenting a question to a large group, it is better to spell things out than to assume that all are totally conversant with the extended context of the topic.
Probably quite a few folks would not suspect that "ap" is an abbreviated reference to "Access Point".
Like others have mentioned in other strings, the more context provided along with a question, the greater the probability of getting a correct and useful response.
I will try to avoid being so critical from now on.

 

OK, I apologize for not being an expert on the jargon of a particular field.
Please consider, though, that this great site is frequented by self-admitted "Newbies" who are unfamiliar with a whole lot of the aspects of circuits and electronics in general.
After hearing "aps" as a spoken abbreviation for Application Software for a few years, it continues to be a bit obnoxious laziness on the part of the speakers. Probably more so for me because so much of my career included creating descriptions not subject to misunderstanding.
Especially when presenting a question to a large group, it is better to spell things out than to assume that all are totally conversant with the extended context of the topic.
Probably quite a few folks would not suspect that "ap" is an abbreviated reference to "Access Point".
Like others have mentioned in other strings, the more context provided along with a question, the greater the probability of getting a correct and useful response.
I will try to avoid being so critical from now on.

You are missing my point, Bill. You don't have to be an expert in any particular jargon. In fact assuming that a given term is something you do know, in the face of reasons to suspect it isn't what you think is the problem.

"Ap" is never short for "application", "app" is; upper case suggests an initialism not an abbreviation; the TS has demonstrated sufficient ability and posting style to make it exceedingly unlikely that AP was meant to be app; and, as you point out the context makes the idea of needing an app for this purpose nearly impossible to reconcile.

It is these things you ignored, and not your lack of domain-specific fluency, that is problematic. You expressed confusion, it should have been about what AP meant, not why you would need one.

 

TY for the pi zero info. I might be able to make that work for my needs.

 

ESP32 is slightly smaller. no idea about performance... what kind of data rates you are expecting?
https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-access-point-ap-web-server/

 

ESP32 is perfect for my needs. It's small, and I can use my existing arduino ide setup to program it.

Even better (way smaller), ESP32C3 ($8), edit: some reports that the -c3 won't do hotspot, but I am checking, docs say it can be a "softAP" (aka hotspot) https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/stable/esp32c3/api-reference/network/esp_wifi.html
https://hutscape.com/tutorials/access-point-arduino-esp32c3

TY

 

Got some Waveshare esp32-c3 Zero boards. Wifi AP in about 5min. Can also set Tx to min power 2dbm.