1. ⚙️ Hardware & Driver Installation
The core task was installing the correct drivers and firmware for your MediaTek MT7610U chipset (Vendor ID 0b05:17d1).
- Driver: Installed the kernel module responsible for the MT76x0 series USB chips:
opkg install kmod-mt76x0u
- Firmware: Installed the required binary data for the chip to function (named for a similar chip in the family):
opkg install mt7601u-firmware
- AP Management: Installed the daemon necessary to run a Wi-Fi Access Point and handle modern encryption:
opkg install hostapd-wolfssl(Chosen for full WPA3 support with a lightweight security library.)
2. 🔒 Wireless Security (Encryption)
You selected the strongest security suitable for a simple, password-based AP.
- Protocol Choice: WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals).
- Reasoning:
- Simplicity: Uses a passphrase, eliminating the need for a complex RADIUS server (which would be required by WPA3-EAP/Enterprise).
- Security: Provides modern protection against offline dictionary attacks, which WPA2-PSK is vulnerable to.
3. 📶 Wireless Mode & Compatibility
You successfully configured the AP to run on the 2.4 GHz band while maintaining compatibility for legacy devices.
- Band: 2.4 GHz (Chosen for better range and penetration for remote management).
- Mode: N (802.11n).
- Compatibility: Selecting N mode allows all modern 802.11n devices to connect, while simultaneously enabling 802.11g mode, ensuring your older 2.4 GHz-only client can connect successfully.
- Channel Width: (Implicitly or explicitly set to) 20 MHz (HT20) for maximum stability and compatibility in the congested 2.4 GHz band.