Synology DSM7 - no more Wi-Fi dongles

[mikef]

I know we have quite a few Synology DiskStation NAS owners on here

I have three DiskStations, all sitting next to clusters of computing equipment around the house and connected to the router through AC1200 Wi-Fi dongles (listed building, no ethernet cabling, no comms cupboard - but fast Wi-Fi works fine for what I need, which is backups, serving media and file storage)

One is mainly a web server at the moment, so decided to test out the update to DSM 7 beta. I must have missed this during the launch announcements, but during the upgrade it informed me that USB dongles like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and DACs are no longer supported. I've dug out an old (and always a bit flaky) Linksys WUMC710 ethernet-to-wireless bridge, which is working for now

Has anyone else installed the beta and come up with a better solution ? I'm wonder whether a mini Wi-Fi bridge this this Vonets would work, not sure whether the NAS rear USB ports provide enough voltage ?

[CharlesElliott]

I’m using one of these as an Ethernet bridge for Sky Q (as their mesh system is crap and doesn’t work through the solid walls but my WiFi is much better and does) and it works well - the USB port on the Sky Q powers it.

Vonets Wireless Mini Bridge dongle, WiFi Bridge Cable Convert RJ45 Ethernet Port to Wireless/WiFi Dongle, 300mbps WiFi Hotspot Signal Booster Extender Amplifier VAP11G-300 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014SK2H6W/ref=cm_sw_r...

[mikef]

Thanks. 300 Mbs - that's a bit better, but still b/g/n. Next question is whether there's a faster AC version...

Edited to add - apparently so: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vonets-VAP11S-5G-802-11AC.... Ordered one from Amazon to try...

Edited by mikef on Sunday 20th December 10:31

[Ydnaroo]

mikef said:

Edited to add - apparently so: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vonets-VAP11S-5G-802-11AC.... Ordered one from Amazon to try...

Edited by mikef on Sunday 20th December 10:31

Sounds good but unfortunately like many other 'fast' devices it only has 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports so you're never going to see anything like the headline 900Mbps.

As I assume you'll eventually need 3 connections I'd look at getting an old or cheap router with decent WiFi and 1Gbe ports and setting it up as a bridge.

[mikef]

DIdn't notice the ethernet speed. I'll give it a try. My WUMC710 bridge has four ethernet ports - but the NAS units aren't in the same room (each one is providing Time Machine and Acronis backups to separate clusters of computers)

[Ydnaroo]

mikef said:

...but the NAS units aren't in the same room ...

Ah, misread your post.