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Im trying to configure my RPi 3 B+ as a wireless extender using the internal wifi chip aacting as the client and AP. Ive been following this guide as it seems most suitable for os/model/application https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=211542#p1355569

Ive been trying for longer than id like to admit to make this work :oops: , had a look at all the how-to's and troubleshooting i can find but keep running into errors

OS: Raspbian GNU/Linux 9.8 (stretch)

kernel: 4.14.98-v7+

after reboot or running systemctl restart hostapd wlan0 up and running uap0 says not associated in the GUI and this is the result :? 

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ journalctl -xe
Apr 15 17:52:55 raspberrypi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Unit entered failed state.
Apr 15 17:52:55 raspberrypi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi systemd[1]: Stopped Advanced IEEE 802.11 AP and IEEE 802.1X/WPA/WPA2/EAP Authenticator.
-- Subject: Unit hostapd.service has finished shutting down
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://www.debian.org/support
-- 
-- Unit hostapd.service has finished shutting down.
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi systemd[1]: Starting Advanced IEEE 802.11 AP and IEEE 802.1X/WPA/WPA2/EAP Authenticator...
-- Subject: Unit hostapd.service has begun start-up
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://www.debian.org/support
-- 
-- Unit hostapd.service has begun starting up.
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi hostapd[3500]: Configuration file: DAEMON_CONF=/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi hostapd[3500]: Could not open configuration file 'DAEMON_CONF=/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"' for reading.
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi hostapd[3500]: Failed to set up interface with DAEMON_CONF=/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi hostapd[3500]: Failed to initialize interface
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=1
Apr 15 17:52:57 raspberrypi systemd[1]: Failed to start Advanced IEEE 802.11 AP and IEEE 802.1X/WPA/WPA2/EAP Authenticator.
-- Subject: Unit hostapd.service has failed
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://www.debian.org/support
-- 
-- Unit hostapd.service has failed.
-- 
-- The result is failed.

Any help much appreciated! let me know if any other info can help troubleshoot :)

rpineedshelp
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1 Answers1

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The WiFi device on the Raspberry Pi is a bit complicated and maybe also a bit buggy or its driver. You have to follow exactly a startup sequence to get it to work:

  1. create a virtual interface ap0 for the access point
  2. start access point daemon hostapd using interface ap0
  3. start wpa_supplicant for wifi client using interface wlan0

This order restricts the whole setup. I have seen many hacks that try to solve it but didn't understood this background. An answer to this problem you can find at Access point as WiFi repeater, optional with bridge.

Ingo
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