Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone has tried this setup using openwrt.  Using 1 antenna as monitoring mode for aircrack usage and 2nd antenna to keep open wireless communication to the device if needed.

Here is the combination i'm thinking of using. 
WRT54G with aircrack running.
Dumping the .cap file to my Nokia N95 for storage using cifs.
Using my Nokia N810 to ssh into WRT54G while aircrack is running.

Is it possible?

(Last edited by syuusuke on 23 Sep 2008, 18:18)

unrestricted and continuous receiving for monitoring purpose while at the same time transmitting and receiving to allow communication with the router requires two radio circuits; a wrt54g only has one. The dual antennas have nothing to do with this and just allow the choice of which one works best; the short wavelength of the radio signals at 2.4 GHz and reflections cause in space a pattern of null signal strength and max signal strength and the distance between the antennas is chosen such that if one antenna would happen to be in a null spot it is likely the other sees some signal.

Even with two radios there is the issue that the transmissions of one are likely to overload the other (simple) receiver, turning it insensitive.

It is very common to think 2 antenna means 2 radios that could be split somehow.

This is not the case.  There is a single half-duplex radio and a diversity switch.  Whichever antenna gets best reception in auto mode is also used for transmit.  This helps in interior usage where a metal pipe between your client and antenna B might be blocking signal.