wfb-ng: Add wfb-ng package

[svpcom]

Maintainer: me Compile tested: (MIPS 74Kc, TP-Link CPE510, openwrt-23.05) Run tested: (MIPS 74Kc, TP-Link CPE510, tests done)

Description: WFB-ng is long-range packet radio link based on raw WiFi radio.

Adding it to openwrt base packages will help a lot of it users to use cheap wifi routers (supporting minitoring mode) instead of build custom hardware yourself.

[zpc0]

It seems PKG_MIRROR_HASH is missing.

[svpcom]

It seems PKG_MIRROR_HASH is missing.

I use direct git commit id as source so PKG_MIRROR_HASH is not needed

[svpcom]

@zpc0 I've fixed formal commit description, added Signed-by and PKG_MIRROR_HASH. Could you restart automatic workflow build?

[svpcom]

@BKPepe In ath9k SoC (for example TP-Link CPE510) injection works out of box with standard driver. Also most of the cards supports monitoring mode and wfb-ng can work in RX-only mode with them

While looking at the readme in the repository, II see that there are only two supported WiFi chips and both requires external patched driver. I am not use, if this makes any sense for us since it requires so much work and it does not work out of the box unless you are using patched drivers.

[snokvist]

Hello, me and @zhouruixi (well mostly zhou) have verified several routers for wfb_ng and we are using it succesfully on them to operate drone video feeds. Like svpcom says, injection is only needed for bidirectional links, and for many drone operators(including me) unidirectional is enough. We already have 10 tested and verified working routers: https://github.com/OpenIPC/wfb-ng-openwrt/wiki/0.-Tested-devices

It would be great for more routers to have injection, but for example having one cpe510 added to the mix is enough (i use two google wifi and one asus, soon one cpe510 to boost extra range). I have several kilometers range using this setup.

Having wfb_ng easily available instead of building manually could revolutionize how OpenIPC can be used in the future, powered by OpenWRT+wfb_ng.

Already runcam and EMAX is selling openipc hardware with users looking for a good transmission link layer setup.

Zhou is spreading this also in his Chinese community and there will be many more users if we can simplify installation!

[libc0607]

It will be great if OpenWrt has the wfb-ng package.

Almost all those IP Camera chips have old (~4.9) kernels and seems nobody gonna backport the new Wi-Fi drivers -- that's why only the RTL8812xU series adapters, with an out-of-kernel driver, were often heard in FPV scenarios.

It will be easier for pilots to test monitor & packet injection on different adaptors supported by the mainline kernel if OpenWrt has the wfb-ng package.

BTW, the ath9k injection works really well (on OpenWrt) :)

[cinoan]

I hope this can move forward, I've been using wfb-ng (and it's predecessors) for some years and the prospect of using it on OpenWrt for a distributed receive network is really exciting. I've just purchased a couple of cpe510s as test nodes but am now learning how tricky it is to build compared to installing a package.

Thank you to those working on this.

[svpcom]

How to fix error during CI build? Locally it builds without problems.

[1715173329]

Please squash your commits and rebase upon HEAD to see if CI builds. Otherwise LGTM.

[svpcom]

@1715173329 done

[1715173329]

Merged, thank you!

[svpcom]

@1715173329 Thanks ! In which openwrt release it will be available?

[1715173329]

SNAPSHOT only currently. If you like I can pick this package to 24.10 branch so it will be available on OpenWrt 24.10+. OpenWrt 23.05 and earlier do not accept new packages.

[svpcom]

@1715173329 Yes, please pick to 24.10 if possible

[1715173329]

done in 8999e9ee83b16290cb28622793ac14947b512a6b.

[Neustradamus]

Thanks to @svpcom, good job! Thanks to @1715173329 for merging and 24.10 backport too!