Most if not all the other queries on this issue I have seen relate to the RPi platform, example here.
So my Q is simply if I enable WLAN (and BT) in the BIOS, is there a toggle, switch or CLI (Terminal) sudo command I can flick or issue, to disable Wifi but NOT BT?
My first thought is, why?
If you don’t use WiFi, then there is little to gain by turning it “off”. Most computers that offer WiFi and BlueTooth are using the same hardware, so you can’t turn only one off at the hardware layer. The O/S suggestions are in the data layer which doesn’t turn off the hardware.
Well, as I wrote above, the thing is located right next to the Router (via ethernet), so I didn’t want wireless signals interfering, just like to keep things simple.
The little Wifi Antennas on that thing are very small and light (and probably break easily) so I took them off. I just don’t want or need Wifi.
Finally, there’s a bunch of RPi users doing the same thing, presumably for the same reasons, so I can’t be the only person wishing for this, surely?
Yep, already… they are combined; per Dell’s site.
If HAOS had a switch, e.g. “Disable Wifi”, I’d enable WLAN/BT it in the BIOS and disable Wireless in the OS.
Problem solved, then. Operating the WiFi chip without an antenna load will eventually damage the WiFi transceiver. Of course, often the WiFi transceiver is also the BlueTooth transceiver, including the antenna. So, I still don’t see a need to disable WiFi. If you don’t give it any credentials, it won’t connect to anything and won’t cause any interference.
Interfering with what? Again, don’t connect WiFi to an AP and there won’t be any signals to interfere with - what is it interfering with??
Surely that (damage) alone, if that is what happens, would be a very good reason to be able to leave it off, if you were not using it (and had taken off the antennas).
OK, so as long as it doesn’t send out Wifi signals looking for a network to connect to (does it?), then I guess that will work (albeit damage the BT Transceiver).
I’m just assuming (and I lay no claim to knowing if it does, just seems to be what most devices with Wifi do) it sends out Wifi signals looking for a network to connect to.
Look, I’m not going to argue the toss on this one.
I was assuming it is looking for devices to connect to at regular intervals, as your phone does at an airport or in a coffee shop, so I am assuming at that point in time it is sending out signals. If my assumption is incorrect here, then great.
As I said, lots of other folks (with other devices) were looking to do the exact same thing, I came here looking for help for a way to disable Wifi (only) specifically in HAOS, you’re of the opinion that my reasons for wanting to do that are unwarranted; and you’re entitled to that opinion.
FWIW, on my Wyze 5070 I removed the WiFi module and just plugged in an old Bluetooth usb dongle I had lying around. Figured I might need the M.2 2230 slot for future expansion.
Thank you for that, that’s probably the way I’m going to go too as it’s only possible to disable both or enable both. I’m not sure what the BT version built-in but I think it’s 5.x…
Will look at the approved dongle list or try and get my head around the M5stack Atom Lite as a Bluetooth proxy option (ESP32).
