How do I use a USB dongle for Wifi?

[La Zorra]

Hello LAZORRA

It seems your WLAN-Stick is not fully supported as an AccesPoint. For an rpi also it is not stable to use the internal wifi as WLAN-Client and make an own AccesPort simultan. After installing an little WLAN-Router onboard and use it only as Client, my Preformance was much better with no Errors or Offline Periods. These LTE-Routers got really cheap (€50-60), often you get them together with an monthly LTE unlimited Plan here in Europe for under 15€.

Otherwise try an updated Driver for your USB-Adapter with better AP Support. But be warned, an little external Router will save you much Trouble and Delays - acting as AP-Router your pi3 will slow down. And most Routers are also capable to do Firewalling and 5G for free and all Boat-Devices have an stable Internet even if your Pi is rebooting.

Good Luck - Holger

PS: found an URL abot the various USB-WLAN Adaptors: https://elinux.org/RPi_USB_Wi-Fi_Adapters

I would like to use the "on board" wifi as an AP and then use my USB dongle to connect to the internet (home network or at the dock). I have used this set-up on Openplotter 2 for the past couple of years on my boat and never had stability or connectivity issues.  I appreciate your suggestion for a router as a connection point for my devices but for me I would rather not add another piece of equipment to my boat when previously it was working well.

Is there a way to modify the configuration file for the openplotter network app to setup wlan1 as a client when wlan9 is an AP?  I am looking through this folder but would like some assistance:
/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/openplotterNetwork/Network

Thank you for your help! I hope I can get this working with Openplotter 3! :-)