Running both an access point and a client configuration on the same network adapter requires support for so-called virtual interfaces. Turns out that there are two obstacles to achieve this goal: This is rather easy to do with two USB wifi adapters - but with the Pi Zero we’ll have to do with a single one! Thus I want the Pi to be an access point AND maintain a Wifi client connection at the same time. Instead I want to login onto the Pi via Wifi while still having Internet connectivity even when not at home. Circuitbeard’s one or Richard Hawthorn’s one, but actually I don’t want to carry around a USB keyboard, especially if I have no HDMI-capable display around at all times. Now there are solutions to stack a USB hub onto the Pi Zero, eg.
“A USB hub” may sound like a natural choice but if you’re like me, you’ll want to carry the gadget around a bit and minimize the number of accessories. In this scenario you’ll probably think twice about what you connect to that port. This comes at a cost, however, with only one micro USB port available for peripherals of any kind. The Raspberry Pi Zero captivates with its small dimensions.
