Adding support for EAP235-WALL

Borromini · 2021-01-30T12:20:31.715Z

I'll be filling up holes I made for my EAPs this afternoon but I'll build another image and test myself. Thanks @svanheule!

Borromini · 2021-01-31T20:27:48.056Z

With the EEPROM patch (as mentioned in the Archer A6 v3 support thread) the 5 GHz shows higher power at least:

EAP235-Wall transmit power levels1204×1080 119 KB

Nevermind me, the original tests were run with a Fast Ethernet switch running in between

Testing below was done with iperf3, single stream, downstream from a wired x86 server. Gigabit all around

Setup #1: AP on floor above

Signal on the phone hovers around -70 dBm (situated diagonally under the AP, a floor below, with a wooden floor and a thin brick wall in between), noise above 90 dBm as you can see from the screenshot. With the original tests, with a forgotten Fast Ethernet switch in between, bitrate fluctuated heavily here, to the point of completely stalling. With that switch taken out that didn't reproduce.

Iperf tests run from the laptop on the same spot:

$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 40668 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  17.4 MBytes   146 Mbits/sec    0    655 KBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0    923 KBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.05 MBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.16 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.21 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.28 MBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.53 MBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.53 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.53 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.53 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   157 MBytes   132 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.03  sec   154 MBytes   129 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.
$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 40684 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  17.9 MBytes   150 Mbits/sec    0    915 KBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.24 MBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.56 MBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.56 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.76 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1.76 MBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  13.8 MBytes   115 Mbits/sec    0   1.85 MBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   2.00 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   2.00 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   2.00 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   155 MBytes   130 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.03  sec   153 MBytes   128 Mbits/sec                  receiver

Setup #2: line of sight

These tests are run right in front of the AP, at a distance of give or take two meters. Cutouts seem to be gone. Signal hovers around 50 dBm, noise still over 90 dBm. Still a lot of retries though (Retr colum), not sure how good that is.

$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 40820 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  44.7 MBytes   375 Mbits/sec    0   1.34 MBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  47.5 MBytes   398 Mbits/sec    0   1.59 MBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   1.70 MBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   1.88 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   1.99 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   2.09 MBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   2.09 MBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   2.09 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  48.8 MBytes   409 Mbits/sec    0   2.09 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   2.09 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   503 MBytes   422 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.02  sec   500 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.
$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 40834 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  46.8 MBytes   392 Mbits/sec    0   1.17 MBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  53.8 MBytes   451 Mbits/sec    0   1.78 MBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  47.5 MBytes   398 Mbits/sec    0   1.78 MBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  47.5 MBytes   398 Mbits/sec    0   1.88 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  47.5 MBytes   398 Mbits/sec    0   2.08 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  47.5 MBytes   398 Mbits/sec    0   2.18 MBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  51.2 MBytes   430 Mbits/sec    0   2.18 MBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   2.18 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   2.30 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   2.30 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   492 MBytes   413 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.02  sec   489 MBytes   410 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

svanheule · 2021-01-31T20:59:32.867Z

It's better than before, but doesn't sound great either. If you have time, can you also compare with stock firmware?

Borromini · 2021-01-31T21:02:18.434Z

Yeah still have one running stock firmware, will do. Just tried an scp copy, seeing just above 11 MBps on a big transfer, wired to wireless, Intel 8260AC two-stream client. So that matches iperf numbers.

CBokey · 2021-01-31T21:35:20.269Z

With 2x2:2 MIMO, 80 MHz channels. shouldn´t you easily get 300++ Mbps?

Borromini · 2021-01-31T21:37:23.956Z

That's why we're testing and going to compare to stock

@svanheule This is with the OEM firmware, unfortunately no way to select WPA3, but I doubt it would impact measurements much. Same channel (36, 80 MHz width).

Setup #1

Bitrate stays pretty stable, and no stalling connections. Comparably low bitrate, but that' s to be expected with the materials in between.

$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 39906 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  17.1 MBytes   144 Mbits/sec    0    666 KBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0    823 KBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0    909 KBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.09 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  18.8 MBytes   157 Mbits/sec    0   1.09 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.15 MBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  17.5 MBytes   147 Mbits/sec    0   1.15 MBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  17.5 MBytes   147 Mbits/sec    0   1.15 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  17.5 MBytes   147 Mbits/sec    0   1.21 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0   1.28 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   167 MBytes   140 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.01  sec   164 MBytes   137 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.
$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 39926 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  17.7 MBytes   148 Mbits/sec    0    581 KBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  16.2 MBytes   136 Mbits/sec    0    867 KBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0    963 KBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  15.0 MBytes   126 Mbits/sec    0   1018 KBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  10.0 MBytes  83.9 Mbits/sec    1    737 KBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  13.8 MBytes   115 Mbits/sec    0    813 KBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  12.5 MBytes   105 Mbits/sec    0    887 KBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  12.5 MBytes   105 Mbits/sec    0    913 KBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  12.5 MBytes   105 Mbits/sec    0    949 KBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  12.5 MBytes   105 Mbits/sec    0    986 KBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   138 MBytes   115 Mbits/sec    1             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.01  sec   135 MBytes   113 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

Setup #2

$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 39430 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  42.4 MBytes   356 Mbits/sec    0   1.07 MBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  47.5 MBytes   398 Mbits/sec    0   1.29 MBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  48.8 MBytes   409 Mbits/sec    0   1.36 MBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  48.8 MBytes   409 Mbits/sec    0   1.51 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   1.69 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   1.80 MBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  51.2 MBytes   430 Mbits/sec    0   1.89 MBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   1.99 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  51.2 MBytes   430 Mbits/sec    0   2.09 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   2.20 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   495 MBytes   415 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.02  sec   492 MBytes   412 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.
$ iperf3 -c 10.0.0.10
Connecting to host 10.0.0.10, port 5201
[  5] local 10.0.0.5 port 39598 connected to 10.0.0.10 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  50.7 MBytes   425 Mbits/sec    0   1.28 MBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  46.2 MBytes   388 Mbits/sec    0   1.41 MBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  46.2 MBytes   388 Mbits/sec    0   1.60 MBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  46.2 MBytes   388 Mbits/sec    0   1.68 MBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   1.68 MBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  51.2 MBytes   430 Mbits/sec   70    935 KBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   1007 KBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   1.02 MBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  52.5 MBytes   440 Mbits/sec    0   1.05 MBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  50.0 MBytes   419 Mbits/sec    0   1.08 MBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   498 MBytes   418 Mbits/sec   70             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.02  sec   496 MBytes   415 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

No discernable difference from what I can see (same for signal, by the way: I'm right in front of the AP and the signal icon shows 4 bars out of five).

CBokey · 2021-01-31T21:47:07.486Z

It seems that TP-Link improved wireless performance with latest firmware (https://www.tp-link.com/de/support/download/eap235-wall/#Firmware), i.e. [EAP235-Wall(EU)_V1_1.0.2 Build 2020091](https://static.tp-link.com/2020/202011/20201103/EAP235-Wall(EU)_V1_1.0.2 Build 20200917.zip)

Borromini · 2021-01-31T21:53:20.030Z

That's the one pre-installed on the AP: 1.0.2 Build 20200917 Rel. 54331(4555).

I thought maybe the fact it was on its side above might play a role, but it doesn't. Just rotated it 45* and no difference in signal or throughput. Transmit power is the maximum advertised (which is 24 dBm but that includes the gain from the antenna, which is said to be 4 dBi).

Edit: F*** me, I still had a Fast Ethernet switch sitting in between the x86 box and the PoE switch that I totally forgot about

@CBokey Nevermind, there was a Fast Ethernet switch still sitting in between, on my testing rig...

@svanheule It looks to me like performance is very similar between stock and OpenWrt, so that's good news I'd say. I don't think you'll see much higher than what this is pushing with line of sight (it's basically what 866 Mbps link speed can handle more or less).

Borromini · 2021-02-01T10:25:25.514Z

AP had been up for ~11h and the 5 GHz crapped out apparently around 6:30 this morning. Wifi status shows the radio as being up and running still but the signal is nowhere to be seen. Seeing lots of these in the logs:

Mon Feb  1 06:27:11 2021 kern.err kernel: [21304.406938] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 11) timeout
Mon Feb  1 06:27:37 2021 kern.err kernel: [21331.030765] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 12) timeout
Mon Feb  1 06:28:04 2021 kern.err kernel: [21357.654598] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 13) timeout
Mon Feb  1 06:28:30 2021 kern.err kernel: [21384.278429] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 14) timeout
Mon Feb  1 06:28:57 2021 kern.err kernel: [21410.902258] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 15) timeout

[...]

Mon Feb  1 07:21:19 2021 kern.err kernel: [24552.513618] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 13) timeout
Mon Feb  1 07:21:45 2021 kern.err kernel: [24579.137441] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 14) timeout
Mon Feb  1 07:22:12 2021 kern.err kernel: [24605.761266] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 15) timeout
Mon Feb  1 07:22:39 2021 kern.err kernel: [24632.385089] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 1) timeout

This goes on for like an hour and then it stops, and the radio is gone.

Edit: I found an MT76 issue on GitHub referencing similar timeouts and there it's suggested the chip temperature might play a role. Have reduced TX power to 20 dBm for now, will see if that changes anything. Device is on its side as well for now (testing setup), maybe that plays a role as well.

Edit 2: Timeouts again, less than two and a half hours after reboot. Radio gone again (still TX power at 21 dBm but AP is now positioned upright, like it would be mounted against the wall). OpenWrt will try restarting the radio a few times but it will give up eventually:

	"radio1": {
		"up": false,
		"pending": false,
		"autostart": true,
		"disabled": false,
		"retry_setup_failed": true,
		"config": {
			"channel": "36",
			"hwmode": "11a",
			"path": "1e140000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:02:00.0",
			"htmode": "VHT80",
			"require_mode": "n",
			"cell_density": 0,
			"txpower": 20
		},

svanheule · 2021-02-01T17:19:09.151Z

Borromini:

I found an MT76 issue on GitHub referencing similar timeouts and there it's suggested the chip temperature might play a role. Have reduced TX power to 20 dBm for now, will see if that changes anything. Device is on its side as well for now (testing setup), maybe that plays a role as well.

I remember seeing references to thermal management somewhere, but I'm not sure if it was the vendor firmware boot log. I'll check in a few hours if I can find it back.

Borromini · 2021-02-01T17:54:57.944Z

I talked to nbd on IRC in the meantime and he suggested to try with an older mt76 driver, which is what I'm doing at the moment.

For the record: reducing TX power to 20 dBm didn't seem to make any difference.

Borromini · 2021-02-08T10:11:13.154Z

A status update:

I haven't been able to track down the message 73 timeout to a specific commit. The issue seems to take longer to pop up now. Llast time was over 6 hours, and I've had multiple bisects up for 12 to 24h, no errors to be seen.
The MT7613 radio does support DFS channels but that has been disabled in the mt76 driver, maybe/presumably because of issues with radar detection. I talked to one of the mt76 developers and he explained me how to enable DFS, but I am seeing the driver detect 'radars' on channel 36 (another EAP235 deployed for testing) and channel 52 (a production AP here in the house). Channel 36 to 48 are not DFS channels, so it's pretty weird to see the driver think it's seeing a radar event there.

I'd say device support is there (thanks @svanheule!) but it is not completely usable yet - there's a few pending patches that need to be merged (the EEPROM stuff, the MT7621 SoC reset stuff) before device support can be added to master, and then we're still left with the present state of MT7613 (the message 73 timeout error if it sticks, and the DFS channels being unusuable for now).

MorrisMajor · 2021-03-25T12:01:35.619Z

Has anything changed w.r.t. support for this device in an upcoming version (or snapshot)? I am considering buying it but would like to run OpenWRT on it.

svanheule · 2021-03-25T12:15:23.311Z

Device support has been merged, and will be available in the upcoming 21.02 release.

DFS support is still missing from mt76, but non-DFS 5GHz channels should work.

MorrisMajor · 2021-03-25T14:36:39.883Z

Perfect, that's all I needed to know. Thanks!

Borromini · 2021-03-25T23:30:53.358Z

@MorrisMajor I have two of them up here, and as much as it pains me to say this the MT7613BE radio (5 GHz) is not stable yet. I am frequently seeing what appear to be MCU timeout messages, the radio dies and the only 'fix' so far is a reboot. Someone filed a GitHub issue on what might be the same I'm having (same radio, same error message):

github.com/openwrt/mt76

mt7613 wlan scan cause mcu timeout

opened 01:21PM - 25 Mar 21 UTC

ptpt52

chip is mt7613 [ 660.520319] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 9) timeout [ 681.000319] mt7615e 0000:02:00.0: Message 73 (seq 10) timeout [ 701.480334] mt7615e...

MorrisMajor · 2021-03-26T11:08:32.030Z

OK, thanks for the heads up. I’ll still get one some time in the next few weeks and hopefully this issue is fixed at some point.

colton.conor · 2021-08-11T23:13:56.255Z

I can't seem to get openwrt loaded on this device. This EAP-235 I upgraded to TP-Links newest firmware, which is EAP235-Wall(US)_V1_3.0.0 Build 20210322. I think it originally shipped with
EAP235-Wall(US)_V1_1.0.2 Build 20200917

I was able to:

SSH into the target device
run cliclientd stopcs, this should return "success"
upload the factory image via the web-interface
after I upload, it says "Failed to check for new update"

note, if I don't run the cliclientd stopcs it says bad file
also note, if I try to downgrade the unit to an older TP-Link offical firmware, it also says Failed to check for new update

Anyone?

svanheule · 2021-08-12T07:18:27.169Z

You don't happen to have access to the device's serial port? The error messages there tend to be more helpful. I've compared the soft-version partitions, but there's no relevant differences there.

Interestingly, the v3 firmware now also lists the EAP230-Wall as a compatible device:

SupportList:
EAP235-Wall(TP-Link|UN|AC1200-D):1.0
EAP230-Wall(TP-Link|UN|AC1200-D):1.0

colton.conor · 2021-08-12T18:53:39.406Z

svanheule:

You don't happen to have access to the device's serial port?

I don't see a serial port on the outside, so this must be on the board itself. I guess I can do that, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to.

How did you flash yours? What version did you flash from?