Client to Client not working on different bands (5ghz and 2.4ghz)

Philip2809 · September 18, 2024, 10:13am

Just bought a TP-Link Archer AX23 (EU) to be able to run OpenWrt as this was a cheap and available device where I live. I have two networks with the same SSID. I am on the 5ghz network but the device I want to connect to is on the 2.4ghz network. On my old TP-Link router (which couldn't run openwrt) I could enable then disable "AP Isolation" and this solved the problem for a couple of hours and then it didn't work again.

Edit: Tested this by disabeling 5ghz network on my computer over wifi and it couln't connect, my computer that is wired it always worked and I had to force me other computer (mediapc in config) to only use the 5ghz network as it someitmes changed between the bands and when it was on 2.4ghz it did not work. For clarification the 3dprinter (creality sonic pad) does not have a 5ghz chip and I would like to connect to its interface.

Edit 2: Just realized that when it works is probably when my pc connects to the 2.4ghz network instead! It worked for some reason again and I checked my network settings, I was on the 2.4ghz network. I could ssh into my mediapc on the 5ghz network, so the problem to me seams to be that devices on the 5ghz network cannot connect to devices on the 2.4ghz network!

Config:
network:

config interface 'loopback'
        option device 'lo'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
        option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
        option ula_prefix 'fd07:1bfc:a00c::/48'
        option packet_steering '1'

config device
        option name 'br-lan'
        option type 'bridge'
        list ports 'lan1'
        list ports 'lan2'
        list ports 'lan3'
        list ports 'lan4'

config interface 'lan'
        option device 'br-lan'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
        option netmask '255.255.255.0'
        option ip6assign '60'

config interface 'wan'
        option device 'wan'
        option proto 'dhcp'

config interface 'wan6'
        option device 'wan'
        option proto 'dhcpv6'

wireless:


config wifi-device 'radio0'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path '1e140000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:02:00.0'
        option channel 'auto'
        option band '2g'
        option htmode 'HE20'
        option cell_density '0'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path '1e140000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:02:00.0+1'
        option channel 'auto'
        option band '5g'
        option htmode 'HE80'
        option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet0'
        option device 'radio0'
        option mode 'ap'
        option ssid SSID
        option encryption 'sae-mixed'
        option key PASSWORD
        option network 'lan'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet1'
        option device 'radio1'
        option mode 'ap'
        option ssid SSID
        option encryption 'sae-mixed'
        option key PASSWORD
        option network 'lan'

dhcp:

config dnsmasq
        option domainneeded '1'
        option localise_queries '1'
        option rebind_protection '1'
        option rebind_localhost '1'
        option local '/lan/'
        option domain 'lan'
        option expandhosts '1'
        option cachesize '1000'
        option authoritative '1'
        option readethers '1'
        option leasefile '/tmp/dhcp.leases'
        option resolvfile '/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
        option localservice '1'
        option ednspacket_max '1232'

config dhcp 'lan'
        option interface 'lan'
        option start '100'
        option limit '150'
        option leasetime '12h'
        option dhcpv4 'server'
        option dhcpv6 'server'
        option ra 'server'
        list ra_flags 'managed-config'
        list ra_flags 'other-config'

config dhcp 'wan'
        option interface 'wan'
        option ignore '1'

config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
        option maindhcp '0'
        option leasefile '/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
        option leasetrigger '/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
        option loglevel '4'

config host
        option name 'mediapc'
        option ip '192.168.1.10'
        list mac MAC

config host
        option ip '192.168.1.12'
        option name '3dprinter'
        list mac MAC

config host
        option name 'printer'
        list mac MAC
        option ip '192.168.1.11'

firewall:

config defaults
        option syn_flood        1
        option input            REJECT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          REJECT
# Uncomment this line to disable ipv6 rules
#       option disable_ipv6     1

config zone
        option name             lan
        list   network          'lan'
        option input            ACCEPT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          ACCEPT

config zone
        option name             wan
        list   network          'wan'
        list   network          'wan6'
        option input            REJECT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          REJECT
        option masq             1
        option mtu_fix          1

config forwarding
        option src              lan
        option dest             wan

# We need to accept udp packets on port 68,
# see https://dev.openwrt.org/ticket/4108
config rule
        option name             Allow-DHCP-Renew
        option src              wan
        option proto            udp
        option dest_port        68
        option target           ACCEPT
        option family           ipv4

# Allow IPv4 ping
config rule
        option name             Allow-Ping
        option src              wan
        option proto            icmp
        option icmp_type        echo-request
        option family           ipv4
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-IGMP
        option src              wan
        option proto            igmp
        option family           ipv4
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow DHCPv6 replies
# see https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/issues/5066
config rule
        option name             Allow-DHCPv6
        option src              wan
        option proto            udp
        option dest_port        546
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-MLD
        option src              wan
        option proto            icmp
        option src_ip           fe80::/10
        list icmp_type          '130/0'
        list icmp_type          '131/0'
        list icmp_type          '132/0'
        list icmp_type          '143/0'
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow essential incoming IPv6 ICMP traffic
config rule
        option name             Allow-ICMPv6-Input
        option src              wan
        option proto    icmp
        list icmp_type          echo-request
        list icmp_type          echo-reply
        list icmp_type          destination-unreachable
        list icmp_type          packet-too-big
        list icmp_type          time-exceeded
        list icmp_type          bad-header
        list icmp_type          unknown-header-type
        list icmp_type          router-solicitation
        list icmp_type          neighbour-solicitation
        list icmp_type          router-advertisement
        list icmp_type          neighbour-advertisement
        option limit            1000/sec
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow essential forwarded IPv6 ICMP traffic
config rule
        option name             Allow-ICMPv6-Forward
        option src              wan
        option dest             *
        option proto            icmp
        list icmp_type          echo-request
        list icmp_type          echo-reply
        list icmp_type          destination-unreachable
        list icmp_type          packet-too-big
        list icmp_type          time-exceeded
        list icmp_type          bad-header
        list icmp_type          unknown-header-type
        option limit            1000/sec
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-IPSec-ESP
        option src              wan
        option dest             lan
        option proto            esp
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-ISAKMP
        option src              wan
        option dest             lan
        option dest_port        500
        option proto            udp
        option target           ACCEPT


### EXAMPLE CONFIG SECTIONS
# do not allow a specific ip to access wan
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option dest             wan
#       option proto    tcp
#       option target   REJECT

# block a specific mac on wan
#config rule
#       option dest             wan
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:66
#       option target   REJECT

# block incoming ICMP traffic on a zone
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option proto    ICMP
#       option target   DROP

# port redirect port coming in on wan to lan
#config redirect
#       option src                      wan
#       option src_dport        80
#       option dest                     lan
#       option dest_ip          192.168.16.235
#       option dest_port        80
#       option proto            tcp

# port redirect of remapped ssh port (22001) on wan
#config redirect
#       option src              wan
#       option src_dport        22001
#       option dest             lan
#       option dest_port        22
#       option proto            tcp

### FULL CONFIG SECTIONS
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:55
#       option src_port 80
#       option dest             wan
#       option dest_ip  194.25.2.129
#       option dest_port        120
#       option proto    tcp
#       option target   REJECT

#config redirect
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:55
#       option src_port         1024
#       option src_dport        80
#       option dest_ip  194.25.2.129
#       option dest_port        120
#       option proto    tcp

brada4 · September 18, 2024, 10:37am

Please draw a diagram how would you connect both routers. And what is the client about?

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall

Philip2809 · September 18, 2024, 10:44am

I only have one router active, I have provided the network, wireless, dhcp and firewall configs under the "Config" summary. Both devices are connected to the same router but under different bands

brada4 · September 18, 2024, 11:15am

Your explanations may seem logical in the context, but we need system details.

eduperez · September 18, 2024, 11:17am

I couldn't detect anything wrong or suspicion on your config or your reasoning. This looks like a bug in the drivers.

brada4 · September 18, 2024, 11:24am

Looks like no country code only.

Philip2809 · September 18, 2024, 11:26am

Wdym, what system details do you need that you don't have?

Philip2809 · September 18, 2024, 11:27am

Is there anything that can be done if that is the case?

brada4 · September 18, 2024, 11:29am

Objectively speaking you need help, not me, but if you are fine with how it works you can hide requested detail.

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board

Philip2809 · September 18, 2024, 11:34am

I am sorry for missing this part, here you go:

{
        "kernel": "5.15.162",
        "hostname": "OpenWrt",
        "system": "MediaTek MT7621 ver:1 eco:3",
        "model": "TP-Link Archer AX23 v1",
        "board_name": "tplink,archer-ax23-v1",
        "rootfs_type": "squashfs",
        "release": {
                "distribution": "OpenWrt",
                "version": "23.05.4",
                "revision": "r24012-d8dd03c46f",
                "target": "ramips/mt7621",
                "description": "OpenWrt 23.05.4 r24012-d8dd03c46f"
        }
}

I put the config within a summary as on other forums I have been to this has been the preferred way.

brada4 · September 18, 2024, 11:39am

You need to select country code in both bands.
Then read IoT specifications and provide them with separate access point eg 2.4 onlly and WPA2+AES only.

Philip2809 · September 18, 2024, 11:45am

I have selected the Country code for the wireless stuff, when you say separate access points you mean I change the 2.4 ghz ssid?

brada4 · September 18, 2024, 2:11pm

You can have like dozen different APs besides your main one (which best be identical in both bands), separate guest VLAN is nice to have but not required.
You can even go as creative as to replace each wpa3-mixed with 2 identical name+pass WPA2 and WPA3 access points.
What is in the logs when strange clients connect?