Dual-Band configuration issues

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

I have similar issue as here A wireless chip containing dual-band(2.4G and 5G) only generate 5G configuration in OpenWrt, but cannot generate 2.4G configuration

Seems that it cannot hold 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time, either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz interface would be disabled. Also the configuration did not automatically take up radio1 for 2.4GHz so I manually did it on /etc/config/wireless

However not straightforward answer was given or any solution.
I have Compex WLE600VX - https://compex.com.sg/shop/wifi-module/wle600vx-wifi5-11ac-qca9882-qca9892/ so it should have Dual Band capabilities.

I have so far tried with both firmwares of to no avail:

ath10k-firmware-qca988x
ath10k-firmware-qca988x-ct

Current /etc/config/wireless configuration:

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.2/0000:06:00.0'
	option channel 'auto'
	option band '5g'
	option htmode 'HT40'
	option cell_density '0'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.2/0000:06:00.0'
	option channel 'auto'
	option band '2g'
	option htmode 'HT20'
	option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
	option device 'radio0'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'WiFi'
	option encryption 'psk2'
	option key '123'
	option ifname 'phy0-ap0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
	option device 'radio1'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'WiFi_2G'
	option encryption 'psk2'
	option key '123'
	option ifname 'phy1-ap0'

Also when playing around with creating different interfaces on logread I'm sometimes having this sort of warning:

Thu Feb 8 01:30:41 2024 kern.warn kernel: [ 11.985608] ath10k_pci 0000:06:00.0: pdev param 0 not supported by firmware

Any help would be appreciated.

2

These devices can be tuned to one of either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, but they cannot operate on both frequencies simultaneously. You need a DBDC (Dual Band Dual Concurrent) chipset to do that, but the QCA9882 in the WLE600VX is not DBDC capable. You need two WLE600VX modules to get simultaneous dual band.

1 Like
3

Aahhh.. Welp that's a bummer, should've done bit more research then.
Is there any on the market that is compatible with OpenWRT as I only have 1x mini PCIe slot on my 4x4 as I was hoping for All-in-One solution.

Although I also have one M.2 Key A/Key B+M so any 2.4GHz card for that could also go if it can do hosting.

4

Something like the AW7916-NPD might do the job. We do have a long-running thread discussing WiFi 6 mini-PCIe cards. The AW7916-NPD was suggested by one of the posters in that thread.

I have no idea how well this works, but it does use a MediaTek chipset which does have good OpenWrt support. Be sure to take thermals into consideration, WiFi 6 chipsets get rather toasty. If you don't need WiFi 6E, there are other modules available. When searching for WiFi modules in general, the magic keyword you're looking for is DBDC if you want simultaneous dual-band.

There are adapters that allow you to plug a mini-PCIe card into an M.2 slot (and vice-versa, of course). Be warned that on some Intel motherboards, the M.2 Key A slot doesn't support PCIe WiFi cards, but only Intel's proprietary "CNVi" WiFi cards.

1 Like
5

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