Matching SSIDs to radios

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hi,

What would be the best way to match SSIDs to the the available radios:

image
image962×392 30 KB

?

List of SSIDs:

  1. LAN
  2. Guest
  3. IoT
  4. VPN
  5. Guest 2 - optional

The device is GL-B2200, to be used as dumb AP, wired to the main router.

I will appreciate any hints / suggestions for the best practice. My primary goal is to have max stability of the wireless, range (reach) is not that important. Mesh not needed.

Thanks!

Just in case, iw list below. Not sure if these details are needed.

root@OpenWrt:~# iw list
Wiphy phy2
        wiphy index: 2
        max # scan SSIDs: 16
        max scan IEs length: 199 bytes
        max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
        max # match sets: 0
        Retry short limit: 7
        Retry long limit: 4
        Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
        Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
        Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * AP/VLAN
                 * monitor
                 * mesh point
                 * P2P-client
                 * P2P-GO
                 * P2P-device
        Band 2:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                VHT Capabilities (0x339959b2):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        TX STBC
                        SU Beamformer
                        SU Beamformee
                        MU Beamformer
                        MU Beamformee
                        RX antenna pattern consistency
                        TX antenna pattern consistency
                VHT RX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT TX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT extended NSS: not supported
                Frequencies:
                        * 5180 MHz [36] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5200 MHz [40] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5220 MHz [44] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5240 MHz [48] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5260 MHz [52] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5280 MHz [56] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5300 MHz [60] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5320 MHz [64] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5500 MHz [100] (disabled)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (disabled)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (disabled)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (disabled)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (disabled)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (disabled)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (disabled)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (disabled)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (disabled)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (disabled)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (disabled)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (disabled)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (disabled)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (disabled)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (disabled)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (disabled)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (disabled)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (disabled)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
        valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ managed } <= 16, #{ AP, mesh point } <= 16, #{ IBSS } <= 1                                                                                                                                                             ,
                   total <= 16, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match, radar dete                                                                                                                                                             ct widths: { 20 MHz (no HT), 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, 160 MHz }

        HT Capability overrides:
                 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
                 * maximum A-MSDU length
                 * supported channel width
                 * short GI for 40 MHz
                 * max A-MPDU length exponent
                 * min MPDU start spacing
        max # scan plans: 1
        max scan plan interval: -1
        max scan plan iterations: 0
        Maximum associated stations in AP mode: 32
        Supported extended features:
                * [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
                * [ RRM ]: RRM
                * [ SET_SCAN_DWELL ]: scan dwell setting
                * [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
                * [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
                * [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
                * [ AIRTIME_FAIRNESS ]: airtime fairness scheduling
                * [ AQL ]: Airtime Queue Limits (AQL)
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
                * [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
                * [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support
Wiphy phy1
        wiphy index: 1
        max # scan SSIDs: 16
        max scan IEs length: 195 bytes
        max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
        max # match sets: 0
        Retry short limit: 7
        Retry long limit: 4
        Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
        Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
        Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * AP/VLAN
                 * monitor
                 * mesh point
                 * P2P-client
                 * P2P-GO
                 * P2P-device
        Band 1:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                VHT Capabilities (0x339959b2):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        TX STBC
                        SU Beamformer
                        SU Beamformee
                        MU Beamformer
                        MU Beamformee
                        RX antenna pattern consistency
                        TX antenna pattern consistency
                VHT RX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT TX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT extended NSS: not supported
                Frequencies:
                        * 2412 MHz [1] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2417 MHz [2] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2422 MHz [3] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2427 MHz [4] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2432 MHz [5] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2437 MHz [6] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2442 MHz [7] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2447 MHz [8] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2452 MHz [9] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2457 MHz [10] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2462 MHz [11] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2467 MHz [12] (disabled)
                        * 2472 MHz [13] (disabled)
                        * 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
        valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ managed } <= 16, #{ AP, mesh point } <= 16, #{ IBSS } <= 1                                                                                                                                                             ,
                   total <= 16, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match, radar dete                                                                                                                                                             ct widths: { 20 MHz (no HT), 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, 160 MHz }

        HT Capability overrides:
                 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
                 * maximum A-MSDU length
                 * supported channel width
                 * short GI for 40 MHz
                 * max A-MPDU length exponent
                 * min MPDU start spacing
        max # scan plans: 1
        max scan plan interval: -1
        max scan plan iterations: 0
        Maximum associated stations in AP mode: 32
        Supported extended features:
                * [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
                * [ RRM ]: RRM
                * [ SET_SCAN_DWELL ]: scan dwell setting
                * [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
                * [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
                * [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
                * [ AIRTIME_FAIRNESS ]: airtime fairness scheduling
                * [ AQL ]: Airtime Queue Limits (AQL)
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 con                                                                                                                                                             trol port support
                * [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
                * [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211                                                                                                                                                              control port support
Wiphy phy0
        wiphy index: 0
        max # scan SSIDs: 16
        max scan IEs length: 199 bytes
        max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
        max # match sets: 0
        Retry short limit: 7
        Retry long limit: 4
        Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
        Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
        Device supports T-DLS.
        Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * AP/VLAN
                 * monitor
                 * mesh point
                 * P2P-client
                 * P2P-GO
                 * P2P-device
        Band 2:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                VHT Capabilities (0x339979b2):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        TX STBC
                        SU Beamformer
                        SU Beamformee
                        MU Beamformer
                        MU Beamformee
                        RX antenna pattern consistency
                        TX antenna pattern consistency
                VHT RX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT TX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT extended NSS: not supported
                Frequencies:
                        * 5180 MHz [36] (disabled)
                        * 5200 MHz [40] (disabled)
                        * 5220 MHz [44] (disabled)
                        * 5240 MHz [48] (disabled)
                        * 5260 MHz [52] (disabled)
                        * 5280 MHz [56] (disabled)
                        * 5300 MHz [60] (disabled)
                        * 5320 MHz [64] (disabled)
                        * 5500 MHz [100] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (27.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (27.0 dBm) (no IR)
        valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ managed } <= 16, #{ AP, mesh point } <= 16, #{ IBSS } <= 1                                                                                                                                                             ,
                   total <= 16, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match, radar dete                                                                                                                                                             ct widths: { 20 MHz (no HT), 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, 160 MHz }

        HT Capability overrides:
                 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
                 * maximum A-MSDU length
                 * supported channel width
                 * short GI for 40 MHz
                 * max A-MPDU length exponent
                 * min MPDU start spacing
        max # scan plans: 1
        max scan plan interval: -1
        max scan plan iterations: 0
        Maximum associated stations in AP mode: 32
        Supported extended features:
                * [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
                * [ RRM ]: RRM
                * [ SET_SCAN_DWELL ]: scan dwell setting
                * [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
                * [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
                * [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
                * [ AIRTIME_FAIRNESS ]: airtime fairness scheduling
                * [ AQL ]: Airtime Queue Limits (AQL)
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
                * [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
                * [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support
2

Up until a couple days ago I had suggested putting every SSID on every radio.

But now I know thre is this:

So I'd most likely use the same SSID but different passphrases for every network and put every network on every adapter.

If there's a reason for some networks to be not available (e.g. don't use the 5GHz devices for IoT if all my IoT clients didn't support 5GHz anyway, or VPN is only meant for my FireTV stick which sits 2m next to my router and should oly ever use the 5GHz channels), exclde those that make no sense.

But in general: Put everything everywhere. Traditionally by putting every SSID on every adapter, or after discovering the thread mentioned above, use the same SSID with different passwords on every adapter.

2 Likes
3

Interesting post linked, thanks! Seemingly involved setup, but probably lets you save on electricity bills (in the longer run) thanks to fewer SSIDs being broadcast :slight_smile:

I was thinking of a more traditional setup - multiple SSIDs, IoT probably only assigned to radio1 (2.4 GHz), but having 2 radios for 5GHz (radio0 QCA9886 and radio2 IPQ4019) leaves me puzzled - shall I keep active just one of them (which one), or both. If both - how to split the SSIDs between them.

What would be the pros/cons vs keeping every SSID on a single adapter/radio?

4

As to 2.4GHz vs 5GHz, I'd run the 2.4GHz at a much lower power, like e.g. 14dB for the 2.4GHz vs 26dB for the 5GHz. The actual numbers might be up for discussion, but the general approach aims for making clients prefer the much stronger 5GHz while close (and potentially switch to 5GHz while getting closer while walking to the house) but still be able to connect to the 2.4GHz network when being a couple of steps away.

If distance is no issue for you, having 2.4GHz might still be necessary, just for some IoT devices that don't support 5GHz.

As to multiple 5GHz networks, using both but on different channels should result in all your devices distribute equally(-ish). So using both might be beneficial, too.

I'd put all SSIDs on every running wifi device, just because not doing so might force some devices on a network that is less optimal. At least for 2.4GHz vs 5GHz there's a reasonable chance this being true, and for 2x 5GHz there's at least a theoretical chance of this being true.

To the question of which network device to run at all: I'd put a kill-a-watt on the router and check power consumption.

  • What happens when only one of the three network devices is running, but no device is connected? That's 3 different values, one for every device.
  • What happens when only one of the three network devices is running and a single client is connected? Again: That's 3 different values, one for every device.
  • What happens when running both 5GHz devices but no client connected?
  • What happens when both 5GHz devices are up and one client is connected to one of them?
  • What happens when both 5GHz devices are up and two clients are connected, on to each?

Running all available devices at the same time should be the best in terms of throughput, which should, in turn, affect bottlenecks. Or the lack thereof. So there's stability to be gained.

But running all of them obviously will cost some electrical power.

1 Like