Netgear EX6150v2: non ct-firmware needed for Mesh?

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

For the atheros-based Archer C7 there is a non-ct-firmware needed for Mesh. Is it necessary to exchange the firmware for the Netgear EX6150v2 too?

root@EX6150v2:~# ubus call system board
{
	"kernel": "5.15.137",
	"hostname": "EX6150v2",
	"system": "ARMv7 Processor rev 5 (v7l)",
	"model": "Netgear EX6150v2",
	"board_name": "netgear,ex6150v2",
	"rootfs_type": "squashfs",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "23.05.2",
		"revision": "r23630-842932a63d",
		"target": "ipq40xx/generic",
		"description": "OpenWrt 23.05.2 r23630-842932a63d"
	}
}

Installed is:

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg list-installed | grep ath10k
ath10k-board-qca4019 - 20230804-1
ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct - 2020-11-08-1
kmod-ath10k-ct - 5.15.137+2022-05-13-f808496f-5

Available is:

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg list | grep kmod-ath10k
kmod-ath10k - 5.15.137+6.1.24-3 - This module adds support for wireless adapters based on Atheros IEEE 802.11ac family of chipsets. For now only PCI is supported.
kmod-ath10k-ct - 5.15.137+2022-05-13-f808496f-5 - ath10k-ct driver optimized for CT ath10k firmware
kmod-ath10k-ct-smallbuffers - 5.15.137+2022-05-13-f808496f-5 - ath10k-ct driver optimized for CT ath10k firmware (small buffers for low-RAM devices)
kmod-ath10k-smallbuffers - 5.15.137+6.1.24-3 - Atheros 802.11ac wireless cards support (small buffers for low-RAM devices)
2

Yes. My experience is that non ct firmware is needed for stable mesh function.

1 Like
3

BTW: What does ct mean?

4

https://www.candelatech.com/ath10k-10.4.php

1 Like
5

Connected the repeater with ethernet-cable to the PC. PC had internet connection via Wifi,

-------------------------------------
 OpenWrt 23.05.2, r23630-842932a63d
 -----------------------------------------------------
root@EX6150v2:~# opkg update

So there is internet connection at the beginning.

Then:

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg remove kmod-ath10k-ct
Removing package kmod-ath10k-ct from root...

Check:

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg list-installed | grep ath10
ath10k-board-qca4019 - 20230804-1
ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct - 2020-11-08-1

Then

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg remove ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct
Removing package ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct from root...

Then

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg install kmod-ath10k
Installing kmod-ath10k (5.15.137+6.1.24-3) to root...
Downloading https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.2/targets/ipq40xx/generic/packages/kmod-ath10k_5.15.137%2b6.1.24-3_arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4.ipk
Configuring kmod-ath10k.

Still internet connection!

Now the problem starts:

root@EX6150v2:~# opkg install ath10k-firmware-qca4019
Installing ath10k-firmware-qca4019 (20230804-1) to root...
Downloading https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.2/packages/arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4/base/ath10k-firmware-qca4019_20230804-1_arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4.ipk
Collected errors:
 * opkg_download: Failed to download https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.2/packages/arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4/base/ath10k-firmware-qca4019_20230804-1_arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4.ipk, wget returned 4.
 * opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.
 * opkg_install_pkg: Failed to download ath10k-firmware-qca4019. Perhaps you need to run 'opkg update'?
 * opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package ath10k-firmware-qca4019.

Trying to go back to ct and removing non-ct.

opkg install kmod-ath10k-ct
Installing kmod-ath10k-ct (5.15.137+2022-05-13-f808496f-5) to root...
Downloading https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.2/targets/ipq40xx/generic/packages/kmod-ath10k-ct_5.15.137%2b2022-05-13-f808496f-5_arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4.ipk
Collected errors:
 * opkg_download: Failed to download https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.2/targets/ipq40xx/generic/packages/kmod-ath10k-ct_5.15.137%2b2022-05-13-f808496f-5_arm_cortex-a7_neon-vfpv4.ipk, wget returned 4.
 * opkg_download: Check your network settings and connectivity.

 * opkg_install_pkg: Failed to download kmod-ath10k-ct. Perhaps you need to run 'opkg update'?
 * opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package kmod-ath10k-ct.

Checked if ISP is down, no was not. I lost with "remove package" internet.

OK, not a problem, have enough other devices for testing.

I did a fresh install, took 5min. At the moment I am stayomg with ct.

Maybe it is possible to create an image with non ct-packages?

6

Just use the online image builder.
You can use the CT driver. Only need the non ct firmware.

1 Like
7

https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/

Do I need to enter for the script something? In other words can this be empty?

Ok, but I am more on the save side, if I do not any ct-files?

I think to try this:

ath10k-board-qca4019 ath10k-firmware-qca4019 base-files busybox ca-bundle dnsmasq dropbear firewall4 fstools kmod-ath10k kmod-gpio-button-hotplug kmod-leds-gpio kmod-nft-offload kmod-usb-dwc3 kmod-usb-dwc3-qcom kmod-usb3 libc libgcc libustream-mbedtls logd luci mtd netifd nftables odhcp6c odhcpd-ipv6only opkg ppp ppp-mod-pppoe procd procd-seccomp procd-ujail uboot-envtools uci uclient-fetch urandom-seed urngd wpad-openssl mesh11sd iperf iperf3

I do not understand, what the advantage of the ct-packages is in "normal" life.

8

I presume: (that’s a minus in front)

-ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct ath10k-firmware-qca4019

9

This is default after choosing the model:

ath10k-board-qca4019 ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct base-files busybox ca-bundle dnsmasq dropbear firewall4 fstools kmod-ath10k-ct kmod-gpio-button-hotplug kmod-leds-gpio kmod-nft-offload kmod-usb-dwc3 kmod-usb-dwc3-qcom kmod-usb3 libc libgcc libustream-mbedtls logd luci mtd netifd nftables odhcp6c odhcpd-ipv6only opkg ppp ppp-mod-pppoe procd procd-seccomp procd-ujail uboot-envtools uci uclient-fetch urandom-seed urngd wpad-basic-mbedtls

10

No, u really can use the normal ct driver. It’s just the firmware that needs to be nonact. (But this is up to you, both non-ct/ct driver works)

This will get you going:

ath10k-board-qca4019 -ath10k-firmware-qca4019-ct base-files busybox ca-bundle dnsmasq dropbear firewall4 fstools kmod-ath10k-ct kmod-gpio-button-hotplug kmod-leds-gpio kmod-nft-offload kmod-usb-dwc3 kmod-usb-dwc3-qcom kmod-usb3 libc libgcc libustream-mbedtls logd luci mtd netifd nftables odhcp6c odhcpd-ipv6only opkg ppp ppp-mod-pppoe procd procd-seccomp procd-ujail uboot-envtools uci uclient-fetch urandom-seed urngd -wpad-basic-mbedtls wpad-mbedtls ath10k-firmware-qca4019

1 Like
11

Still don't understand, why ct is default. Read the specs, but I don't understand them.

12

thats another topic which you can search the forum for.
The ct firmware is not compatible with mesh, but the CT driver itself is. You can use CT/NON-CT Driver/Firmware interchangeably, so all in all you only need to replace the ct firmware with non-ct firmware.

1 Like
13

Is this valid generally with ath10 devices?

My next router is a ZyXEL NBG6817, which I have to prepare for Mesh.

14

Yes it is.

1 Like
15

Not really.
The -ct firmware does not not support mesh on wave1 chipsets (e.g. qca9880-br4a, as in for example the archer c7, bthub5a and others), it does support mesh for wave2 chipsets (e.g. qca4018/ qca4019 or qca9984, as in for example the nbg6817 and ipq40xx devices).

1 Like
16

So I summarize:

For mesh is needed:

with Archer C7 and EX6150v2 a non-ct-firmware, but "kmod-ct" can be used

With Zyxel NBG6817 and Netgear Nighthawk X4S R7800 ct-firmare and "kmod-ct" can be used.

In every case you have to replace wpad-basic-mbedtls with something bigger, like wpad-openssl (zhe biggest,but with the most possibilites)

17

Yeah really. For all intents and purposes you are absolutely wrong. Wave2 may seemingly work at first but it’s a horrible experience.

1 Like
18

Wrong. Non-ct firmware on both wave1 and wave2.

1 Like
19

Ok, 2 different opinions, but I am on the save side to use non-ct-firmware.

At the moment I don't know which devices I will use for testing, but I want to avoid unnecessary problems.

20

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