OpenWrt is ignoring "list channels" in wireless config

[Specimen]

Version and device: 23.05 RC2 on Linksys MR8300

At least one of my devices does not support channels 144 and 165 on the 5 GHz band. Because of that I added a list of channels that radio0 can use (uci add_list), which are all that are supported in EU minus those 2.

config wifi-device 'radio0'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path 'soc/40000000.pci/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
        option channel 'auto'
        option band '5g'
        option htmode 'VHT80'
        option cell_density '0'
        option country 'PT'
        list channels '100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 149 153 157 161'

But I still get channel 144. What gives?

[stangri]

Does the list of channels make it into hostapd config?
cat /var/run/hostapd-*.conf

[Specimen]

Yeah, it's there:

chanlist=100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 149 153 157 161

[badulesia]

Channel is set to auto, this means that radio0 will scan for radar (DFS) an select the best possibility. Further the width is set to 80, the selected channel will encompass others. Have a look at this scheme. For example, whatever channel 136, 140, 144 is selected, it still match the same 80 MHz block.

EDIT : I've just checked manually. If I set channel to 136, 140 or 144, the same 80 MHz block is selected (checked with channel analysis). So you see channel 144 because '136 140' are being part of the channel list. Exclude values since 132 will force radio0 to select a lower 80 MHz block. But you may face radars. Just try.

[Specimen]

Alright, thanks, that makes sense, also "iw list" shows 144-165 with a transmit power driver default of 13.0 dBm (the others are 26.0 dBm) which might explain why all my clients prefer to connect to one of the other radios when I get channel 144 because the radio is weaker.

[badulesia]

@Specimen

144-165 with a transmit power driver default of 13.0 dBm

This is part of the regulations.

@Specimen

the others are 26.0 dBm

This is way to powerfull, you probably don't need that much. And furthermore it's probably illegal, inform yourself about your local regulations.

[Specimen]

Too powerful? These are OpenWRT's defaults, I have the max transmit power set to the driver's default, and I have the correct country and all (which is just the same as EU).

If this is incorrect/illegal then OpenWrt should change it

[badulesia]

If I set country to PT Portugal, the default power transmit are 13 dBm for radio0 (5GHz channel >100), 20 dBm for radio1 (2.4 GHz), 23 dBm for radio2 (5GHz channel <64).
I don't even have 26 dBm in the menu. How did you get it?

[Specimen]

Probably my router didn't detect any interference in training? Or it didn't properly finished training?

I'm running the RC2, downloaded from the firmware selector, and I actually never messed with tx power settings, always left them as default.

Part of the output of "iw list"

                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] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (13.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (13.0 dBm)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (13.0 dBm)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (13.0 dBm)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (13.0 dBm)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (13.0 dBm)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (disabled)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)

I should add this router is at the center of my apartment, but if I take my phone to the farthest edge near a window, 12 meters away, I get no wifi bars on my phone on radio0.

[badulesia]

If I manually set channel to 116 I do have 26 dBm as default
But the 116-128 block is plainly in the weather radar gap. It is never selected where I live (I have radars in the neighbohood). Mystery solved.
You may live in a remote place out of radars influence.