OpenWRT One only allows 2x2 MIMO 5GHz

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
1

Based on the OpenWRT One product listing this router should support 3x3 streams on 5Ghz. However, I am only showing 2 streams possible based on the output from iw phy1 info (see below)

I've exhausted my knowledge on how to enable the 3rd stream and searching so far has been fruitless. It appears to me that the driver or firmware bundled with 24.10.0-rc2 simply doesn't support the 3rd antenna on the One.

I confess that I did not notice whether 3x3 was enabled on the as-shipped firmware snapshot, and I'm not even sure exactly what rev that was (my bad).

I am willing to re-install the as shipped snapshot if someone can point me to it.

I'm open to other suggestions.

iw phy1 info 
root@openwrt-one:~# iw phy1 info
Wiphy phy1
        wiphy index: 1
        max # scan SSIDs: 4
        max scan IEs length: 2190 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 0x1c RX 0x1c
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * AP/VLAN
                 * monitor
                 * mesh point
                 * P2P-client
                 * P2P-GO
        Band 2:
                Capabilities: 0x9ff
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX Greenfield
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        No DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 2 usec (0x04)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                VHT Capabilities (0x339a59f6):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: 160 MHz
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        short GI (160/80+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: supported
                HE Iftypes: managed
                        HE MAC Capabilities (0x08011a000040):
                                +HTC HE Supported
                                Trigger Frame MAC Padding Duration: 2
                                OM Control
                                Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 3
                                A-MSDU in A-MPDU
                        HE PHY Capabilities: (0x4c70ce926d12f3164e3f00):
                                HE40/HE80/5GHz
                                HE160/5GHz
                                242 tone RUs/5GHz
                                Device Class: 1
                                LDPC Coding in Payload
                                HE SU PPDU with 1x HE-LTF and 0.8us GI
                                NDP with 4x HE-LTF and 3.2us GI
                                STBC Tx <= 80MHz
                                STBC Rx <= 80MHz
                                Full Bandwidth UL MU-MIMO
                                Partial Bandwidth UL MU-MIMO
                                DCM Max Constellation: 2
                                DCM Max Constellation Rx: 2
                                SU Beamformer
                                SU Beamformee
                                Beamformee STS <= 80Mhz: 3
                                Beamformee STS > 80Mhz: 3
                                Sounding Dimensions <= 80Mhz: 2
                                Sounding Dimensions > 80Mhz: 2
                                Codebook Size SU Feedback
                                Codebook Size MU Feedback
                                Triggered CQI Feedback
                                Partial Bandwidth Extended Range
                                Partial Bandwidth DL MU-MIMO
                                PPE Threshold Present
                                Power Boost Factor ar
                                HE SU PPDU & HE PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
                                Max NC: 2
                                20MHz in 40MHz HE PPDU 2.4GHz
                                20MHz in 160/80+80MHz HE PPDU
                                80MHz in 160/80+80MHz HE PPDU
                                DCM Max BW: 1
                                Longer Than 16HE SIG-B OFDM Symbols
                                Non-Triggered CQI Feedback
                                TX 1024-QAM
                                RX 1024-QAM
                                RX Full BW SU Using HE MU PPDU with Compression SIGB
                                RX Full BW SU Using HE MU PPDU with Non-Compression SIGB
                        HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE RX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE TX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        PPE Threshold 0x39 0x1c 0xc7 0x71 0x1c 0x07 
                HE Iftypes: AP
                        HE MAC Capabilities (0x00051a081044):
                                +HTC HE Supported
                                TWT Responder
                                BSR
                                OM Control
                                Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 3
                                BQR
                                A-MSDU in A-MPDU
                                OM Control UL MU Data Disable RX
                        HE PHY Capabilities: (0x0c20ce926f12afd0000c00):
                                HE40/HE80/5GHz
                                HE160/5GHz
                                LDPC Coding in Payload
                                NDP with 4x HE-LTF and 3.2us GI
                                STBC Tx <= 80MHz
                                STBC Rx <= 80MHz
                                Full Bandwidth UL MU-MIMO
                                Partial Bandwidth UL MU-MIMO
                                DCM Max Constellation: 2
                                DCM Max Constellation Rx: 2
                                SU Beamformer
                                SU Beamformee
                                MU Beamformer
                                Beamformee STS <= 80Mhz: 3
                                Beamformee STS > 80Mhz: 3
                                Sounding Dimensions <= 80Mhz: 2
                                Sounding Dimensions > 80Mhz: 2
                                Codebook Size SU Feedback
                                Codebook Size MU Feedback
                                Triggered SU Beamforming Feedback
                                Triggered MU Beamforming Feedback
                                Partial Bandwidth Extended Range
                                PPE Threshold Present
                                Max NC: 2
                                STBC Tx > 80MHz
                                STBC Rx > 80MHz
                                TX 1024-QAM
                                RX 1024-QAM
                        HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE RX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE TX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        PPE Threshold 0x39 0x1c 0xc7 0x71 0x1c 0x07 
                HE Iftypes: mesh point
                        HE MAC Capabilities (0x00011a000040):
                                +HTC HE Supported
                                OM Control
                                Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 3
                                A-MSDU in A-MPDU
                        HE PHY Capabilities: (0x0c200c0000000000008000):
                                HE40/HE80/5GHz
                                HE160/5GHz
                                LDPC Coding in Payload
                                STBC Tx <= 80MHz
                                STBC Rx <= 80MHz
                        HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE RX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                        HE TX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
                                1 streams: MCS 0-11
                                2 streams: MCS 0-11
                                3 streams: not supported
                                4 streams: not supported
                                5 streams: not supported
                                6 streams: not supported
                                7 streams: not supported
                                8 streams: not supported
                Frequencies:
                        * 5180.0 MHz [36] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5200.0 MHz [40] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5220.0 MHz [44] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5240.0 MHz [48] (23.0 dBm)
                        * 5260.0 MHz [52] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5280.0 MHz [56] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5300.0 MHz [60] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5320.0 MHz [64] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5500.0 MHz [100] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5520.0 MHz [104] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5540.0 MHz [108] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5560.0 MHz [112] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5580.0 MHz [116] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5600.0 MHz [120] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5620.0 MHz [124] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5640.0 MHz [128] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5660.0 MHz [132] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
                        * 5680.0 MHz [136] (24.0 dBm) (radar detection)
2

Set channel width 80?

1 Like
3

That doesn't make a difference. I set it to HE160 only after noticing it was running 2x2 at 80 Mhz. I tried 20 / 40 / 80 / 160 without any difference, all show 2x2.

Another thing I tried was I replaced the firmware files in /lib/firmware/mediatek with those from https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/mediatek and it made no difference (rebooted, of course).

4

Do you have 3x3 clients connected?

If all clients are 2x2 you may be seeing normal behaviour

2 Likes
5

iw scan from other place will show actual radio capabilities even from smaller clients.

3 Likes
6

My Pixel 9 Pro shows 4x4 to the Flint 2 mt6000 running OpenWRT 24.10.0-rc2 but as shown in the attached screenshot, the OpenWRT One running 24.10.0-rc2 connects as 2x2.

Flint 4x4

Screenshot_20241214-120747
Screenshot_20241214-1207471280×2909 329 KB

One 2x2

Screenshot_20241214-112206
Screenshot_20241214-1122061280×2909 324 KB

2 Likes
7

This device is 2x2. The third antenna is for "Zero-wait DFS". Wireless specifications on the Banana Pi site.

4 Likes
8

Well that would explain 2 things I have noticed:

  1. The inconsistency of 2x2 and 3x3 in the documentation (almost all docs say 3x3 and only that table deep in the specs shows 3x3 / 2x2 + Zero Wait DFS.
  2. The other being that The One is much more stable operating on DFS channels than any other router I've encountered

I tried using channel 36 with The One and it is still showing 2x2 on my client, unfortunately it doesn't enable 3x3 when on non-DFS channels.

3 Likes
9

Okay, so the antenna connected to the MMCX connector on the board labeled as 5G rather than 2/5G would be the zero wait DFS antenna, right?

10

Phone has only 2 antennae, how can you see 4x4?

1 Like
11

Apologies for the sloppy language.

I should have said "My Pixel 9 Pro running Network Analyzer Pro can see that the Flint 2 is 4x4 but it only sees 2x2 for the OpenWRT One"

12

Flint2 uses MT7976GN as WLAN which is 4x4:4 while OpenWrt One uses MT7976CN which is 2x3:2, why are you trying to compare them here?

14

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