[SOLVED] Can only use one band with AR9380

Installing and Using OpenWrt Network and Wireless Configuration
1

Hey all,

I have a Meraki MX60W running 17.01.4 MX60 TAR (MX60W TAR is broken) with kmod-ath9k and wpad-mini packages installed.

When I configure the wireless, I can only use either 2.4 or 5.4 GHz. Configuring, or restating the vice vera band results in the other band shutting down, when I look at the other band in LuCI, it has been switched to the last band I applied the config.

The log shows nothing.

Any ideas?

2

Looks like only one radio according to the specs. It supports either band, but not both at the same time.

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3

The documentation says this (https://wikidevi.com/files/Atheros/specsheets/AR9380.pdf):

With its Fast Channel Switch (FCS) feature, the channel switching time
between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz is reduced from 10 ms to as little as 1 ms.

Please provide information on the specs you note. Because, I don't understand why a human needs to switch the radio at 1 ms speed.

4

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Meraki_MX60W
I have no idea why the datasheet says that, but every other simultaneous dual band device has two separate radios, one operating on each band.

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5

draws is completely spot on. Channel switch times mostly matter when it comes to scanning, especially in the relatively large 5 GHz band. Also consider that the kernel schedules regular background scans - and you don't want to lose your primary connection (or affect its throughput too much), just because a background scan is going on (be it for DFS or other purposes).

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6

OK...it appears @drawz is correct indeed. It doesn't do dual band simultaneously. I found more documentation. I guess I'll have to change the card if I want concurrent dual band (miniPCIe).

Thanks!

7

I don't think there are any simultaneous dual band cards. You have to use two cards.

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