[Solved] OpenWrt 19.07.1 and TL-WDR3600 issue with Wifi 2.4Ghz

[cojomanteca]

Hi,

I was using OpenWrt 18.06.0 without problems in my TP Link TLWDR3600. Today I upgraded to 19.07.01 and wifi 2.4 does not work at all since that, and is loaded in system as a Generic bgn device and not as an Atheros as usual.
I had not any extra package installed or any special script or config before upgrading process.

Any idea?

iwinfo

wlan0     ESSID: unknown
          Access Point: E8:94:F6:D4:25:51
          Mode: Client  Channel: unknown (unknown)
          Tx-Power: 17 dBm  Link Quality: unknown/70
          Signal: unknown  Noise: unknown
          Bit Rate: unknown
          Encryption: unknown
          Type: nl80211  HW Mode(s): 802.11bgn
          Hardware: unknown [Generic MAC80211]
          TX power offset: unknown
          Frequency offset: unknown
          Supports VAPs: yes  PHY name: phy0

wlan1     ESSID: "TP_WF_5"
          Access Point: E8:94:F6:D4:25:52
          Mode: Master  Channel: 36 (5.180 GHz)
          Tx-Power: 15 dBm  Link Quality: 58/70
          Signal: -52 dBm  Noise: -94 dBm
          Bit Rate: 68.6 MBit/s
          Encryption: WPA2 PSK (CCMP)
          Type: nl80211  HW Mode(s): 802.11an
          Hardware: 168C:0033 168C:A120 [Atheros AR9580]
          TX power offset: none
          Frequency offset: none
          Supports VAPs: yes  PHY name: phy1

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

[prwood]

I have the same router (TL-WDR3600). By any chance did you upgrade from the ar71xx to the ath79 target? If so, you should be aware that wifi device paths change between ar71xx and ath79, and your wireless config file probably has the wrong path:

https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/installation/ar71xx.to.ath79

Mine changed from

option path 'platform/ar934x_wmac'

To

option path 'platform/ahb/ahb:apb/18100000.wmac'

[cojomanteca]

You're rigth. Same case here.

[prwood]

In my case it wasn’t an issue because I discarded my config and started from scratch, and so I got the correct path when the wireless configuration was auto generated. Best case for you might be to reinstall from scratch. Maybe download an archive to backup your config files and reinstall them on a case by case basis after you reflash.

[cojomanteca]

Today I reinstalled and avoided to save old config. After that I configured all again from scratch. No problems at all.
Its funny but 2.4Ghz Wifi now is a "Generic 802.11bgn" and there is no mention for Atheros chip.
In any way, works like a charm...

Thanks for all!