Support for Asus ZenWiFi BT8 Tri-band Wifi7 (Mediatek MT7988)

[gert-jan]

Biggest openwrt features are:

No account needed at some company
No tracking
No app
No trying to hide complexity options

Actually, it's wat openwrt not comes with and it's open source.

I use them as access points and opnsense as the firewall.

[plh]

Thanks so much. I just ordered one for myself

[Pulver]

Been running the stable version of 25.12 since yesterday, no problems for me

[BrightCandle]

25.12 all wireless interfaces appear functional etc. It routes.

In terms of the issues we have been tracking all RCs the one I recall is the channel analysis is still only correct for 2.4ghz radio0, its missing local on 5Ghz radio1 and only shows 20Mhz for local on 6Ghz radio2. I have forgotten what one of the others is and the unstable 2.4Ghz connectivity I imagine will be unchanged but if anything has changed I’ll post in a day or two about it.

In stable, bit of a moment really its been quite a long road.

Anyone looked into MLO yet?

[cookiemonster]

MLO should be kinda working: (Support for Asus ZenWiFi BT8 Tri-band Wifi7 (Mediatek MT7988) - #400 by hecatae) I will likely never use MLO because I hate running a single ssid so I don't follow it closely.

(https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/22007)
(https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/22007/commits)
"mac80211: backport eMLSR/eMLMR parsing support"

Unknown if this made the 25.12 cut.

---

"Channel Analysis" bug looks to have improved.

# iw dev|grep Interface
	Interface phy0.0-ap0 (2.4)
	Interface phy0.1-ap0 (5)
	Interface phy0.2-ap0 (6)

Scanning:

iw phy0.0-ap0 scan | grep SSID (works)
iw phy0.1-ap0 scan | grep SSID (works)
iw phy0.2-ap0 scan | grep SSID (works)

Note: 5Ghz scanning will never work if DFS

So the only bug is 6Ghz "scans" which just lists the localhost of phy0.0 (i.e. 2.4) and doesn't scan. Can anyone find an upstream fix or bug report for that?

[cookiemonster]

Got another and uboot recovery still works; less than 60 seconds to flash. 2x updated to 25.12.0 and no issues.

---

Fixed wiki about color being magenta instead of red.

[hecatae]

I only have one WiFi 7 client, a Pixel 8, and according to Google, it's only capable of MLO on 6GHz and 5GHz combined.

[cookiemonster]

MLO eMLMR = AP with eMLMR support + client with eMLMR support. Does this combo even exist at all today in consumer devices? I have doubts.

a Pixel 8

Pixel 8 MLO : eMLSR vs. MLMR‑STR

In conclution, it appears Google Pixel 8 support both MLMR-STR (mostly 2.4GHz & 5GHz or 6GHz, it also do it 5GHz and 6GHz when SSID is dual band) and eMLSR mode of operation. It is not very clear conditions that make these operations.

I don't even understand those chasing the MLO eMLMR dragon. Wifi7 i.e. "Wifi6E Plus," meets my expectations.

[Jasperx]

I can’t get MLO to connect on more than one band.

I tried using hecate’s config:

config wifi-device 'radio0'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '0'
option band '2g'
option channel '13'
option htmode 'EHT40'
option country 'GB'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
option device 'radio0'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'VM0683868'
option encryption 'sae'
option key '
option ocv '0'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '1'
option band '5g'
option channel '149'
option htmode 'EHT80'
option country 'GB'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
option device 'radio1'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'VM0683868'
option encryption 'sae'
option key '
option ocv '0'

config wifi-device 'radio2'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '2'
option band '6g'
option channel 'auto'
option htmode 'EHT320'
option country 'GB'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio2'
option device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'VM0683868'
option encryption 'sae'
option key '
option ocv '0'

and adding the list device radio 0, 1, 2 with same and different SSIDs.

Also tried using lamelogin’s expample:

config wifi-device 'radio0'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '0'
option band '2g'
option channel '1'
option htmode 'EHT20'
option country 'DE'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
option device 'radio0'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'test-24'
option encryption 'sae-mixed'
option key 'password123password'
option ocv '0'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '1'
option band '5g'
option channel '124'
option htmode 'EHT160'
option country 'DE'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
option device 'radio1'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'test-5'
option encryption 'sae-mixed'
option key 'password123password'
option ocv '0'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-device 'radio2'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '2'
option htmode 'EHT160'
option country 'DE'
option cell_density '0'
option band '6g'
option channel '37'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio2'
option device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'test-6'
option encryption 'sae'
option ocv '0'
option key 'password123password'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-iface 'ap_mlo'
list device 'radio0'
list device 'radio1'
list device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'test-ap-mlo'
option encryption 'sae'
option ocv '0'
option key 'password123password'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

This one uses different ssids… I get the mlo network in each case, but my adapter only connects at the 6ghz band

[plater]

I just ordered one. Should be here next week.

Would you mind sharing your regdb patch? If not, I’ll try the W1700K apk and report back.

[hecatae]

Which release are you running?

[cookiemonster]

Patch and thread dedicated to US 6Ghz:

US 6GHz: How to proceed

Upstream hasn't looked at this much due to having to support old kernels. Openwrt could patch regdb; however, if they mess this up the FCC may fine them. The only solution I see is to have an optional patched wireless-regdb-6Ghz.apk in the repo. US users would install openwrt and then have to install it. That should be enough to cover openwrt legally as it would not be included in the default install. Short term solution is to apply stangri's patch to wireless-regdb found here: Just buil…

[cookiemonster]

Educated guess based from:
(Tutorial to setup mlo/mld for wifi 7 be cards in openwrt - #15 by gsustek)

config wifi-iface 'wifinet0'
    list device 'radio0'
    list device 'radio1'
    list device 'radio2'
    option mlo '1'
    option network 'lan'
    option mode 'ap'
    option ssid 'itworks'
    option encryption 'sae'
    option key 'Test1234test'

Experiment with different radio combos as certain clients don't like all three. 2.4+5 and 5+6

For whatever reason linksys has a special MLO menu in their (forked?) openwrt:

How to enable MLO on your Linksys OpenWRT router

I assume that adds the option mlo '1' and maybe condenses AP under wifinet0. Maybe that is upstream on not enabled yet.

[cookiemonster]

@Jasperx That was it. 25.12.0 and a very quick wireshark:

        Ext Tag: Multi-Link (802.11be D3.0)
            Ext Tag length: 15 (Tag len: 16)
            Ext Tag Number: Multi-Link (802.11be D3.0) (107)
            Multi-Link Control: 0x01b0 Basic
                .... .... .... .000 = Type: Basic (0)
                .... .... .... 0... = Reserved: 0x0
                .... .... ...1 .... = Link ID Info Present: True
                .... .... ..1. .... = BSS Parameters Change Count Present: True
                .... .... .0.. .... = Medium Synchronization Delay Info Present: False
                .... .... 1... .... = EML Capabilities Present: True
                .... ...1 .... .... = MLD Capabilities Present: True
                .... ..0. .... .... = AP MLD ID Present: False
                .... .0.. .... .... = Extended MLD Capabilities and Operations Present: False
                0000 0... .... .... = Reserved: 0x00

                Link ID subfield: 0x01
                BSS Parameters Change Count: 1
                EML Capabilities: 0x0001, EMLSR Support
                    .... .... .... ...1 = EMLSR Support: True
                    .... .... .... 000. = EMLSR Padding Delay: 0
                    .... .... .000 .... = EMLSR Transition Delay: 0
                    .... .... 0... .... = EMLMR Support: False
                    .... .000 .... .... = EMLMR Delay: 0
                    .000 0... .... .... = Transition Timeout: 0
                    0... .... .... .... = Reserved: 0x0
                MLD Capabilities: 0x2000, Link Reconfiguration Operation Support
                    .... .... .... 0000 = Maximum Number of Simultaneous Links: 0
                    .... .... ...0 .... = SRS Support: False
                    .... .... .00. .... = TID-To-Link Mapping Negotiation Support: 0
                    .... 0000 0... .... = Frequency Separation For STR/AP MLD Type Indication: 0
                    ...0 .... .... .... = AAR Support: False
                    ..1. .... .... .... = Link Reconfiguration Operation Support: True
                    .0.. .... .... .... = Aligned TWT Support: False
                    0... .... .... .... = Reserved: 0x0

EMLSR Support: True
EMLMR Support: False (This may never arrive)

[Jasperx]

Running OpenWrt 25.12.0 r32713-f919e7899d / LuCI (HEAD detached at 27a9c0c) branch 26.061.65855~27a9c0c (25.12.0 final / Dave’s Guitar).

Here’s my tweaked lamelogin’s config:

config wifi-device 'radio0'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '0'
option band '2g'
option channel '1'
option htmode 'EHT40'
option country 'HR'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
option device 'radio0'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt'
option encryption 'sae-mixed'
option key 'password123password'
option ocv '0'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '1'
option band '5g'
option channel '36'
option htmode 'EHT160'
option country 'HR'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
option device 'radio1'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt5GHz'
option encryption 'sae-mixed'
option key 'password123password'
option ocv '0'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-device 'radio2'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '2'
option htmode 'EHT160'
option country 'HR'
option cell_density '0'
option band '6g'
option channel '1'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio2'
option device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt6Ghz'
option encryption 'sae'
option ocv '0'
option key 'password123password'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-iface 'ap_mlo'
list device 'radio0'
list device 'radio1'
list device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'test-ap-mlo'
option encryption 'sae'
option ocv '0'
option key 'password123password'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

And here’s yours, best I could modify it (if I copy it line-by-line the Network→Wireless is missing):

config wifi-device 'radio0'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '0'
option band '2g'
option channel '1'
option htmode 'EHT40'
option country 'HR'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
option device 'radio0'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt'
option encryption 'sae'
option key 'password123password'
option ocv '0'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '1'
option band '5g'
option channel '36'
option htmode 'EHT160'
option country 'HR'
option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
option device 'radio1'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt'
option encryption 'sae'
option key 'password123password'
option ocv '0'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-device 'radio2'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/11300000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option radio '2'
option htmode 'EHT160'
option country 'HR'
option cell_density '0'
option band '6g'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio2'
option device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt'
option encryption 'sae'
option ocv '0'
option key 'password123password'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

config wifi-iface 'ap_mlo'
list device 'radio0'
list device 'radio1'
list device 'radio2'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'OpenWrt-MLO'
option encryption 'sae'
option ocv '0'
option key 'password123password'
option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

If I put “OpenWrt” instead of “OpenWrt-MLO” in ap-mlo iface I get a “Cannot connect to this network” msg in Windows.

In both cases I get:

Running without the sta connection (that I’ll need) for testing purposes.

[cookiemonster]

option mlo '1'

You forgot the above to turn it on.

config wifi-iface 'ap_mlo'
	list device 'radio0'
	list device 'radio1'
	list device 'radio2'
	option mlo '1'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt-MLO'
	option encryption 'sae'
	option ocv '0'
	option key 'password123password'
	option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'

No clue about that client or any quirks it needs. Remember to test different radio combos and not just all three.

Remember to set country code that matches on that client as well.

[Jasperx]

@cookiemonster

You forgot the above to turn it on.

Yeah, was testing just as you were typing the reply.

I added the “option mlo ‘1’ line. The only combination that works is 2.4+6Ghz. And even then it doesn’t aggregate the speeds (just shows the 6ghz speed). No luck with 2.4+5 or 5+6.

So happy I spent 300 euros on this router lol.

Edit: Adding a sta connection on radio 1 drops the MLO to just 6 GHz again. Amazing

Edit: Oh I forgot, my clients ceiling speed is 2882. Forgot I got the amazing Asus. So can’t blame the router for that. But dropping down to just 6GHz when I connect the sta on radio1 does seem weird.

[cookiemonster]

No matter what wifi7 gear you bought, it is all in more or less in the same state. You can flash back to OEM and see what that gives today.

Personally, I'm shocked enabling mlo was that easy and hasn't crashed the AP nor appear to cause any issues on clients. Realistically, it will likely take until about 25.12.2 before mlo is in good enough shape to even call support "beta."

[plater]

Am I reading your config right? You have MLO working with sae-mixed (wpa2/3)?

[Jasperx]

Not sure I’d call it ‘working’, but the MLO network indeed does come up with radios0 and 1 set as sae-mixed (although it only connects on one band (and I’m only using radio0 in my mlo iface + radio2 which is pure sae)).

This is what it looks like in Windows:

Changing all radios back to pure sae connects it back on two bands:

Here’s the link to the “original” author’s post (I’d assume the original original was from Banana Pi’s thread).

I’d stick with hecate’s instructions and use pure sae for mlo related stuffs.

@dangowrt I don’t really want to, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. Would it be too much to ask you for some (detailed for us noobs) instructions for reverting back to stock from your U-boot mod? I only ran the installer once, panicked and didn’t backup during installation, but I did backup mtd0 and mtd1 blocks afterwards, both 2MBs in size, not sure if that means I’m good or not - the original instructions do say we should be fine unless we flash the .trx installer *twice*, which I didn’t do.

I’d rather wait for 25.12.2 (or 26.12 lol), but just curious. And ty cookie for the info <3

I’m just really hating on Asus right now for releasing a WiFi7 usb3 client and capping the speed at 2.8. And a rather prominent website touts it as ah-mazing. They even have a nano usb2 “wifi7” version. I can only imagine how that thing performs…

What has the world come to