UK wifi issue - TP-Link EAP225 V3

paped · September 6, 2024, 8:03am

Hi,
I have a weird issues with signal strength on my 2.4ghz Wi-Fi - I run this at 19dbm (79mw) which gives a good coverage through the house. For a while I have had another Wi-Fi router but that's now gone so I back to just the EAP225 as before but the 2.4ghz signal which is what's used on one part of the house due to building structure is very poor compared to previously.

So I have looked at the EAP and I think probably from a v23 updated on (certainly was not an issue which earlier V22 versions) while it's set to 19dbm it warns that its running at 15dbm which is quite a drop. Wondering if its the driver I have tested by putting to the US reg domain and it runs happily with no note of a limited power up to 27dbm - hence does not appear to be the driver. So I'm left assuming that its regdb, checking their website though I should on the UK 2.4ghz space be able to do 20dbm (100mw)

So at a bit of a loss as to why it's limiting to 15dbm and giving the poor signal - note 5ghz allows and works to 23dbm so no issues there, other than a thick wall in this part of the house that it does not like. It's just the 2.4ghz that shows this power level behaviour.

Thanks in advance for any ideas / thought / help.

brada4 · September 6, 2024, 10:12am

Hope its a minor misteak on your part, lets review what you got.

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall
iw list | less # in there type /Frequencies and post just frequency map that follows per band.

paped · September 6, 2024, 3:24pm

Hi,
Please find attached the details requested - note this is a dumb AP so the dns / dhcp / firewall services are not turned on, as they are provided on a separate router so there is no dhcp / firewall files available to share on the AP

ubus call system board
{
	"kernel": "5.15.162",
	"hostname": "eap225",
	"system": "Qualcomm Atheros QCA956X ver 1 rev 0",
	"model": "TP-Link EAP225 v3",
	"board_name": "tplink,eap225-v3",
	"rootfs_type": "squashfs",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "23.05.4",
		"revision": "r24012-d8dd03c46f",
		"target": "ath79/generic",
		"description": "OpenWrt 23.05.4 r24012-d8dd03c46f"
	}
}

cat /etc/config/network

config interface 'loopback'
	option device 'lo'
	option proto 'static'
	option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
	option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
	option ula_prefix '***********'

config device
	option name 'br-lan'
	option type 'bridge'
	list ports 'eth0'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option multicast '1'
	option mtu '1500'
	option txqueuelen '1000'

config interface 'lan'
	option proto 'static'
	option ipaddr '192.168.77.98'
	option netmask '255.255.255.128'
	list dns '192.168.77.100'
	option delegate '0'
	option gateway '192.168.77.100'
	option device 'br-lan'

config interface 'GUEST'
	option device 'br-guest'
	option proto 'static'
	option ipaddr '192.168.76.61'
	option netmask '255.255.255.192'
	option gateway '192.168.76.62'
	option delegate '0'
	list dns '192.168.76.62'

config device
	option name 'eth0'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option multicast '1'
	option multicast_fast_leave '1'
	option mtu '1500'
	option txqueuelen '1000'

config device
	option name 'phy0-ap0'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option mtu '1500'

config device
	option name 'phy0-ap1'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option mtu '1500'

config device
	option name 'phy1-ap0'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option mtu '1500'

config device
	option name 'phy1-ap1'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option mtu '1500'

config device
	option type '8021q'
	option ifname 'eth0'
	option vid '3'
	option name 'eth0.3'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option mtu '1500'
	option txqueuelen '1000'

config device
	option type 'bridge'
	option name 'br-guest'
	list ports 'eth0.3'
	option ipv6 '0'
	option mtu '1500'
	option txqueuelen '1000'

cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0'
	option band '5g'
	option htmode 'VHT80'
	option country 'GB'
	option frag '2346'
	option channel 'auto'
	option cell_density '1'
	option rts '2347'
	option beacon_int '100'
	option txpower '23'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/ahb/18100000.wmac'
	option band '2g'
	option country 'GB'
	option frag '2346'
	option htmode 'HT40'
	option channel '6'
	option cell_density '1'
	option rts '2347'
	option beacon_int '100'
	option txpower '20'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet2'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'HomeWLAN'
	option key '******'
	option isolate '1'
	option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'
	option network 'GUEST'
	option wpa_group_rekey '3600'
	option disassoc_low_ack '0'
	option encryption 'psk2+ccmp'
	option dtim_period '3'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet3'
	option device 'radio1'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'HomeWLAN'
	option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'
	option network 'GUEST'
	option key '******'
	option wpa_group_rekey '3600'
	option disassoc_low_ack '0'
	option encryption 'psk2+ccmp'
	option isolate '1'
	option dtim_period '3'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet4'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'HomeWLAN_IS'
	option key '******'
	option network 'lan'
	option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'
	option wpa_group_rekey '3600'
	option disassoc_low_ack '0'
	option encryption 'psk2+ccmp'
	option dtim_period '3'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet5'
	option device 'radio1'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'HomeWLAN_IS'
	option key '******'
	option network 'lan'
	option wpa_disable_eapol_key_retries '1'
	option wpa_group_rekey '3600'
	option disassoc_low_ack '0'
	option encryption 'psk2+ccmp'
	option dtim_period '3'

Band 1 Frequencies -
		Frequencies:
			* 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
			* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)


Band 2 Frequencies -
		Frequencies:
			* 5180 MHz [36] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5200 MHz [40] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5220 MHz [44] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5240 MHz [48] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5260 MHz [52] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5280 MHz [56] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5300 MHz [60] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5320 MHz [64] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 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] (26.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5745 MHz [149] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5765 MHz [153] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5785 MHz [157] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5805 MHz [161] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5825 MHz [165] (23.0 dBm)
			* 5845 MHz [169] (disabled)
			* 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)

In addition while looking at this I followed another thread and did the following command but the output looks odd as the Global section is shown GB but the 2 "phy" sections (I assume physical interfaces) are shown as US? It may be some default as I cannot find anything referring to US in my config files, equally I would have expected GB to be there not US?

iw reg get
global
country GB: DFS-ETSI
	(2400 - 2483 @ 40), (N/A, 20), (N/A)
	(5150 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 23), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR, AUTO-BW
	(5250 - 5350 @ 80), (N/A, 20), (0 ms), NO-OUTDOOR, DFS, AUTO-BW
	(5470 - 5730 @ 160), (N/A, 26), (0 ms), DFS
	(5725 - 5850 @ 80), (N/A, 23), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR
	(5925 - 6425 @ 160), (N/A, 23), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR
	(57000 - 71000 @ 2160), (N/A, 40), (N/A)

phy#1
country US: DFS-FCC
	(902 - 904 @ 2), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(904 - 920 @ 16), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(920 - 928 @ 8), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(2400 - 2472 @ 40), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(5150 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 23), (N/A), AUTO-BW
	(5250 - 5350 @ 80), (N/A, 24), (0 ms), DFS, AUTO-BW
	(5470 - 5730 @ 160), (N/A, 24), (0 ms), DFS
	(5730 - 5850 @ 80), (N/A, 30), (N/A), AUTO-BW
	(5850 - 5895 @ 40), (N/A, 27), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR, AUTO-BW, PASSIVE-SCAN
	(5925 - 7125 @ 320), (N/A, 12), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR, PASSIVE-SCAN
	(57240 - 71000 @ 2160), (N/A, 40), (N/A)

phy#0
country US: DFS-FCC
	(902 - 904 @ 2), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(904 - 920 @ 16), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(920 - 928 @ 8), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(2400 - 2472 @ 40), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(5150 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 23), (N/A), AUTO-BW
	(5250 - 5350 @ 80), (N/A, 24), (0 ms), DFS, AUTO-BW
	(5470 - 5730 @ 160), (N/A, 24), (0 ms), DFS
	(5730 - 5850 @ 80), (N/A, 30), (N/A), AUTO-BW
	(5850 - 5895 @ 40), (N/A, 27), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR, AUTO-BW, PASSIVE-SCAN
	(5925 - 7125 @ 320), (N/A, 12), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR, PASSIVE-SCAN
	(57240 - 71000 @ 2160), (N/A, 40), (N/A)

Thanks,

Paul

brada4 · September 6, 2024, 3:46pm

Last region is fixed in ath10k driver, thats why i asked for other frequency map which is the true one

Remove following settings:

-	option frag '2346'
	option channel 'auto'
	option cell_density '1'
-	option rts '2347'
-	option beacon_int '100'
-	option txpower '23'
...
-	option frag '2346'
-	option htmode 'HT40'
+	option htmode 'HT20'
-	option channel '6'
+   option channel 'auto'
+   option acs_chan_bias '1:0.8 5:0.8 9:0.8 13:0.9'
	option cell_density '1'
-	option rts '2347'
-	option beacon_int '100'
-	option txpower '20'
...
-	option wpa_group_rekey '3600'
-	option disassoc_low_ack '0'
	option encryption 'psk2+ccmp'
-	option isolate '1' 
-	option dtim_period '3'

then restart wpad service
wait about 5 minutes and confirm tx power with iwinfo or in luci gui.

Doc: https://w1.fi/cgit/hostap/tree/hostapd/hostapd.conf
Basically do not customize unimportant settings, they may gather in crowd and fight you down.

brada4 · September 6, 2024, 3:49pm

Rundown:
radio parameters- best are default, as minimum for interop.
you dont have tkip, no need to shorten rekey
isolate does nothing unless you add bridge firewall

4/5dBi antenna - according to ETSI should be -4/-5 from caldata as etsi limit is on radiation from fixed/typical antenna assembly, not electricity.

paped · September 14, 2024, 9:03am

Thank you for the guidance I have implemented all changes with one later amendment for testing as below. It has got it better but not quite where it was. So update after running / testing this for 5 days.

The message about the current power is 15db is still there on the 2.4ghz band even though it is set to 20 dBm. The driver default that showed after the change was set to 15 dBm for 2.4 and moving to 20 the day after is the only change made, but the did not change the test or usage results below.
Strangely the 5ghz mode pre change was limited to 20 dBm there was no option to select above that, now the driver default and max option is 23 dBm.

From testing using a phone based WiFi analyser app which is the same that I used to use before the issue. I'm seeing 75-80 -dBm where it was mid 80's last week, however pre the message being displayed, it used to be 65-70 -dBm in the same area.

I have used a different app and device as a double check and get the same readings this week to discount any app or device issues.

Usability is better its gone from very slow and often disconnecting which would be expected with mid 80's -dBm to stable i.e. not disconnecting but still slow.

Next steps barring any other ideas on the openwrt space on this from the forum. I'm thinking drop back to stock firmware and test, then do a fresh install of openwrt which would give a clean slate set-up and see if that helps. My thinking being that I suspect this to be upgrade related so wondering if something has got corrupted somewhere.

Thanks again for the advice.

brada4 · September 14, 2024, 10:53am

The reported channel map is kind of correct.
You can walk perimeter of dwelling with ubiquiti wifiman to see if there is a weak spot where you frequent {r it is weak.