WRT32X: Wireless "Operating frequency" empty. Is it a bug?

Installing and Using OpenWrt Network and Wireless Configuration
1

I run OpenWrt 18.06.2 r7676-cddd7b4c77 / LuCI openwrt-18.06 branch (git-19.020.41695-6f6641d)
on my router Linksys WRT32X.
There are 3 radios on the device (radio0, radio1, radio2). They was running fine but I tried to remove the option "Allow legacy 802.11b rates" on the 3 radios and I rebooted.
After that radio3 has no "Operating frequency" parameters and seems off.
Bellow the config with diff on wireless files
Left hand side good working
Right hand side issue

config wifi-device 'radio0'					config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'						option type 'mac80211'
	option hwmode '11a'						option hwmode '11a'
	option path 'soc/soc:pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/000		option path 'soc/soc:pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/000
	option country 'IE'						option country 'IE'
	option legacy_rates '1'				      <
	option distance '15'						option distance '15'
	option htmode 'VHT20'						option htmode 'VHT20'
	option channel 'auto'						option channel 'auto'
							      >		option legacy_rates '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'				config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
	option device 'radio0'						option device 'radio0'
	option network 'lan'						option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'						option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'						option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option macaddr '62:38:e0:ce:81:12'				option macaddr '62:38:e0:ce:81:12'
	option encryption 'psk-mixed'					option encryption 'psk-mixed'
	option key 'xxxxx'					option key 'xxxxx'

config wifi-device 'radio1'					config wifi-device 'radio1'
	option type 'mac80211'						option type 'mac80211'
	option hwmode '11g'						option hwmode '11g'
	option path 'soc/soc:pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/000		option path 'soc/soc:pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/000
	option htmode 'HT20'						option htmode 'HT20'
	option legacy_rates '1'				      <
	option country 'IE'						option country 'IE'
	option distance '15'						option distance '15'
	option channel 'auto'						option channel 'auto'
							      >		option legacy_rates '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'				config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
	option device 'radio1'						option device 'radio1'
	option network 'lan'						option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'						option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'						option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option macaddr '62:38:e0:ce:81:11'				option macaddr '62:38:e0:ce:81:11'
	option encryption 'psk-mixed'					option encryption 'psk-mixed'
	option key 'xxxxx'					option key 'xxxxx'

config wifi-device 'radio2'					config wifi-device 'radio2'
	option type 'mac80211'						option type 'mac80211'
	option hwmode '11a'						option hwmode '11a'
	option path 'platform/soc/soc:internal-regs/f10d8000.		option path 'platform/soc/soc:internal-regs/f10d8000.
	option htmode 'VHT80'						option htmode 'VHT80'
	option legacy_rates '1'				      <
	option channel 'auto'						option channel 'auto'
	option country 'IE'						option country 'IE'
							      >		option legacy_rates '0'
							      >		option distance '15'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio2'				config wifi-iface 'default_radio2'
	option device 'radio2'						option device 'radio2'
	option network 'lan'						option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'						option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'						option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option encryption 'psk-mixed'					option encryption 'psk-mixed'
	option key 'xxxxx'					option key 'xxxxx'

BTW, where could I fine more wireless technical explanations about the parameters and options available?

Thank you

2

https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/basic

1 Like
3

The radio2 hardware does not have full functionality. That radio was intended for monitoring only, not for data transmission.

1 Like
4

Thank you mbo2o for the interesting link

mk24, what do you mean by monitoring?
What are the available features for radio2? What should be the setup?
Looking at the above config, is the setup good for radio0 and radio1 to get 802.11n and 802.11ac?
Edit: I am in a country side house, no other wifi AP, no disturbance.
Edit: Are all 802.11n devices compatibles with 20MHz and 40MHz width?

5

Again, radio2 should not be used. See:

2 Likes
6

Why I didn't think to search in the forum??? Not my habit.

Many thanks lleachii

2 Likes
7

This time I tried hard to find the answer to my questions, unsuccessfully.

/sbin/wifi output state and config. I can't find what mean in:

	"radio0": {
		"up": false,
		"pending": false,
		"autostart": true,
		"disabled": false,
		"retry_setup_failed": true,

up?
disabled: Is it the same "enable/disable" in Luci? If yes there is something wrong in my config, radio2 disable in Luci but "disabled": false with wifi status.
retry_setup_failed?
autostart? What/when exactly autostart?
I think "pending" is the time between start order (wifi) and ready

wifi -h
Usage: /sbin/wifi [config|up|down|reload|status]
enables (default), disables or configures devices not yet configured.

Not helpful
Where I could find a man/explanations for /sbin/wifi?
Thank you

8

Again, don't expect radio2 to do anything useful. It's purpose with the stock firmware is to scan the 5 GHz band for radar signals to comply with the DFS rules for operation on the Group 2 channels. Those channels can be used only if the AP routinely checks for radar and moves to another channel if any is found so it won't interfere with the radar system.

/sbin/wifi is a script that is OpenWrt specific, so you would look at the OpenWrt git, wiki, etc, or you can read the script itself to see what it does.

2 Likes
9

I understand radio2 should be disabled. This is what I did from Luci.
However, when I enter wifi status in ssh I get

	"radio2": {
		"up": true,
		"pending": false,
		"autostart": true,
		"disabled": false,
		"retry_setup_failed": false,

Why disabled is false, so enabled? Not what I can see on Luci.

BTW I can't find explanation about up vs disabled. What is the difference?

10

INCORRECT; AND NOBODY TOLD YOU THAT!!!

Not one posting told you that radio2 should be disabled; but I found three postings that told you not to use it!

@Toutatis, can you explain why you are trying to alter or see the status of a radio that:

  • others have advised you not to use
  • is required by law in most nations

Are you trolling?

11

@ lleachii
I am sorry that my questions make you thinking I am trolling. Really I am not, I try to understand. Maybe my English language is not good enough, please be indulgent.

So, radio2 should be enabled but NOT used for data transmission.
This technology is new for me, I didn't know this is required in Ireland as well.

1 Like
12

Be sure of the country of origin for your device and follow the readme regarding radio2 and setting the country code (best to not do so, let mwlwifi handle this as you cannot override anyways). The third radio is (currently) problematic, I ended up dropping it from my builds a long time back. You can get things to work, but of questionable value, depends on your use-case.

1 Like
13

:+1:

I'm glad you understand about the 3rd radio now.