X86 device as "smart AP"

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hello,

I am trying to provide internet access for my neighbor but would like his traffic to be on a VPN tunnel which is why I've decided to set up a spare mini PC as an AP using OpenWRT.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to connect to the SSID even though the few places I know to check after some research seem to look alright.

Can someone review and assist?

root@OpenWrt:~# wifi status
{
	"radio0": {
		"up": true,
		"pending": false,
		"autostart": true,
		"disabled": false,
		"retry_setup_failed": false,
		"config": {
			"hwmode": "11g",
			"path": "pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.3/0000:04:00.0",
			"htmode": "HT20",
			"channel": "1",
			"country": "US",
			"legacy_rates": false
		},
		"interfaces": [
			{
				"section": "default_radio0",
				"ifname": "wlan0",
				"config": {
					"mode": "ap",
					"ssid": "WiFi",
					"key": "neighbor",
					"encryption": "none",
					"mode": "ap",
					"network": [
						"lan",
						"wifi"
					]
				}
			}
		]
	}
}
root@OpenWrt:~#
2

What is the wifi hardware?
Do you see the SSID on the air?
If you don't have a proper network behind the wifi interface, a typical user device will not be able to get DHCP and will disconnect and eventually blacklist your AP.
Check the kernel log for wifi-related errors.

3

Thank you for your reply.

04:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)

And no, I do not see the SSID when I scan with my smartphone.

I was thinking perhaps the wifi adapter does not support AP mode but the output below says otherwise, correct?

root@OpenWrt:~# iw list
Wiphy phy0
	max # scan SSIDs: 4
	max scan IEs length: 2257 bytes
	max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
	max # match sets: 0
	max # scan plans: 1
	max scan plan interval: -1
	max scan plan iterations: 0
	Retry short limit: 7
	Retry long limit: 4
	Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
	Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
	Device supports T-DLS.
	Available Antennas: TX 0x1 RX 0x1
	Configured Antennas: TX 0x1 RX 0x1
	Supported interface modes:
		 * IBSS
		 * managed
		 * AP
		 * AP/VLAN
		 * monitor
		 * mesh point
		 * P2P-client
		 * P2P-GO
		 * outside context of a BSS
	Band 1:
		Capabilities: 0x11ef
			RX LDPC
			HT20/HT40
			SM Power Save disabled
			RX HT20 SGI
			RX HT40 SGI
			TX STBC
			RX STBC 1-stream
			Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
			DSSS/CCK HT40
		Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
		Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
		HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
		Frequencies:
			* 2412 MHz [1] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2417 MHz [2] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2422 MHz [3] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2427 MHz [4] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2432 MHz [5] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2437 MHz [6] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2442 MHz [7] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2447 MHz [8] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2452 MHz [9] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2457 MHz [10] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2462 MHz [11] (18.0 dBm)
			* 2467 MHz [12] (disabled)
			* 2472 MHz [13] (disabled)
			* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
	valid interface combinations:
		 * #{ managed } <= 2048, #{ AP, mesh point } <= 8, #{ P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ IBSS } <= 1,
		   total <= 2048, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match, radar detect widths: { 20 MHz (no HT), 20 MHz, 40 MHz }

	HT Capability overrides:
		 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
		 * maximum A-MSDU length
		 * supported channel width
		 * short GI for 40 MHz
		 * max A-MPDU length exponent
		 * min MPDU start spacing
	Supported extended features:
		* [ RRM ]: RRM
		* [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
		* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
		* [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
4

Here are some excerpts from the kernel log

oot@OpenWrt:~# dmesg | grep ath
[   10.224892] ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x60
[   10.224895] ath: EEPROM indicates we should expect a direct regpair map
[   10.224897] ath: Country alpha2 being used: 00
[   10.224898] ath: Regpair used: 0x60
[   11.755326] ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x8348
[   11.755330] ath: EEPROM indicates we should expect a country code
[   11.755332] ath: doing EEPROM country->regdmn map search
[   11.755334] ath: country maps to regdmn code: 0x3a
[   11.755336] ath: Country alpha2 being used: US
[   11.755338] ath: Regpair used: 0x3a
[   11.755340] ath: regdomain 0x8348 dynamically updated by user
root@OpenWrt:~# dmesg | grep 802
[    1.078025] NET: Registered protocol family 16
[    1.508027] pci 0000:00:02.0: reg 0x20: [io  0xf020-0xf027]
[    1.680235] pnp 00:03: [dma 0 disabled]
[    2.849525] 8021q: 802.1Q VLAN Support v1.8
[    3.283802] hub 1-3:1.0: USB hub found
[    9.983802] Loading modules backported from Linux version v5.3-rc4-0-gd45331b00ddb
[   10.235039] ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
[   10.235546] ieee80211 phy0: Atheros AR9485 Rev:1 mem=0xffffc90000400000, irq=19