How do I turn on (enable) Atheros XR mode on Gargoyle rtr?

[stevegladden]

I have also posted this question on the openwrt forum.
If I ever get any answers over there I will certainly
share that info back here.
Meanwhile that thread can be referenced at:
https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=25040

---


I have an engenius branded EOC-2610 that I have flashed to openwrt
KAMIKAZE (8.09.1, unknown)
per the instructions at this website: https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=22009

I've installed openwrt via redboot using fonflash & the version of gargoyle-router
on that website.

My device is working great as a simple access point after doing this.

I'd like to enable AND USE Atheros' XR (Extended Range) mode and am looking to you for help
in accomplishing this!

What I have done so far in this attempt which so far has failed is that I have edited
the last two lines in /etc/config/wireless

to both disable turbo (seems to be on by default)
and to enable "xr".

I've also tried not disabling turbo and also tried at the prompt:

this command:

iwpriv ath0 xr 1

It takes the command without any error kickback but XR is still not enabled & working.



config 'wifi-device' 'wifi0'
option 'type' 'atheros'
option 'channel' '1'
option 'txpower' '17'



config 'wifi-iface' 'cfg2'
option 'device' 'wifi0'
option 'mode' 'ap'
option 'network' 'lan'
option 'ssid' 'our-actual-ssid'
option 'encryption' 'none'
option 'turbo' '0'
------> option 'xr' '1'


I am determining if XR is enabled & working in several ways:

1. Windows atheros client connection status.. it should drop below 1Mbps
and indicate "250kbps ofdm" at some point as it gets further away from the AP
but the lowest mode it ever switches to at the end of it's outdoor range test is
"1mbps 802.11b" as indicated.

2. getting the same range as hard set 1Mbps 802.11b access point.


3. Using the Atheros Wireless Windows client software doing scan mode (site survey)
It's displays found SSIDS and it shows if they are B/G and it shows if they are
doing superG/turbo and it shows if they are XR capable..
Please see my inline screenshot http://michiganbroadband.com/xr-1.jpg
showing a scan and some other APs (not mine) that
are either announcing or being picked up by the Windows client as XR mode capable..
Sorry I don't know exactly how XR mode works... if it is actually beaconed as being
there or if the client actually switches to XR mode and scans there for XR transmissions
IT REALLY SUCKS that I can't find any documentation or know where to find info on how
XR actually works!

Anyhow I've been unable to get my new openwrt AP to either connect XR mode or announce
as seen in my scans that it is offering XR mode connectivity.

It is always announcing or showing in the scan that it is "SuperG/Turbo" enabled.

I'm not sure why that is..
I've tried turning off "turbo" both in the above mentioned config file
and by issuing a
iwpriv turbo 0
command but it still shows up in the client scan as Super-G capable.
Even though it's on channel 1.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions/help in enabling XR on my new openwrt device!!

Thanks!

Steve

[DoesItMatter]

A couple OpenWRT posts that may help:

https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=11400

http://open-wrt.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=104582

Be aware - you cannot mix and match hardware when you do this.

As mentioned in the posts, if you are using an Atheros router,
you need an Atheros based computer card.
Same with Broadcom router and Broadcom wireless card.

So if your laptop has some internal Atheros based device, you
should be able to get something working with your router.

--------------------

The real question is what are you trying to accomplish with this?

If you are hoping for extended range - the only way you can
extend range is to buy better antennas. You can try and
increase the power output, not sure how to do this with Gargoyle,
but that also increases noise as well. Better antennas will almost
always get you a better signal instead of messing with tweaks.

[stevegladden]

Excellent excellent reads!! (THANK YOU!)
At first I was like aw crap a bunch of stuff about Super G and Turbo
and nothing to do with XR mode.
But there are some specific examples of enabling XR
that I have not seen anywhere else yet so this is good!
I'm aware that Atheros is using "Super" G and not "Turbo".
I'm not sure at this point why my AP is stuck advertising It's
"super" capable but those notes may help me to disable that
which *might* be interfering with the ability to turn on XR mode.

I'm VERY aware that only Atheros supports XR mode and that it
will only work between Atheros products.

>>The real question is what are you trying to accomplish with this?

I am desiring to use the Lower data rates and ability to work with weaker signals than is required for 1Mbps B rates.
this will indeed extend range a little to low powered outdoor roaming wireless Atheros clients in our area.

By design this mode will work solidly at considerably lower RX signal levels than what is available with 802.11b 1Mbps.
I'd like to try it out..
I'm already getting excellent range at 802.11b/1Mbs due to applying excellent outdoor radio & antenna engineering skills.

>>the only way you can
>>extend range is to buy better antennas.

No,
That is partially true.. it's not the only way.
Although that is the primary way
You can also increase range by using better equipment.
Meaning more sensitive and selective recievers (in hardware and in DSP). and of course 'cleaner' more powerful transmitters.

You can also increase range by using a narrower bandwidth type
of data signal & equipment (this will give you more range) but at the cost of having to send data at a slower speed..
Way down to 256Kbps in the case of Atheros' XR mode..
In the case of my Engenius EOC-2610 AP this improves my ability
to be able to recieve a weak signal by around 10db!
EOC-2610 needs around -95dbm to recieve 802.11b 1Mbps signal.
But it only needs -105dbm to reliably copy (decode) 256Kbps
Atheros XR mode OFDM.
It can and will continue to work at that speed when 1Mbps B mode
fails.
I have a lot of experience working with these types of RF levels and
wireless data.. where I'm rather weak is in the software part of things
Getting that 10db improvement on the reciever is a very worthwhile
thing to do.
As well as getting improvements from other places like you had suggested..
Good antenna systems on each end are absolutely key and should
ALWAYS be the FIRST step.
That and mowing down all the trees that get in your way

-Steve

[Eric]

I am not familiar with atheros XR mode, but if you do find a way to enable it in OpenWrt, I will consider adding a control to enable it in the GUI.

Just post here/email me if you find a working solution, and I'll see if I can integrate it.