Routerstation Pro and OpenWRT Wireless Using A SR71-12

06 Jun Posted by admin in openwrt, Routerstation pro, SR71-12, wireless, WPA, WPA2

In continuation of my last article getting OpenWRT on a Routerstation Pro - I am adding this additional section to get wireless working using an Ubiquiti S71-12.  A 500 mw 2.4Ghz N mini PCI card that should act as a great little AP provided you use the right antennas.

Getting Started

Hook the WAN port on the router up to the Internet and get a SSH console on one of the LAN ports.

Login

Install the following had you not included them into your custom build (if you don't know what I am talking about, look at the article I wrote).

  1.                         opkg update
  2. opkg install wpad
  3. opkg install kmod-madwifi
  4. opkg install kmod-ath9k

 

Run the command:

  1.         wifi

With a single Wireless card installed the wifi command should return:

  1. 'radio0' is disabled
  2. 'wifi0' is disabled

Using VI or some editor - open the file /etc/config/wireless which should look something like this:

  1. config wifi-device  radio0
  2.         option type     mac80211
  3.         option channel  5
  4.         option macaddr  00:27:19:ba:b4:35
  5.         option hwmode   11ng
  6.         option htmode   HT20
  7.         list ht_capab   SHORT-GI-40
  8.         list ht_capab   DSSS_CCK-40
  9.         # REMOVE THIS LINE TO ENABLE WIFI:
  10.        option disabled 1
  11.  
  12. config wifi-iface
  13.         option device   radio0
  14.         option network  lan
  15.         option mode     ap
  16.         option ssid     OpenWrt
  17.         option encryption none

 

To enable WIFI - edit the option disabled from 1 to 0 and add the encryption/key options.

  1. config wifi-device  radio0
  2.         option type     mac80211
  3.         option channel  5
  4.         option macaddr  00:1b:fc:91:8f:eb
  5.         option hwmode   11g
  6.         # REMOVE THIS LINE TO ENABLE WIFI:
  7.        option disabled 0
  8.  
  9. config wifi-iface
  10.         option device   radio0
  11.         option network  lan
  12.         option mode     ap
  13.         option ssid     red
  14.         option encryption psk2
  15.         option key myGreatSecureK3y

 

Now run:

  1. wifi up

The router should now return a message about not having enough entropy - reboot it and check for signal!

Comments

AnonymousFri, 08/05/2011 - 13:57

Poor performance wireless network

Hi!

I have a RouterStation Pro with Atheros SR71-12 chipset and the wireless connection is very poor. It drops constantly and when not, the connection is slow even when my PC is close to the router.

Is good your wireless connection? Have you had any problem with it?

Thank you

admin's picture
adminThu, 08/18/2011 - 05:46

Here is a better wireless config

config 'wifi-device' 'radio0'
option 'type' 'mac80211'
option 'macaddr' '00:15:6d:84:25:74'
option 'hwmode' '11ng'
list 'ht_capab' 'SHORT-GI-40'
list 'ht_capab' 'TX-STBC'
list 'ht_capab' 'RX-STBC1'
list 'ht_capab' 'DSSS_CCK-40'
option 'txpower' '27'
option 'channel' '5'
option 'htmode' 'HT40+'
option 'country' 'CA'
option 'disabled' '0'
option 'noscan' '0'
option 'antenna' 'vertical'

admin's picture
adminFri, 08/05/2011 - 16:32

Great performance

I have great performance with my wireless card - but I am using two 9dB antennas with lowloss connectors. I am also cranking out 27dB at 501 mw as well.Double check your channel, and verify that you have enough power juice with your power suppy.. I have heard that if you have just enough power for the device wireless performance may be hindered - but that might be an unfounded assumption.

AnonymousThu, 06/23/2011 - 09:49

hello, I need help, please

Hello!

I have a routerstation pro and a sr71-12 card.
I follow the steps installing wpad, kmod-madwifi and kmod-ath9k. All done.
But I run the command 'wifi' and nothing happens! no return from the command. And the /etc/config/wireless is still empty.
What's wrong? How can i know the mini-pci port is working?

Thanks in advance!

admin's picture
adminTue, 06/28/2011 - 16:46

Additional tools

Its early in the morning so bear with me ;) I think you need the following packages as well.. I may have forgotten them or totaly missed their importance.Under Network I have installed:> wprobe-util> wpadI also have the WPA supplicant installed, but its just a symlink to wpad.Hope this helps! if not, I can run a ipkg list on my compiled image.

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