RT-AC86U 5GHz issue with 384.7_2

[Guido Medina]

I recently upgraded from a RT-AC3200 (384.6) to a RT-AC86U (384.7_2), because my home is easily covered with 5GHz I usually disable the 2.4GHz but I'm having an issue now with 5GHz, I'm using Debian 10 (Test version - Kernel 4.18.2) and Windows 10 so let me describe my issues:

• RT-AC3200: Struggle to connect from Windows with my PCE-AC68 but no problem from Linux.
• RT-AC86U: On Windows 10 with my PCE-AC68 it connects to 5GHz really fast.
• RT-AC86U: My Linux cannot connect to 5GHz and my Sony Xperia Phone cannot connect to 2.4GHz nor 5GHz

I'm using smart connect configured to push everybody to 5GHz and it is working fine except for the issue I described, following a smart connect configuration screenshot:

Another note, the HTTP server seems to be crashing from time to time, when it happened I see Kernel logs and watchdog starting the HTTP server, unfortunately I cleared the logs but I will post them if it happens again.

 

[ColinTaylor]

I don't know the answer to your question but you talk about the RT-AC86U and RT-AC68U , which is it?

 

[Guido Medina]

I don't know the answer to your question but you talk about the RT-AC86U and RT-AC68U , which is it?

I described what was happening with the RT-AC3200 as background history but my intention is really to solve the 5GHz problem with my current router which is the RT-AC86U
Sorry for confusing you, not sure if this is a problem with the router itself or current Asus GPL not handling 5GHz very well for some cards.

Edit: Ah, I just realized I typed 68 instead of 86, that's because my PCIe card is a PCE-AC68, I have edited the original post...

 

[wesbez]

I’m having the same issue as you. Phones will pick up all SSID’s but other devices will only pickup 2.4ghz. Just got the router.

Just out of interest are you running any other ASUS routers in AP? I have my old ASUS router in AP mode.

 

[Guido Medina]

I’m having the same issue as you. Phones will pick up all SSID’s but other devices will only pickup 2.4ghz. Just got the router.
Just out of interest are you running any other ASUS routers in AP? I have my old ASUS router in AP mode.

No, one Asus router covers my whole place, two stories home with wooden 2nd floor so signal transverse nicely, that's why I usually disable 2.4GHz.
With my old RT-AC3200 I used to use the smart connect with the 2.4GHz disable as well.
As we speak I went to my phone, forgot the network and reconnect, this time it is seeing the 5GHz band so it seems to be an intermittent (mostly not working) issue for some devices.
Right now my 5GHz is using channel 60 as control and 52, 56 and 64 as extension channels.

 

[john9527]

Right now my 5GHz is using channel 60 as control and 52, 56 and 64 as extension channels.

All DFS channels...if the router detects a conflicting radar signal it will disconnect and change the channel.
How did you source your AC86? Are you sure that your region matches the region you are actually in? If there is a mismatch, it can select a channel that is not supported by your clients.

 

[Guido Medina]

All DFS channels...if the router detects a conflicting radar signal it will disconnect and change the channel.
How did you source your AC86? Are you sure that your region matches the region you are actually in?

I bought it in Amazon UK and I live in Ireland, the 1st thing I did was to upgrade to the latest Asus firmware just because the wizard was kind of pushy about it and then installed RMerlin.

It looks like DFS is the new standard now, maybe everything is just working as intended and my problem could be mainly in the Linux driver, my phone has stayed connected, will keep you posted.

My HTTP just crashed, as promised here is the pertinent log:

Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: pgd = ffffffc01527c000
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: [00c340b4] *pgd=0000000014010003, *pud=0000000014010003, *pmd=00000000177be003, *pte=0000000000000000
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: CPU: 0 PID: 28525 Comm: httpd Tainted: P           O    4.1.27 #2
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: Hardware name: Broadcom-v8A (DT)
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: task: ffffffc0170c0a40 ti: ffffffc0142ac000 task.ti: ffffffc0142ac000
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: PC is at 0xf6c00aa0
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: LR is at 0x2641c
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: pc : [<00000000f6c00aa0>] lr : [<000000000002641c>] pstate: 20000010
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: sp : 00000000ffab8b08
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x12: 0000000000087ca4
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x11: 000000000007547d x10: 0000000000000001
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x9 : 0000000000c256c8 x8 : 0000000000000000
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x7 : 0000000000b74510 x6 : 0000000000bbf460
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x5 : 0000000000c340a8 x4 : 0000000000c340a8
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x3 : 00000000ffffffff x2 : 00000000f6aac7a8
Nov 23 22:54:33 kernel: x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 0000000000c340a8
Nov 23 22:54:52 watchdog: restart httpd
Nov 23 22:54:52 rc_service: watchdog 751:notify_rc stop_httpd
Nov 23 22:54:52 rc_service: watchdog 751:notify_rc start_httpd
Nov 23 22:54:52 RT-AC86U: start httpd:80

 

[Guido Medina]

@john9527 @wesbez I have made accidentally another discovery, I was changing the smart connect rules which restarts the WiFi and guess what happened:
The router is now using channel 36 as control channel and my Linux PC is now using 5GHz, this leads to me think that the problem is not in the router.
It seems RT-AC86U is still too advanced for some WiFi clients/drivers which is in a way good news.

 

[wesbez]

I think you could be correct re it being the devices themselves. Our iPhones & iPads have no issue. Problems with NowTv streaming box, amazon fire tv boxes and sticks. I tend to plug everything I can with Ethernet if I can with a good switch to reduce traffic or interference.

I’ve also noticed the amazon fire tv sticks and boxes create their own AP/direct connection for the remotes and game controllers.

I found manually changing to some of the lower channels like 48 or 40 it’ll show the 5GHZ on this occasion for the ac 86u. Luckily I’ve got a AP (ac56u) connected over Ethernet serving Wi-fi on 5GHZ for those other devices that can’t work.

 

[Guido Medina]

I think you could be correct re it being the devices themselves. Our iPhones & iPads have no issue. Problems with NowTv streaming box, amazon fire tv boxes and sticks. I tend to plug everything I can with Ethernet if I can with a good switch to reduce traffic or interference.

I’ve also noticed the amazon fire tv sticks and boxes create their own AP/direct connection for the remotes and game controllers.

I found manually changing to some of the lower channels like 48 or 40 it’ll show the 5GHZ on this occasion for the ac 86u. Luckily I’ve got a AP (ac56u) connected over Ethernet serving Wi-fi on 5GHZ for those other devices that can’t work.

To give you more data, this is a driver issue, since my PC has dual boot I have both Windows and Linux and Windows can connect to the router's 5GHz, but in Linux I can't when 5GHz is parked at the DFS channels, so we will have to wait until manufactures update their firmwares/drivers to scan DFS channels as well.

 

[john9527]

To give you more data, this is a driver issue, since my PC has dual boot I have both Windows and Linux and Windows can connect to the router's 5GHz, but in Linux I can't when 5GHz is parked at the DFS channels, so we will have to wait until manufactures update their firmwares/drivers to scan DFS channels as well.

Linux is pretty bad at keeping up with the wireless specs.....may want to try and update the wireless-regdb
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/r...reless-n-connection-solved.32760/#post-262258

 

[Guido Medina]

Linux is pretty bad at keeping up with the wireless specs.....may want to try and update the wireless-regdb
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/r...reless-n-connection-solved.32760/#post-262258

I tried setting my WiFi to JP, US, IE, UK and no luck:

user@host:~$ wajig list wireless-regdb
ii  wireless-regdb                           2016.06.10-1                         all          wireless regulatory database

user@host:~$ wajig list broadcom
ii  broadcom-sta-dkms                        6.30.223.271-9.1                     all          dkms source for the Broadcom STA Wireless driver

Do you suggest any other code that will make the Broadcom driver scan DFS channels?

 

[john9527]

Do you suggest any other code that will make the Broadcom driver scan DFS channels?

Is it a BCM4360? Looks like a long standing problem with no solution.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/+bug/1574196

 

[Guido Medina]

Is it a BCM4360? Looks like a long standing problem with no solution.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/bcmwl/+bug/1574196

Yeap, the infamous PCE-AC68:

user@host:~$ sudo lspci | grep Broad
25:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Limited BCM4360 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter (rev 03)