Verdin 5GHz Wifi Access Point Fails

Technical Support
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1

Board: Verdin iMX8m Mini
Carrier: Custom carrier board
OS: Toradex Reference Yocto BSP 6.7.0

Configuring the Wifi as a 5GHz STA works without any issue. However, starting as an access point does not work. The hostapd configuration is as follows:
interface=uap0
ssid=NX25_00012
country_code=US
hw_mode=a
channel=0
ieee80211ac=1
ieee80211d=1
own_ip_addr=192.168.8.1
wpa=2
wpa_pairwise=CCMP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
require_ht=1
require_vht=1
wmm_enabled=1
wpa_passphrase=geophysical
ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd

The mwifiex_sdio driver repeatedly prints:
[ 40.251081] mwifiex_sdio mmc2:0001:1: CMD_RESP: cmd 0xb1 error, result=0x1
[ 40.258065] mwifiex_sdio mmc2:0001:1: Failed to start the BSS
[ 40.263864] mwifiex_sdio mmc2:0001:1: Failed to start AP

Changing hw_mode=b works and the AP is successfully started, however we would like to use 5GHz as we have interference issues at 2.4. Has anyone encountered similar issues?

2

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The issue you’re encountering with setting up a 5GHz Wi-Fi access point on the Verdin iMX8M Mini using the mwifiex_sdio driver is likely related to the driver or firmware limitations. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

  1. Driver and Firmware Update: Ensure that you are using the latest version of the mwifiex_sdio driver and firmware. Sometimes, newer versions include fixes for issues related to 5GHz operation.

  2. Channel Selection: Instead of setting channel=0, which allows automatic channel selection, try specifying a specific 5GHz channel that is supported by your hardware. For example:

    channel=36

  3. Regulatory Domain: Make sure that the regulatory domain is correctly set to allow 5GHz operation. You can check and set the regulatory domain using the iw command:

    iw reg set US

  4. Hostapd Configuration: Double-check the hostapd configuration to ensure all necessary parameters for 5GHz operation are correctly set. Here is a slightly modified version of your configuration:

    interface=uap0
ssid=NX25_00012
country_code=US
hw_mode=a
channel=36
ieee80211ac=1
ieee80211d=1
own_ip_addr=192.168.8.1
wpa=2
wpa_pairwise=CCMP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
require_ht=1
require_vht=1
wmm_enabled=1
wpa_passphrase=geophysical
ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd

  5. Kernel Logs: Check the kernel logs for more detailed error messages that might give additional clues. Use the dmesg command to view the logs:

    dmesg | grep mwifiex

  6. Compatibility: Verify that your Wi-Fi module and the mwifiex_sdio driver support 5GHz AP mode. Some modules may have limitations or require specific firmware versions to support 5GHz AP mode.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be necessary to consult the documentation for the mwifiex_sdio driver or reach out to the community for further assistance.

Best