Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 client unable to connect, 5Ghz

[bheiser1]

I am transitioning from an RT-N16 to an RT-AC66U. During the transition I have the AC66U set up for just 5Ghz, with the 2.4Ghz radio disabled.

I've successfully connected several devices including a Mac running OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2. However when a 10.7.5 client tries to connect, it fails.

The client syslog shows:
12/1/12 3:17:49.000 PM kernel: en1: 802.11d country code set to 'US'.
12/1/12 3:17:49.000 PM kernel: en1: Supported channels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 149 153 157 161 165
12/1/12 3:36:11.000 PM kernel: MacAuthEvent en1 Auth result for: <RT-AC66U MAC addr> Auth timed out
12/1/12 3:36:14.000 PM kernel: MacAuthEvent en1 Auth result for: <RT-AC66U MAC addr> Auth timed out

On the RT-AC66U, in System Log -> Wireless Log, under "Stations List", I see an entry showing the client's MAC address. Instead of showing the client's hostname, it shows MY hostname (of my computer - a different Mac) ... and there are a bunch of garbage characters under Rx/Tx speed, rssi, etc.

I have tried this both with Wireless Mac Filter disabled & enabled.

Again this is with 5Ghz only. I haven't tried 2.4Ghz yet (it's a bit inconvenient to try things with this, since I need to ask the owner of the other Mac to interrupt his work to try connecting, so I haven't tried as many things as I might have liked). i haven't tried 2.4Ghz yet as I'd prefer not to interrupt the RT-N16 if possible until the RT-AC66U is up & stable.

[RMerlin]

Try this:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us

There is an issue between Asuswrt and some Apple products related to 802.11d.

[bheiser1]

Originally Posted by RMerlin

Try this:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us

There is an issue between Asuswrt and some Apple products related to 802.11d.

That's gotten me past that issue, thanks. I just need to set up a startup (rc?) scripts since this setting seems to reset upon reboot. And I'll check the Asus forums too, from now on, before posting issues.

Now I'm wrestling with 5Ghz signal strength, though I guess that's not an asuswrt-merlin issue . The client device in question is about 38 feet down a straight hallway, and about 10 feet from there thru a doorway into a room (or some lesser distance via a straight line between the walls... not sure if this kind of signal is more likely to penetrate walls or reflect thru open doorways).

I'm trying to avoid 2.4Ghz because inSSIDER shows (count 'em) 48 other 2.4Ghz access points within range, and no (zero) 5Ghz devices. Plus this particular client device is near a microwave oven, and it essentially kills 2.4Ghz connectivity when it's running.

[RMerlin]

Originally Posted by bheiser1

That's gotten me past that issue, thanks. I just need to set up a startup (rc?) scripts since this setting seems to reset upon reboot. And I'll check the Asus forums too, from now on, before posting issues.

Check the Wiki on my Github repo (link is in my signature) for more info on custom user scripts.

Originally Posted by bheiser1

Now I'm wrestling with 5Ghz signal strength, though I guess that's not an asuswrt-merlin issue . The client device in question is about 38 feet down a straight hallway, and about 10 feet from there thru a doorway into a room (or some lesser distance via a straight line between the walls... not sure if this kind of signal is more likely to penetrate walls or reflect thru open doorways).

I'm trying to avoid 2.4Ghz because inSSIDER shows (count 'em) 48 other 2.4Ghz access points within range, and no (zero) 5Ghz devices. Plus this particular client device is near a microwave oven, and it essentially kills 2.4Ghz connectivity when it's running.

Try using a fixed channel either in the low numbers or the high numbers on your 5 GHz radio, one of them might work better for you as they have different power output settings.

[bheiser1]

Thanks, I see the scripts page, I will give it a shot.

I changed to channel 161 on 5ghz (was on 44) and that seems to have helped a bit. We still see some variation from test to test (directly to our cable provider) but still better than before.

I notice the rcv/tx rates in Wireless Log vary from minute to minute but I saw that with tomato on the RT-n16 as well.

[RMerlin]

Originally Posted by bheiser1

I notice the rcv/tx rates in Wireless Log vary from minute to minute but I saw that with tomato on the RT-n16 as well.

That's power management in action. The wireless interface might drop in speed if it isn't actively trying to transfer a lot of data, it will go back up once there's more traffic.

[bheiser1]

Originally Posted by RMerlin

That's power management in action. The wireless interface might drop in speed if it isn't actively trying to transfer a lot of data, it will go back up once there's more traffic.

Ahh, cool!

[canuckle]

Originally Posted by RMerlin

Check the Wiki on my Github repo (link is in my signature) for more info on custom user scripts.



Try using a fixed channel either in the low numbers or the high numbers on your 5 GHz radio, one of them might work better for you as they have different power output settings.

RMerlin, is there a list somewhere of what channels are higher power, and lower power?

[RMerlin]

Originally Posted by canuckle

RMerlin, is there a list somewhere of what channels are higher power, and lower power?

I keep forgetting whether it's the higher channels or the lower channels that support higher power output, but it was posted a few times here on the forums.