ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Ben Greear]

Hello,

Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
chassis and provide tri-band MLO?

Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?

Thanks,
Ben

-- 
Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com>
Candela Technologies Inc  http://www.candelatech.com

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[pgupta]

There is firmware available from compex that will allow you to do tri-band.  Alternatively, compex can hard program the modules, but you need to specify this when you speak with them. I purchased the M.2 E-key modules before they came out with the mini-pcie modules.  I had to send the modules to them for re-programming, as I wanted a hardware solution and not just firmware.

I have yet to install the modules but compex can help you with this if you let them know what exact setup you are trying to do.

I have older WLW7000 High-Power M.2 Series and I believe they sold a single 2GHz module and the combined 5+6 Ghz modules when I purchased them. In any case, I have three modules, one for each band, and this is what I had to do.

Keep in mind that power connector are already soldered on, and I had to use alligator clips to power the 5V supply they need.

According to compex, hostapd would be utilized if you use a plain vanilla linux kernel.

Here is a video to the modules I have, I made a tictok about them:

#TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMWUv26h/



Regards,

Prashant

On Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:27:52 -0800, Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com> wrote:

>> Hello,
>>
>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>
>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ben
>>
>> --
>> Ben Greear
>> Candela Technologies Inc http://www.candelatech.com

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Jeff Johnson]

On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
> 
> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?

Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.

Something like:
https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/

(I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Ben Greear]

On 11/11/25 17:29, Jeff Johnson wrote:
> On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>
>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
> 
> Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
> For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.
> 
> Something like:
> https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/
> 
> (I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)

Hello Jeff,

Thanks for the link.  That too is dual band though.  I'm interested in
using ath12k radios for wifi testing purposes, so I'd really like tri-band
MLO to have some feature parity with the MTK 7996 radio board.

Is ath12k able to combine discrete wifi NICs into tri-band MLO stations?

Or is ath12k entirely DBDC at this point with no tri-band MLO capability?

In addition, back in ath10k days, I was able to get the radio to do up to
64 STA vdevs once I put the firmware on a diet.  From a quick look at the ath12k
driver, it seems the limit for STA vdevs is exactly 1.  Is there any somewhat-documented
way to get ath12k to support more STA vdevs?

Thanks,
Ben

-- 
Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com>
Candela Technologies Inc  http://www.candelatech.com

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Vasanthakumar Thiagarajan]

On 11/12/2025 7:10 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
> On 11/11/25 17:29, Jeff Johnson wrote:
>> On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>>
>>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
>>
>> Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
>> For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.
>>
>> Something like:
>> https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/
>>
>> (I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)
> 
> Hello Jeff,
> 
> Thanks for the link.  That too is dual band though.  I'm interested in
> using ath12k radios for wifi testing purposes, so I'd really like tri-band
> MLO to have some feature parity with the MTK 7996 radio board.
> 
> Is ath12k able to combine discrete wifi NICs into tri-band MLO stations?

Yes, ath12k supports tri-band MLO STA. This has been validated for QCN chipsets.
Not sure if this has been tested for WCN chipsets.

> 
> Or is ath12k entirely DBDC at this point with no tri-band MLO capability?
> 
> In addition, back in ath10k days, I was able to get the radio to do up to
> 64 STA vdevs once I put the firmware on a diet.  From a quick look at the ath12k
> driver, it seems the limit for STA vdevs is exactly 1.  Is there any somewhat-documented
> way to get ath12k to support more STA vdevs?

Supporting more number of STA vdevs instead of the current 1 STA will require
firmware changes (and of course more validations).

Vasanth

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Jeff Johnson]

On 11/11/2025 9:15 PM, Vasanthakumar Thiagarajan wrote:
> 
> 
> On 11/12/2025 7:10 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>> On 11/11/25 17:29, Jeff Johnson wrote:
>>> On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>>>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>>>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>>>
>>>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>>>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
>>>
>>> Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
>>> For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.
>>>
>>> Something like:
>>> https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/
>>>
>>> (I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)
>>
>> Hello Jeff,
>>
>> Thanks for the link.  That too is dual band though.  I'm interested in
>> using ath12k radios for wifi testing purposes, so I'd really like tri-band
>> MLO to have some feature parity with the MTK 7996 radio board.
>>
>> Is ath12k able to combine discrete wifi NICs into tri-band MLO stations?
> 
> Yes, ath12k supports tri-band MLO STA. This has been validated for QCN chipsets.
> Not sure if this has been tested for WCN chipsets.

+Baochen should be able to confirm, but my understanding is that WCN only
supports 2 active links at a time. So sorry for providing a link to a product
that doesn't meet your requirement to have all 3 bands operating
simultaneously -- I didn't read that requirement closely enough.

/jeff

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Ben Greear]

On 11/11/25 21:15, Vasanthakumar Thiagarajan wrote:
> 
> 
> On 11/12/2025 7:10 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>> On 11/11/25 17:29, Jeff Johnson wrote:
>>> On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>>>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>>>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>>>
>>>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>>>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
>>>
>>> Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
>>> For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.
>>>
>>> Something like:
>>> https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/
>>>
>>> (I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)
>>
>> Hello Jeff,
>>
>> Thanks for the link.  That too is dual band though.  I'm interested in
>> using ath12k radios for wifi testing purposes, so I'd really like tri-band
>> MLO to have some feature parity with the MTK 7996 radio board.
>>
>> Is ath12k able to combine discrete wifi NICs into tri-band MLO stations?
> 
> Yes, ath12k supports tri-band MLO STA. This has been validated for QCN chipsets.
> Not sure if this has been tested for WCN chipsets.

Can this work with some combination of Compex radios in an x86 chassis,
or does it require some integrated AP style platform?  If x86 is supported,
please suggest some radio model(s) you think will work.

>> Or is ath12k entirely DBDC at this point with no tri-band MLO capability?
>>
>> In addition, back in ath10k days, I was able to get the radio to do up to
>> 64 STA vdevs once I put the firmware on a diet.  From a quick look at the ath12k
>> driver, it seems the limit for STA vdevs is exactly 1.  Is there any somewhat-documented
>> way to get ath12k to support more STA vdevs?
> 
> Supporting more number of STA vdevs instead of the current 1 STA will require
> firmware changes (and of course more validations).

Any idea if QCA is offering ath12k FW source under NDA and/or for some price?

We could likely make the changes and validate, but we need the FW source and
a toolchain to compile it.

Thanks,
Ben

-- 
Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com>
Candela Technologies Inc  http://www.candelatech.com

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Vasanthakumar Thiagarajan]

On 11/12/2025 9:06 PM, Ben Greear wrote:
> On 11/11/25 21:15, Vasanthakumar Thiagarajan wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 11/12/2025 7:10 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>> On 11/11/25 17:29, Jeff Johnson wrote:
>>>> On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>>>>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>>>>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>>>>
>>>>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>>>>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
>>>>
>>>> Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
>>>> For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.
>>>>
>>>> Something like:
>>>> https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/
>>>>
>>>> (I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)
>>>
>>> Hello Jeff,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the link.  That too is dual band though.  I'm interested in
>>> using ath12k radios for wifi testing purposes, so I'd really like tri-band
>>> MLO to have some feature parity with the MTK 7996 radio board.
>>>
>>> Is ath12k able to combine discrete wifi NICs into tri-band MLO stations?
>>
>> Yes, ath12k supports tri-band MLO STA. This has been validated for QCN chipsets.
>> Not sure if this has been tested for WCN chipsets.
> 
> Can this work with some combination of Compex radios in an x86 chassis,
> or does it require some integrated AP style platform?  If x86 is supported,
> please suggest some radio model(s) you think will work.

Supported only on AP platforms where the QCN devices are connected with WSI
(https://lore.kernel.org/all/20241211153432.775335-2-kvalo@kernel.org/).

> 
>>> Or is ath12k entirely DBDC at this point with no tri-band MLO capability?
>>>
>>> In addition, back in ath10k days, I was able to get the radio to do up to
>>> 64 STA vdevs once I put the firmware on a diet.  From a quick look at the ath12k
>>> driver, it seems the limit for STA vdevs is exactly 1.  Is there any somewhat-documented
>>> way to get ath12k to support more STA vdevs?
>>
>> Supporting more number of STA vdevs instead of the current 1 STA will require
>> firmware changes (and of course more validations).
> 
> Any idea if QCA is offering ath12k FW source under NDA and/or for some price?
> 

I'm not aware.

Vasanth

Re: ath12k pcie radios with MLO support?

[Baochen Qiang]

On 11/12/2025 10:57 PM, Jeff Johnson wrote:
> On 11/11/2025 9:15 PM, Vasanthakumar Thiagarajan wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 11/12/2025 7:10 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>> On 11/11/25 17:29, Jeff Johnson wrote:
>>>> On 11/11/2025 7:27 AM, Ben Greear wrote:
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> Are there any current radios + software available where one can put
>>>>> ath12k radios in (mini)pcie slots or similar and use those in x86-64
>>>>> chassis and provide tri-band MLO?
>>>>>
>>>>> Last I looked, Compex had some dual-band radios and maybe single-band
>>>>> 6ghz, but I am not sure those can be combined into a tri-band MLO solution?
>>>>
>>>> Most of the Compex modules use the AP-centric QCN chipsets.
>>>> For your use case look for something using the WCN chipset.
>>>>
>>>> Something like:
>>>> https://www.sparklan.com/product/wnfq-291bei/
>>>>
>>>> (I haven't tried it and don't endorse it, just giving as an example)
>>>
>>> Hello Jeff,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the link.  That too is dual band though.  I'm interested in
>>> using ath12k radios for wifi testing purposes, so I'd really like tri-band
>>> MLO to have some feature parity with the MTK 7996 radio board.
>>>
>>> Is ath12k able to combine discrete wifi NICs into tri-band MLO stations?
>>
>> Yes, ath12k supports tri-band MLO STA. This has been validated for QCN chipsets.
>> Not sure if this has been tested for WCN chipsets.
> 
> +Baochen should be able to confirm, but my understanding is that WCN only
> supports 2 active links at a time. So sorry for providing a link to a product

Yeah, simultaneously 2 link at most.

> that doesn't meet your requirement to have all 3 bands operating
> simultaneously -- I didn't read that requirement closely enough.
> 
> /jeff
> 
>