carl9170 does not like all frequencies

carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Bernd Schubert]

Hi all,

I bought a new usb wifi device with 2 antennas to get a better
connection to my router. From point of few of connection strength that
worked out very well, from point of view of connection stability that is
total disaster so far. With Ubuntus 2.6.38-something it connects and
then entirely fails after sending a few bytes. So I checked git log and
noticed carl9170 is being used in recent kernels and connection issues
have been fixed in 3.1-git. So I compiled this kernel and now I don't
get a connection to my router at all anymore. And except of seeing my
SSID and about 10 others from my neighbors, I now only can see two
neighbor connections.

I guess that is due *lots* of messages like those:


> [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
> [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
> [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
> [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
> [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
> [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:


Any idea what is going on here? Do I need a crda tool? Or is something
else failing?

Update: While writing this up and after I plugged in my zd1211rw device,
eventually also my tp-link carl9170 device connected a few minutes
later. Do I always have to wait for 20 minutes to get a connection now?


Thanks,
Bernd

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Bernd Schubert]

On 08/13/2011 10:02 PM, Bernd Schubert wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I bought a new usb wifi device with 2 antennas to get a better
> connection to my router. From point of few of connection strength that
> worked out very well, from point of view of connection stability that is
> total disaster so far. With Ubuntus 2.6.38-something it connects and
> then entirely fails after sending a few bytes. So I checked git log and
> noticed carl9170 is being used in recent kernels and connection issues
> have been fixed in 3.1-git. So I compiled this kernel and now I don't
> get a connection to my router at all anymore. And except of seeing my
> SSID and about 10 others from my neighbors, I now only can see two
> neighbor connections.
> 
> I guess that is due *lots* of messages like those:
> 
> 
>> [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>> [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>> [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
>> [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>> [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>> [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>> [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>> [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>> [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
>> [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
>> [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
>> [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
>> [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>> [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:

As a side note, I'm still getting those messages every 16 seconds. How I
can disable that spam?


Thanks,
Bernd

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Christian Lamparter]

On Saturday 13 August 2011 22:02:18 Bernd Schubert wrote:
> I bought a new usb wifi device with 2 antennas to get a better
> connection to my router.
So, you are saying that there was something wrong with the old
stick as well, right!?

> From point of few of connection strength that worked out very well, from
> point of view of connection stability that is total disaster so far.
Sure, you are affected by constant "loud" noise on the frequency/band.
The hardware is unable to finish the noise floor calibration and therefore
gives up.

> With Ubuntus 2.6.38-something it connects and then entirely fails after
> sending a few bytes. So I checked git log and noticed carl9170 is being
> used in recent kernels and connection issues have been fixed in 3.1-git.
what commits are you talking about?

> > [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> > [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> > [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
> > [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> > [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> > [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> > [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> > [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> > [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
> > [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
> > [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
> > [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
> > [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> > [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> 
> 
> Any idea what is going on here? Do I need a crda tool? Or is something
> else failing?
Yes, you need crda, if you haven't installed it already.

> Update: While writing this up and after I plugged in my zd1211rw device,
> eventually also my tp-link carl9170 device connected a few minutes
> later. Do I always have to wait for 20 minutes to get a connection now?
That's odd. TP-Link does not sell any AR9170 anymore, in fact they dropped it
more than a year ago and replaced the line-up with AR7010+AR9287? so where
did you get this obsolete device?

Regards,
	Chr

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Bernd Schubert]

On 08/13/2011 10:34 PM, Christian Lamparter wrote:
> On Saturday 13 August 2011 22:02:18 Bernd Schubert wrote:
>> I bought a new usb wifi device with 2 antennas to get a better
>> connection to my router.
> So, you are saying that there was something wrong with the old
> stick as well, right!?

There is nothing wrong with the previous zd1211rw device, its antenna is
just a bit weak and so I only can use it, when my system is rather close
to the router...

> 
>> From point of few of connection strength that worked out very well, from
>> point of view of connection stability that is total disaster so far.
> Sure, you are affected by constant "loud" noise on the frequency/band.
> The hardware is unable to finish the noise floor calibration and therefore
> gives up.
> 
>> With Ubuntus 2.6.38-something it connects and then entirely fails after
>> sending a few bytes. So I checked git log and noticed carl9170 is being
>> used in recent kernels and connection issues have been fixed in 3.1-git.
> what commits are you talking about?


For example:

582965672831180b2e1f5e15ea1f7dc6f5b93018
"carl9170: set beacon xmit power to the max"

> 
>>> [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>>> [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>>> [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
>>> [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>> [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>> [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>> [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>> [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>> [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
>>> [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
>>> [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
>>> [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
>>> [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>>> [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>>
>>
>> Any idea what is going on here? Do I need a crda tool? Or is something
>> else failing?
> Yes, you need crda, if you haven't installed it already.

Sorry, I forgot "update" there. So I asked if I would need to update
crda. I just did that, but I just don't want to disconnect right now to
see if it connects any faster. Those messages still appear every 16
seconds and spam my logs :(

> 
>> Update: While writing this up and after I plugged in my zd1211rw device,
>> eventually also my tp-link carl9170 device connected a few minutes
>> later. Do I always have to wait for 20 minutes to get a connection now?
> That's odd. TP-Link does not sell any AR9170 anymore, in fact they dropped it
> more than a year ago and replaced the line-up with AR7010+AR9287? so where
> did you get this obsolete device?

The device is a TL-WN822N available widely here, I think. I got mine
from amazon, but I also could have bought it in a local shop in the city.


Thanks,
Bernd

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Christian Lamparter]

On Saturday 13 August 2011 22:51:17 Bernd Schubert wrote:
> On 08/13/2011 10:34 PM, Christian Lamparter wrote:
> > On Saturday 13 August 2011 22:02:18 Bernd Schubert wrote:
> >> I bought a new usb wifi device with 2 antennas to get a better
> >> connection to my router.
> > So, you are saying that there was something wrong with the old
> > stick as well, right!?
> 
> There is nothing wrong with the previous zd1211rw device, its antenna is
> just a bit weak and so I only can use it, when my system is rather close
> to the router...
Then just stick with that :-D.

> >> From point of few of connection strength that worked out very well, from
> >> point of view of connection stability that is total disaster so far.
> > Sure, you are affected by constant "loud" noise on the frequency/band.
> > The hardware is unable to finish the noise floor calibration and therefore
> > gives up.
> > 
> >> With Ubuntus 2.6.38-something it connects and then entirely fails after
> >> sending a few bytes. So I checked git log and noticed carl9170 is being
> >> used in recent kernels and connection issues have been fixed in 3.1-git.
> > what commits are you talking about?
> 
> 
> For example:
> 
> 582965672831180b2e1f5e15ea1f7dc6f5b93018
> "carl9170: set beacon xmit power to the max"
This change is not relevant for station mode. 
 
> >>> [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> >>> [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> >>> [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
> >>> [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> >>> [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> >>> [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> >>> [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> >>> [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
> >>> [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
> >>> [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
> >>> [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
> >>> [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
> >>> [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
> >>> [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
> >>
> >> Any idea what is going on here? Do I need a crda tool? Or is something
> >> else failing?
> > Yes, you need crda, if you haven't installed it already.
> 
> Sorry, I forgot "update" there. So I asked if I would need to update
> crda. I just did that, but I just don't want to disconnect right now to
> see if it connects any faster. Those messages still appear every 16
> seconds and spam my logs :(
Luis, do you know what causes these CRDA spamming?
(Also, the country code should be "DE" in his case, or?)

> >> Update: While writing this up and after I plugged in my zd1211rw device,
> >> eventually also my tp-link carl9170 device connected a few minutes
> >> later. Do I always have to wait for 20 minutes to get a connection now?
> > That's odd. TP-Link does not sell any AR9170 anymore, in fact they dropped it
> > more than a year ago and replaced the line-up with AR7010+AR9287? so where
> > did you get this obsolete device?
> 
> The device is a TL-WN822N available widely here, I think.
Well, there's a WN822N v1 and there's a WN822N v2. You got the
old v1, probably because someone else returned it. AR9170 is long
gone, in fact Qualcomm Atheros has does not even list the product on
their website anymore.

Regards,
	Chr

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Bernd Schubert]

On 08/13/2011 11:11 PM, Christian Lamparter wrote:
> On Saturday 13 August 2011 22:51:17 Bernd Schubert wrote:
>> On 08/13/2011 10:34 PM, Christian Lamparter wrote:
>>> On Saturday 13 August 2011 22:02:18 Bernd Schubert wrote:
>>>> I bought a new usb wifi device with 2 antennas to get a better
>>>> connection to my router.
>>> So, you are saying that there was something wrong with the old
>>> stick as well, right!?
>>
>> There is nothing wrong with the previous zd1211rw device, its antenna is
>> just a bit weak and so I only can use it, when my system is rather close
>> to the router...
> Then just stick with that :-D.

The problem is that my system is usually not close to the router and
have to connect via a wr54g, which has good antennas. But for some
reasons I would like to get rid of that...

> 
>>>> From point of few of connection strength that worked out very well, from
>>>> point of view of connection stability that is total disaster so far.
>>> Sure, you are affected by constant "loud" noise on the frequency/band.
>>> The hardware is unable to finish the noise floor calibration and therefore
>>> gives up.
>>>
>>>> With Ubuntus 2.6.38-something it connects and then entirely fails after
>>>> sending a few bytes. So I checked git log and noticed carl9170 is being
>>>> used in recent kernels and connection issues have been fixed in 3.1-git.
>>> what commits are you talking about?
>>
>>
>> For example:
>>
>> 582965672831180b2e1f5e15ea1f7dc6f5b93018
>> "carl9170: set beacon xmit power to the max"
> This change is not relevant for station mode. 

Ok

>  
>>>>> [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>>>>> [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>>>>> [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
>>>>> [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
>>>>> [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
>>>>> [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
>>>>> [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
>>>>> [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>>>>> [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>>>>
>>>> Any idea what is going on here? Do I need a crda tool? Or is something
>>>> else failing?
>>> Yes, you need crda, if you haven't installed it already.
>>
>> Sorry, I forgot "update" there. So I asked if I would need to update
>> crda. I just did that, but I just don't want to disconnect right now to
>> see if it connects any faster. Those messages still appear every 16
>> seconds and spam my logs :(
> Luis, do you know what causes these CRDA spamming?
> (Also, the country code should be "DE" in his case, or?)
> 
>>>> Update: While writing this up and after I plugged in my zd1211rw device,
>>>> eventually also my tp-link carl9170 device connected a few minutes
>>>> later. Do I always have to wait for 20 minutes to get a connection now?
>>> That's odd. TP-Link does not sell any AR9170 anymore, in fact they dropped it
>>> more than a year ago and replaced the line-up with AR7010+AR9287? so where
>>> did you get this obsolete device?
>>
>> The device is a TL-WN822N available widely here, I think.
> Well, there's a WN822N v1 and there's a WN822N v2. You got the
> old v1, probably because someone else returned it. AR9170 is long
> gone, in fact Qualcomm Atheros has does not even list the product on
> their website anymore.


Yeah thanks, I just figured out myself. Lets see if I can exchange it,
even without the original box.

Thanks a lot for your help,
Bernd

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Bernd Schubert]

>>>>> [ 1058.936551] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>>>>> [ 1058.945510] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>>>>> [ 1058.945519] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
>>>>> [ 1058.945529] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945538] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945547] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945555] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945563] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
>>>>> [ 1058.945604] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: 97
>>>>> [ 1061.373997] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: 2417 -> 2422 failed (2).
>>>>> [ 1061.682115] ieee80211 phy1: channel change: -1 -> 2422 failed (2).
>>>>> [ 1061.682132] usb 10-1.2: restart device (7)
>>>>> [ 1062.096523] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
>>>>> [ 1062.105469] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
>>>>
>>>> Any idea what is going on here? Do I need a crda tool? Or is something
>>>> else failing?
>>> Yes, you need crda, if you haven't installed it already.
>>
>> Sorry, I forgot "update" there. So I asked if I would need to update
>> crda. I just did that, but I just don't want to disconnect right now to
>> see if it connects any faster. Those messages still appear every 16
>> seconds and spam my logs :(
> Luis, do you know what causes these CRDA spamming?
> (Also, the country code should be "DE" in his case, or?)

After installing a new crda version *and* rebooting those messages only
appear once now. New 3.1-rc1 kernel incompatible with old tools?

Btw, isn't errno=28 a bit weird on setting the country code with crda?


bernd@bathl ~>COUNTRY=DE crda
Failed to set regulatory domain: -28

(28 = ENOSPC)


Thanks,
Bernd

Re: carl9170 does not like all frequencies

[Bernd Schubert]

>>
>>> Update: While writing this up and after I plugged in my zd1211rw device,
>>> eventually also my tp-link carl9170 device connected a few minutes
>>> later. Do I always have to wait for 20 minutes to get a connection now?
>> That's odd. TP-Link does not sell any AR9170 anymore, in fact they dropped it
>> more than a year ago and replaced the line-up with AR7010+AR9287? so where
>> did you get this obsolete device?
> 
> The device is a TL-WN822N available widely here, I think. I got mine
> from amazon, but I also could have bought it in a local shop in the city.
> 

Oh great, luckily as I am, I got v1 of this device, which has the AR9170
chip, while v2 does have AR7010 :(
Of course, I already through away the shipment box to make sending it
back more difficult :(


Cheers,
Bernd