Atheros AR9280 / AR7010 Initial low scaning signal range

Atheros AR9280 / AR7010 Initial low scaning signal range

[cybersnow_2001]

I'm using an Atheros AR9280 USB dongle (Panasonic UB94) under linux. I think a few years ago, it wasn't doing this behavior but now, I think it's starting to be a serious issue. When I plug the USB Wifi key, I can only see a few Access points but not all. Even near the main AP, the signal is seen as very low (1 bar out of 5). Sometimes, I cannot even see it. When trying to connect to it, it connects hardly. But after a few minutes, the signal becomes strong and all the neighborhood AP are shown. When the AP advertise the right TXPower, it seems to fix all the issues. The others AP appear and the signal become stronger on the actual connection. I see the signal jumping from 30% to 70% and the RX Rate jump too.

I suspect the ath9k_htc module is not enforcing a high enough TX Power at first glance or something else happening I don't understand with this chipset... The country code is set at 00 at first USB connection. But until I connect to an AP, the AR9280 stays at a low power state and on this country ID 00. Also, it's like the 5Ghz network scanning isn't activated. I don't know...

I've read in another forum that people experienced the same issue after a kernel update, maybe after 6.8. What do you think?