802.11a Networks not visible

rsescalante · December 23, 2008, 2:29am

Hello everyone-

I am configuring a 433 running RouterOs Level4 with 3x R52 MiniPCI cards. According to the documentation this cards as well as the RouterOS support 802.11a standard. Nevertheless when I configure the interface to work at 5Ghz freq, I scan for available networks but none are found. If i use 802.11g all the networks are found by the computer.

Is there something wrong with the configuration? Is a software upgrade required?

FYI, this is the hardware configuration:

Access Point:

RouterBoard 433.
3 MiniPCI R52 802.11a/b/g cards.
RouterOS Level4.
Configured as AP-Bridge.

Client Computer Card
Intel Pro Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n

I appreciate all your help,

Ronald

normis · December 23, 2008, 7:41am

type “/interface wireless export” and paste here the output

InoX · December 23, 2008, 11:03am

Are you sure you set the right channels? It’s not like a 40$ router…plug and play.

rsescalante · December 23, 2008, 1:27pm

Normis-

Thank you for your help. Right now we have one interface configured as 802.11a and the other two are configured for 802.11b/g operation.

Regards,

dec/31/1969 18:23:19 by RouterOS 3.9

software id = 51PJ-LTT

/interface wireless security-profiles
set default authentication-types="" group-ciphers="" group-key-update=5m
interim-update=0s mode=none name="default" radius-eap-accounting=no
radius-mac-accounting=no radius-mac-authentication=no
radius-mac-caching=disabled radius-mac-format=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
radius-mac-mode=as-username static-algo-0=none static-algo-1=none
static-algo-2=none static-algo-3=none static-key-0="" static-key-1=""
static-key-2="" static-key-3="" static-sta-private-algo=none
static-sta-private-key="" static-transmit-key=key-0
supplicant-identity="MikroTik" tls-certificate=none
tls-mode=no-certificates unicast-ciphers="" wpa-pre-shared-key=""
wpa2-pre-shared-key=""
add authentication-types=wpa-psk group-ciphers=tkip group-key-update=5m
interim-update=0s mode=dynamic-keys name="security_profile_wpa2psk"
radius-eap-accounting=no radius-mac-accounting=no
radius-mac-authentication=no radius-mac-caching=disabled
radius-mac-format=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX radius-mac-mode=as-username
static-algo-0=none static-algo-1=none static-algo-2=none
static-algo-3=none static-key-0="" static-key-1="" static-key-2=""
static-key-3="" static-sta-private-algo=none static-sta-private-key=""
static-transmit-key=key-0 supplicant-identity="" tls-certificate=none
tls-mode=no-certificates unicast-ciphers=tkip
wpa-pre-shared-key="1tun2008fr3$3$"
wpa2-pre-shared-key="1tun2008fr3$3$"
/interface wireless
set 0 ack-timeout=dynamic adaptive-noise-immunity=none allow-sharedkey=no
antenna-gain=0 antenna-mode=ant-a area="" arp=enabled band=5ghz
basic-rates-a/g=6Mbps basic-rates-b=1Mbps burst-time=disabled comment=""
compression=no country=no_country_set default-ap-tx-limit=0
default-authentication=yes default-client-tx-limit=0
default-forwarding=yes dfs-mode=none disable-running-check=no disabled=no
disconnect-timeout=3s frame-lifetime=0 frequency=5180
frequency-mode=manual-txpower hide-ssid=no hw-retries=4
mac-address=00:0C:42:26:AA:37 max-station-count=2007 mode=ap-bridge
mtu=1500 name="itvn1_medio" noise-floor-threshold=default
on-fail-retry-time=100ms periodic-calibration=default
periodic-calibration-interval=60 preamble-mode=both
proprietary-extensions=post-2.9.25 radio-name="000C4226AA37"
rate-set=default scan-list=default security-profile=default
ssid="itvn_ap_freses_r1_ant1" station-bridge-clone-mac=00:00:00:00:00:00
supported-rates-a/g=6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps,24Mbps,36Mbps,48Mbps,54Mbps
supported-rates-b=1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps,11Mbps tx-power-mode=manual-table
update-stats-interval=disabled wds-cost-range=50-150
wds-default-bridge=none wds-default-cost=100 wds-ignore-ssid=no
wds-mode=disabled wmm-support=disabled
set 1 ack-timeout=dynamic adaptive-noise-immunity=none allow-sharedkey=no
antenna-gain=0 antenna-mode=ant-a area="" arp=enabled band=2.4ghz-b/g
basic-rates-a/g=6Mbps basic-rates-b=1Mbps burst-time=disabled comment=""
compression=no country=no_country_set default-ap-tx-limit=0
default-authentication=yes default-client-tx-limit=0
default-forwarding=yes dfs-mode=none disable-running-check=no disabled=no
disconnect-timeout=3s frame-lifetime=0 frequency=2437
frequency-mode=manual-txpower hide-ssid=no hw-retries=4
mac-address=00:0C:42:26:AA:2C max-station-count=2007 mode=ap-bridge
mtu=1500 name="itvn2_abajo" noise-floor-threshold=default
on-fail-retry-time=100ms periodic-calibration=default
periodic-calibration-interval=60 preamble-mode=both
proprietary-extensions=post-2.9.25 radio-name="000C4226AA2C"
rate-set=default scan-list=default security-profile=default
ssid="itvn_ap_freses_r1_ant2" station-bridge-clone-mac=00:00:00:00:00:00
supported-rates-a/g=6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps,24Mbps,36Mbps,48Mbps,54Mbps
supported-rates-b=1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps,11Mbps tx-power-mode=manual-table
update-stats-interval=disabled wds-cost-range=50-150
wds-default-bridge=none wds-default-cost=100 wds-ignore-ssid=no
wds-mode=disabled wmm-support=disabled
set 2 ack-timeout=dynamic adaptive-noise-immunity=none allow-sharedkey=no
antenna-gain=0 antenna-mode=ant-a area="" arp=enabled band=2.4ghz-b/g
basic-rates-a/g=6Mbps basic-rates-b=1Mbps burst-time=disabled comment=""
compression=no country=no_country_set default-ap-tx-limit=0
default-authentication=yes default-client-tx-limit=0
default-forwarding=yes dfs-mode=none disable-running-check=no disabled=no
disconnect-timeout=3s frame-lifetime=0 frequency=2462
frequency-mode=manual-txpower hide-ssid=no hw-retries=4
mac-address=00:0C:42:26:AA:39 max-station-count=2007 mode=ap-bridge
mtu=1500 name="itvn3_arriba" noise-floor-threshold=default
on-fail-retry-time=100ms periodic-calibration=default
periodic-calibration-interval=60 preamble-mode=both
proprietary-extensions=post-2.9.25 radio-name="000C4226AA39"
rate-set=default scan-list=default security-profile=default
ssid="itvn_ap_freses_r1_ant3" station-bridge-clone-mac=00:00:00:00:00:00
supported-rates-a/g=6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps,24Mbps,36Mbps,48Mbps,54Mbps
supported-rates-b=1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps,11Mbps tx-power-mode=manual-table
update-stats-interval=disabled wds-cost-range=50-150
wds-default-bridge=none wds-default-cost=100 wds-ignore-ssid=no
wds-mode=disabled wmm-support=disabled
/interface wireless align
set active-mode=yes audio-max=-20 audio-min=-100
audio-monitor=00:00:00:00:00:00 filter-mac=00:00:00:00:00:00
frame-size=300 frames-per-second=25 receive-all=no ssid-all=no
/interface wireless sniffer
set channel-time=200ms file-limit=10 file-name="" memory-limit=10
multiple-channels=no only-headers=no receive-errors=no
streaming-enabled=no streaming-max-rate=0 streaming-server=0.0.0.0
/interface wireless snooper
set channel-time=200ms multiple-channels=yes receive-errors=no

rsescalante · December 23, 2008, 1:31pm

Hello Inox-

I have tried several channels with no success. I have also tried the different 5Ghz modes (5Ghz, 5GHz-Turbo, 5GHz-10MHz, etc). None of them are visible from the laptop computer.

Regards,

Ronald

normis · December 23, 2008, 1:35pm

are you sure the laptop computer supports 5Ghz, or is in the range?

rsescalante · December 23, 2008, 2:23pm

Well the laptop is an HP DV9275LA. It has a Intel Pro Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Card. On the other hand, i was contacted by the owner of the Router because they tried to configure it before with 802.11a and they couldn’t. So that gives me a hint that they have tried with other 802.11a clients as well.

One detail I forgot to mention, right now we don’t have an 802.11a antenna. I am testing the equipment with an open port. When tested with the 802.11b/g standard, energy leaks out from the system even though it doesn’t have antenna. When I switch to 802.11a, no energy can be detected by the network client.

I did an interested experiment as well. Since the RB433 has 3 cards, I configured a second one in the 5Ghz band and click on the scan button of the WinBox app. This second card was able to find the first one. But I still can’t find it using the laptop computer.

Regards,

Ronald

normis · January 7, 2009, 1:17pm

and what is the distance from laptop to AP ?

rsescalante · January 7, 2009, 3:34pm

The distance is around 20 centimeters from the enclosure. The enclosure is with the door open. Nevertheless I just tested that when I place the laptop exactly on top of the enclosure with the door open, the laptop can detect the wireless LAN.

I believe the problem is with no having the appropriate antena, I already order a couple of antennas and I’m waiting for them. I will post again once I test them.

Regards,

Ronald

normis · January 8, 2009, 7:06am

It could be too close Try 10 meters.