Hap AX S - start ap failed

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

I have arranged 5G connection to my son’s apartment, using Chateau 5G R17 ax and tried to add a repeater there, based upon the new hAP ax S. Maybe for the first time I did a repeater config, I have not reset MT to its default, but the scenario is the same and I use it in a multiple locations without any problems.

Basically I am turning a 5GHz radio into a station bridge, set security, country is there already, maybe indoor, and that’s just it. Then I create a child wifi radio, which I set as a 5GHz AP.

This time tough, the 5GHz radio refuses to start, with the red message in Winbox, with the message “— start ap failed”. It seems like the driver is not eveninitialised, I just don’t know. When I switch the virtual radio to the 2.4GHz master AP, it works, with the 5GHz station bridge as a master though, it does not.

I have noticed, hAP ax S uses different radio, Mediatek. Is that mode even supported there? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
/Petr

2

Is the wifi-qcom package installed on hAP AX S?

3

Shouldn't that be wifi-mediatek ?

Hap AX S uses Mediatek drivers, not Qualcomm.

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@pekr
Maybe you can post config of wifi part ?

1 Like
4

Hi, yes, it is a Mediatek wifi, there is a wifi-mediatek package installed. Here’s my radio config - just changed mac adresses and ssid a bit:

/interface wifi
set [ find default-name=wifi1 ] arp-timeout=auto channel.band=2ghz-ax .skip-dfs-channels=all .width=20/40mhz configuration.country=Czech .installation=indoor .mode=ap .ssid=xxx disable-running-check=yes disabled=no mac-address=xx:F4:xx:A0:xx:84 name=wifi1-AP-2.4GHz radio-mac=xx:F4:xx:A0:xx:84 security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk,wpa3-psk .connect-priority=0/1 .ft=no .ft-over-ds=no

set [ find default-name=wifi2 ] arp-timeout=auto channel.band=5ghz-ax .skip-dfs-channels=all .width=20/40mhz configuration.country=Czech .installation=indoor .mode=station-bridge .ssid=xxx disable-running-check=yes disabled=no mac-address=xx:F4:xx:A0:xx:85 name=wifi2-ST-5GHz-repeater radio-mac=xx:F4:xx:A0:xx:85 security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk,wpa3-psk .connect-priority=0/1 .ft=no .ft-over-ds=no

# start ap failed add arp-timeout=auto configuration.installation=indoor .mode=ap .ssid=xxx disabled=no mac-address=xy:F4:xx:A0:xx:85 master-interface=wifi2-ST-5GHz-repeater name=wifi3-AP-5GHz security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk,wpa3-psk .connect-priority=0/1
5

Can you remove arp-timeout setting ?
Never seen it before...

What if you start from default config and only change ap mode ?

6

According to docs, arp-timeout, set to auto, uses IP / Settings value, which is set to 30 secs. It is the same on my other routers, where similar setup works. And yes, am thinking about resetting the config, it is just that the setup is 400km away, so need to plan some eth + notebook and RDP session with my sone for that.

7

According to docs it should work as virtual interface with master interface your station interface - as you already have configured it. See Configuring repeater - RouterOS - MikroTik Documentation

Maybe worth reporting a support ticket after double checking for config errors.

8

Just a fun fact: on my hAP AX2, the default name is wifi1 for the 5G interface, and the default name is wifi2 for the 2G interface.

/interface wifi
set [ find default-name=wifi1 ] configuration.mode=station-bridge disabled=no
name=wifi5G
add configuration.mode=ap disabled=no mac-address=4A:A9:00:00:00:00
master-interface=wifi5G name=wifi5_repeater

/interface wifi
set [ find default-name=wifi2 ] channel=channel2G configuration.chains=0,1
.country=Russia .mode=ap .ssid=Cooperative .tx-chains=0,1 disabled=no
name=wifi2G security=sec1 security.management-protection=disabled .wps=
disable

9

As is the case for most AX devices using Qualcomm chipset.

But on wAP AX it's reverse:
wifi1 = 2Ghz
wifi2 = 5Ghz

So could indeed be worthwhile to check if this is acting up ...

10

Well, it played on my nerves too :slight_smile: On the hAP ax S though, the radio order seems to be reversed too, so wifi1 = 2.4GHz, wifi2 = 5GHz.

11

I got my new hAPax S. I have the same issue here I use the 5 (master)for a wirelss-uplink to the RV Parks Decicated wireless network. Then create a 5 virtual(slave) for the guest to use, works on all other haps.
I get the Error “start ap failed”

Have to head out but i will check it later.

12

Take the 5GHZ radio out of the bridge.

Put a DHCP-Client on it.

Put the 5GHZ radio into the interface-list if you are using that… other wise… manually make it your WAN.

Set up a security profile to let the 5GHZ radio join your sons wifi.

GET THAT WORKING FIRST.

Then get fancy.

13

I was getting a similar issue where some of my virtual wifi interfaces would not start. I just realised that I had included duplicate mac addresses in my configuration so the interfaces with duplicated mac addresses would give me the “ap start failed” error. Maybe you have a similar issue.

14

Noticed MT released a Development branch. Gave it a try and can’t believe, what I am seeing. Not only it fixed the non starting repeater radio, but it also improved the signal from -79 to -54. Wow.

1 Like
15

Did you double-check that the correct country setting is still in place?I lost it recently during an upgrade to a dev. version.