hap ax3 random wireless disconnects

RouterOS General
1

Hi everyone.
I’ve recently changed my tp-link archer ax50 for hap ax3. Now I have some problems with 5GHz wireless. The firmware version is 7.15 Here’s my config

 1 M BR default-name="wifi1" name="wifi-5ghz" l2mtu=1560 mac-address=D4:01:C3:9D:86:32 arp-timeout=auto radio-mac=D4:01:C3:9D:86:32 configuration=home-private-cfg 
        configuration.mode=ap .ssid="MikroTik-Home" .country=United States .antenna-gain=0 
        security=home-private 
        security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk .passphrase="_removed_" .ft=yes .ft-over-ds=yes 
        channel=5ghz 
        channel.frequency=5180-5320,5660-5845 .band=5ghz-ax .width=20/40/80mhz

The problems are:

  1. MSI laptop ax-capable states that it connects using 802.11ac (was ax with archer).
  2. Random disconnects mostly under load. Windows shows full or 2/3 points signal and around 500Mbps transmit bandwidth.

Here’s log with debug enabled:

 06-06 01:39:49 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -81
 06-06 01:39:49 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -81
 06-06 01:39:55 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 20
 06-06 01:39:55 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 20
 06-06 01:39:58 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -76
 06-06 01:39:58 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -76
 06-06 01:40:00 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 20
 06-06 01:40:00 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 20
 06-06 01:40:03 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -75
 06-06 01:40:03 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -75
 06-06 01:40:05 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 21
 06-06 01:40:05 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength -73

Here I can clearly see that MikroTik “thinks” there’s bad signal, but it was ok with archer and Windows also think so, and the laptop is literally in the next room to the router without significant obstacles (i.e. there’s even no door between rooms).
I’ve started my config without country, antenna gain and “ft” parameters and with wpa3 enabled, going step by step with disabling wpa3, setting country, setting antenna gain, enabling ft - nothing solved the problem. Both Samsung android phones doesn’t seem to have this problem, however I didn’t pushed any significant network load on them, like YT or something.

Do I miss something?

2

It would be clearer if you posted the sanitized output of “/interface/wifi/export”, not “print” because that includes sub-items like the configuration and security sections.

One thing this can show more clearly is when you have redundant or conflicting items in the “configuration” and “interface” sections, for example. The “configuration” should abstract as much as possible that is the same between the 2.4 and 5GHz radios, leaving the “interface” element to override only the unique parts.

A clean implementation of that will look something like this:


/interface wifi configuration add country="United States" mode=ap name=homecfg security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk,wpa3-psk .ft=yes .ft-over-ds=yes .passphrase="nunyaBinness" ssid="Home WiFi"
/interface wifi set [ find default-name=wifi2 ] channel.band=2ghz-ax .width=20/40mhz configuration=homecfg
/interface wifi set [ find default-name=wifi1 ] channel.band=5ghz-ax .width=20/40/80mhz configuration=homecfg

The point is, there is only one “configuration” for both radios, and they differ only in the frequencies and such.


MSI laptop ax-capable states that it connects using 802.11ac (was ax with archer).

Then there is an incompatibility. It may be enough to explain everything else you’re seeing. Your task is to find out what the laptop wants that the MT isn’t providing. The fix may be a settings change away, or it may be a hard limit on one end or the other.


06-06 01:40:00 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 20
06-06 01:40:03 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -75
06-06 01:40:03 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -75
06-06 01:40:05 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 21
06-06 01:40:05 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength -73

>

This isn't necessarily a problem. It is possible that all you're getting here is additional visibility into what's going on that your old router didn't tell you.

A common reason for this type of behavior is bouncing between the 2.4 and 5GHz sides of the network.

That said, I don't see a reconnection event immediately afterward on the other network, so… 🤷‍♂️
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> there's even no door between rooms

WiFi doesn't use airborne transmission. 😛

The wall between the two rooms is likely more relevant to the router's operating conditions than the human-sized door frame and hallway between them.
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> I've started my config without country

RouterOS has defaulted to "Latvia" for the last few releases, so unless that's where you live, you should always set the country.
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> antenna gain

Unless you're doing something advanced, you should leave this unset. Being the lowest legal value, "0" is likely wrong even if you do have good cause to be setting it.
3

Hi @tangent and thanks for your detailed answer!
Here’s export of wifi section

int wifi export
# 2024-06-06 13:21:28 by RouterOS 7.15
# software id = **ELIDED**
#
# model = C53UiG+5HPaxD2HPaxD
# serial number = **ELIDED**
/interface wifi channel
add band=5ghz-ax disabled=no frequency=5180,5220 name=5ghz skip-dfs-channels=all width=20/40/80mhz
/interface wifi configuration
add antenna-gain=0 country="United States" disabled=no name=home-private-cfg security.authentication-types="" .ft=no .ft-over-ds=no ssid=MikroTik-Home
/interface wifi security
add authentication-types=wpa2-psk disable-pmkid=yes disabled=no name=home-private
/interface wifi
set [ find default-name=wifi2 ] configuration=home-private-cfg configuration.mode=ap name=wifi-2.4ghz security=home-private security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk,wpa3-psk
set [ find default-name=wifi1 ] channel=5ghz configuration=home-private-cfg configuration.mode=ap disabled=no name=wifi-5ghz security=home-private security.authentication-types=wpa2-psk

I have my 2.4G interface completely disabled for now, since I don’t have any IoT yet, and that was the same on previous router. I don’t need this band for now, so there’s no switching between, old router is powered off. I did exactly as you described - everything in config is separated from the physical interface (except for authentication types - they seem to be ignored from security config, leaving my network “open”, and only setting them to the physical interface did the job. This seems like a new bug for me, bcz it worked in ROS6).

And about provided logs - at first, I just did configuration and started using network. However, I noticed frequent disconnects on the laptop, lasting for like 5-20 seconds or so to reconnect automatically. That’s why I’d opened logs, and this is the events that are logged when disconnect occurs. Also, when disconnect happens, laptop shows 1/3 SSID signal strength and tries to reconnect, and when reconnect happens it becomes 3/3 again. Laptop is literally used as desktop now, with same positioning for itself and old router/new ax3. With old router I played online games no problems or disconnects.

Also have to notice that wireless quality itself is perfect until it disconnects, i.e. surfing is omega-fast and smooth, no lags for youtube or twitch (or both at once).

Things that I’ve also read from this forum or reddit before posting:

  1. Possible antenna damage - I had my antennas attached before power on
  2. Possible ROS7.15 wireless bugs - signal strength sometimes shows above zero, can firmware version be the cause of the problems?

This is the log of one of disconnect events, showing this

 13:39:32 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -75
 13:39:32 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -75
 13:39:34 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 21
 13:39:35 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 21
 13:46:40 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -76
 13:46:40 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -76
 13:46:43 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 17
 13:46:43 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 17
 13:46:49 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -71
 13:46:49 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -71
 13:46:51 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 21
 13:46:51 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 21
 13:46:53 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength 21
 13:46:53 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength 21
 13:46:55 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 17
 13:46:56 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 17
 13:46:58 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -74
 13:46:58 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -74
 13:46:59 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 20
 13:46:59 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 20
 13:47:01 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -74
 13:47:01 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -74
 13:47:03 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 20
 13:47:03 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 20
  1. Wireless interfaces are bridged but should not be - they are, but doubt it affects wireless connectivity, since I did same config in ROS6.
  2. Tried to play with frequencies - leaving it blank sets channel to 5500, and SSID becomes invisible to Samsung S21
4

The antenna gain is incorrect, it should be 5 or 6 (in the manual it shows 5.5). Don’t know what the default is, at least it is not 0.

5

Can’t set it to decimal value, gonna try with 5 and respond back with results.
Any ideas on why laptop is not recognizing ax protocol tho? Because Samsung shows “6” on the wireless icon, not sure if it’s using ax but I think it is, while laptop is always at .11ac no matter what configs I did before

6

What exact wireless card is in the laptop?

7

Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX201 160MHz

8

Strange, as the MikroTik is supplying and the laptop is capable. Have you checked with an app like Wifi Analyzer?
I also notice you use “disable-pmkid=yes”, can you start again from the basic configuration (disable current /interface wifi configuration and add a new one)?

9

This is the kind of thing I meant in my first reply: you’re setting it from two different places, creating a conflict:


/interface wifi configuration
add antenna-gain=0 country="United States" disabled=no name=home-private-cfg security.authentication-types="" .ft=no .ft-over-ds=no ssid=MikroTik-Home
/interface wifi security
add authentication-types=wpa2-psk disable-pmkid=yes disabled=no name=home-private

Note that “security.authentication” is set as blank on the first line and to “wpa2-psk” on the second. This is the same setting!

Which one takes precedence? I dunno, but there’s no reason to press your luck. If you’re going to have an “/interface wifi security” entry, you shouldn’t be including “security.ANYTHING” in your “/interface/wifi/configuration” entry. You can do it either way, however it makes sense to you, but don’t try to do it from both directions.

(There’s a third potential method, doing it from the top “/interface/wifi” level, too.)

10

When looking at Winbox, left to right on the tabs, that should be descending preference (so leftmost option where you can set it, has highest priority).

Directly on interface is highest.
Then configuration
Then Security

I (try to) make it a habit to never set anything on interface. Only apply configuration.
And in configuration I only apply earlier made channels, security, …

But obviously when doing something QnD for testing, it can happen I set it all directly on interface :laughing:

11

WiFi Analyzer tells this:
Channel 136 5680 GHz (I’ve added some channels after another connection drop)
Channel width 20 MHz
Protocol 802.11ax (metro UI still shows 802.11ac, was also ax with tp-link) Dunno what to trust there now, reverting to old router shows ax proto in metro UI again

After setting antenna gain to 5, I had another disconnect with laptop. Tried to forget the SSID and reconnect, gonna see what happens.

On auth-types - since I did configuration with Winbox, the problem was that in /wifi/configuration I left auth types open, which produced the auth-types=“” config and left the network open. Closing the auth types tab fixed this, so now it’s set directly in security profile and working. A bit inconvenient but can move on with this. So the only thing that worry me now is constant disconnects.

The config is now only different from stock with disabled pmkid and static 5ghz channels (auto sets channel 5500 which is invisible to my phones). Can try re-enable pmkid, or should I anyway create a new config?

Can I also somehow see in winbox or terminal which 802.11 protocol clients are using?

12

Winbox (and terminal) will show with what rates devices are connected. That will indicate the protocol used (866 for ac, 1200 for ax).
Adding a new config is not much of work (you can disable current if you want). Then you can be sure all settings are correct. But setting it to default manually will give the same result.

13

Here’s my current configuration, now looks pretty simple.

/interface wifi channel
add band=5ghz-ax disabled=no frequency=5180,5220,5640-5730 name=5ghz skip-dfs-channels=all width=20/40/80mhz
/interface wifi configuration
add antenna-gain=5 country=“United States” disabled=no name=home-private-cfg ssid=MikroTik-Home
/interface wifi security
add authentication-types=wpa2-psk disabled=no name=home-private
/interface wifi
set [ find default-name=wifi2 ] configuration=home-private-cfg configuration.mode=ap name=wifi-2.4ghz security=home-private
set [ find default-name=wifi1 ] channel=5ghz configuration=home-private-cfg configuration.mode=ap disabled=no name=wifi-5ghz security=home-private

Winbox shows variable rates from 300 to 700 Mbps (sometimes dropping to 6 Mbps tho) at ~5m range. Signal is around -67..-77 for all devices. Can this be damaged hardware somehow? Since I got a decent discount from the shop for the device and now scared about it

14

And got another disconnect with above config.

 20:01:47 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disconnected, connection lost, signal strength -75
 20:01:47 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz disassociated, connection lost, signal strength -75
 20:02:15 wireless,debug 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz associated, signal strength 24
 20:02:15 wireless,info 0C:7A:15:F5:D2:AF@wifi-5ghz connected, signal strength 24
15

An optimistic update on the topic: I decided to rollback from 7.15 to factory firmware which is 7.14.1 and it seems to be no disconnects for some hours already. The bandwidth is still bad so there is a place for tweaks still. But at least it’s stable now.

16

I also had many disconnects after upgrading my ax2 from 7.14.3 to 7.15.0
For example, the music stream from the Google home-speakers was full of interruptions.
After downgrading to 7.14.3 the disconnects are gone.

17

After contacting MikroTik support, they told me there’s a bunch of feedback about 7.15 fw having disconnects, but they also told me there’s some kind of problems reproducing this bug in their lab. So current solution for home devices is to revert back to latest 7.14.x, since in 7.15 there’s qcom-driver update, and 7.15.1 doesn’t fix that either. I also don’t see anything related in beta branch, so it seems that this bug will stay for a while. It would be a good move from MT to make a separate branch with latest firmware and old stable driver until the problem is resolved.

18

I have the same problem. With support, I have already reset the router to factory settings 4 times and tried to select the configuration, but all to no avail. The only option is to roll back to 7.14.3.

19

7.15.2 out, seems still no fix. As I understand from reading through the pinned topic of 7.15 update, the issue is mostly related to ax devices. Has anyone tried beta branch, are there any changes?

20

Yes, this problem applies to AX devices. As far as I understand, there are several problems there. For some users, the problem was resolved when updating to 7.16beta