pfSense as wireless AP transmit power adjustments?

[JonathanLee]

Hello Fellow Netgate community members can you please help?

Per Netgate Docs, "If the signal is weak even when nearby the access point antenna, check the antenna again. For mini-PCI or mini-PCIe cards, if only one pigtail in use and there are two internal connectors, try hooking the pigtail up to the other internal connector on the card. Also try changing the Channel or adjusting the Transmit Power, or the Antenna Settings on the wireless interface configuration. For mini-PCI and mini-PCIe cards, check for broken ends on the fragile pigtail connectors where they plug into the card. If the Regulatory Domain settings have not been configured, set them before testing again."

Transmit Power. . . ? ? ?

I just set up my SG2100-MAX with a new mini pcie wireless card, I have it working again my neighbor has their wifi signal set with so much power it has high signal in my living room than my new pcie AP card and the old airport extreme. My airport extreme under the older version of Apple software could adjust the transmit power, again I had it only set to work to my kitchen at around 50% power. My new card inside of pfSense has no setting like this only,

"dev.ath.0.tpc
0 = disable 1 = enable

Switch on or off Transmission Power Control. Can be tricky in point to multipoint applications.

dev.ath.0.tpscale
0,1,2,3,4

Size of the increment that TPC will use to up/down the power, normally 1 is the best choice. A higher scale value will most likely make the link drop if the signal is close to what it needs to be and the TPC is throttled down.

dev.ath.0.tpack
0 -> 99

Controls the ACK power separately. Normally it is the same as tpcts

dev.ath.0.tpcts
0 -> 99

Controls the CTS power separately. Normally it is the same"

How can I turn up my power on this system so I can at least have signal in my home? Again I can no longer adjust my Airport Extreme as apples update to the program removed the ability to change powerlevels on the AP.

Is this something that can be done outside of the system tuneables above? I have a lot of noise on all the channels and have many beacon stuck errors. I have increased this to 8 it seemed to fix that problem.

kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)

"Stuck Beacon Errors
If a “Stuck Beacon” error is found in the system or wireless log, it is usually an indication that the chosen wireless channel is too noisy:

kernel: ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
The sensitivity of this behavior can be tuned by adding a System Tunable entry for hw.ath.bstuck with a value of 8 or higher.

If the errors persist, use a WiFi survey app or program to determine an open or less-used channel to use instead of the current channel."

Ref:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/wireless/configuration-ap.html
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/wireless.html

[JonathanLee]

Shell Output - sysctl dev.ath
dev.ath.0.hal.serialise_reg_war: 0
dev.ath.0.hal.force_full_reset: 1
dev.ath.0.hal.swba_backoff: 0
dev.ath.0.hal.sw_brt: 10
dev.ath.0.hal.dma_brt: 2
dev.ath.0.hal.ar5416_biasadj: 0
dev.ath.0.hal.debug: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.31: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.30: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.29: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.28: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.27: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.26: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.25: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.24: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.23: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.22: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.21: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.20: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.19: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.18: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.17: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.16: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.15: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.14: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.13: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.12: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.11: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.10: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.9: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.8: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.7: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.6: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.5: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.4: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.3: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.2: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.1: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.0: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.63: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.62: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.61: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.60: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.59: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.58: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.57: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.56: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.55: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.54: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.53: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.52: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.51: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.50: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.49: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.48: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.47: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.46: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.45: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.44: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.43: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.42: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.41: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.40: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.39: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.38: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.37: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.36: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.35: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.34: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.33: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.32: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.31: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.30: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.29: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.28: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.27: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.26: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.25: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.24: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.23: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.22: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.21: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.20: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.19: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.18: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.17: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.16: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.15: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.14: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.13: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.12: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.11: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.10: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.9: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.8: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.7: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.6: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.5: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.4: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.3: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.2: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.1: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.0: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tsfoor: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_ldpc: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_stbc: 589058
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_stbc: 494
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nodeq_overflow: 16028
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_swfiltered: 13703
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_keymiss: 156
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_mcastq_overflow: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_intr: 1511615
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_intr: 1506319
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_aggr_fail: 35255
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_aggr_ok: 1273674
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_aggr_failall: 2111
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_delim_underrun: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_data_underrun: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_swretrymax: 403
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_swretries: 36147
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_desccfgerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_timerexpired: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_xtxop: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_cst: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_timeout: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_hitqueueend: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_htprotect: 1345916
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_hi_rx_chain: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_decrypt_busy_err: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_post_crc_err: 136728
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_pre_crc_err: 418355
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_2040: 1753560
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_halfgi: 614318
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_agg: 1607906
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ani_cal: 119289
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_be_missed: 2397
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nofrag: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_raw_fail: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_ack: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_tsf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_timers: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_update: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nobuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_qfull: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_flush: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_rx: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_txerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_txok: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_raw: 4357
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_cabq_busy: 386
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_cabq_xmit: 8689
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ant_txswitch: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ant_defswitch: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rate_drop: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rate_raise: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rate_calls: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_per_rfgain: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_per_calfail: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_per_cal: 397
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_be_nombuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_be_xmit: 116334
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_ctl: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_mgt: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_packets: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_toobig: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_tooshort: 19790
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_phyerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_badmic: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_badcrypt: 3
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_fifoerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_crcerr: 580286
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_orn: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_busdma: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_nombuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_ctsext: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_ctsburst: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_protect: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_altrate: 12073
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_shortpre: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_cts: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_rts: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_noack: 8928
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_badrate: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_longretry: 387617
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_shortretry: 583386
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_filtered: 4680
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_fifoerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_xretries: 12364
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_busdma: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nodata: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_linear: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nomcl: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nombuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nonode: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_encap: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_qstop: 38
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_discard: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_mgmt: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_packets: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_intrcoal: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_mib: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_txurn: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rxeol: 3
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rxorn: 8
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_bstuck: 40
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_bmiss_phantom: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_bmiss: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_hardware: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_watchdog: 0
dev.ath.0.clear_stats: 0
dev.ath.0.txq_node_maxdepth: 128
dev.ath.0.txq_mcastq_maxdepth: 64
dev.ath.0.txq_data_minfree: 10
dev.ath.0.delim_min_pad: 0
dev.ath.0.rts_aggr_limit: 65536
dev.ath.0.aggr_limit: 65530
dev.ath.0.tid_hwq_hi: 4
dev.ath.0.tid_hwq_lo: 2
dev.ath.0.hwq_limit_aggr: 2
dev.ath.0.hwq_limit_nonaggr: 32
dev.ath.0.monpass: 24
dev.ath.0.intmit: 1
dev.ath.0.hangcheck: 0
dev.ath.0.forcebstuck: 0
dev.ath.0.txagg: 0
dev.ath.0.tpcts: 63
dev.ath.0.tpack: 63
dev.ath.0.tpc: 1
dev.ath.0.tpscale: 1
dev.ath.0.diag: 0
dev.ath.0.txintrperiod: 5
dev.ath.0.rxantenna: 1
dev.ath.0.txantenna: 0
dev.ath.0.led_pwr_pin: -1
dev.ath.0.led_net_pin: -1
dev.ath.0.hardled: 0
dev.ath.0.ledidle: 2700
dev.ath.0.ledon: 0
dev.ath.0.ledpin: 0
dev.ath.0.softled: 0
dev.ath.0.ctstimeout: 23
dev.ath.0.acktimeout: 23
dev.ath.0.slottime: 9
dev.ath.0.regdomain: 0
dev.ath.0.countrycode: 0
dev.ath.0.sample_stats: 0
dev.ath.0.sample_rate: 10
dev.ath.0.smoothing_rate: 75
dev.ath.0.%parent: pci0
dev.ath.0.%pnpinfo: vendor=0x168c device=0x002a subvendor=0x168c subdevice=0x3099 class=0x028000
dev.ath.0.%location: slot=0 function=0 dbsf=pci0:0:0:0
dev.ath.0.%driver: ath
dev.ath.0.%desc: Atheros 9280
dev.ath.%parent:

Any recommendations? I have two antenna I assume that is 0 and 1 for transmit and receive

[JonathanLee]

[JonathanLee]

Added in system tuneables

Result:

Set correctly

defaulted to both for some reason.

"Options 0,1,2 (antenna port 1 or 2, both=0) dev.ath.0.diversity: options 0,1(0=disable 1=enable)"

Ref:
https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-wireless/2011-September/000682.html

[JonathanLee]

diversity does not enable

[JonathanLee]

Shell Output - sysctl dev.ath
dev.ath.0.hal.serialise_reg_war: 0
dev.ath.0.hal.force_full_reset: 1
dev.ath.0.hal.swba_backoff: 0
dev.ath.0.hal.sw_brt: 10
dev.ath.0.hal.dma_brt: 2
dev.ath.0.hal.ar5416_biasadj: 0
dev.ath.0.hal.debug: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.31: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.30: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.29: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.28: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.27: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.26: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.25: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.24: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.23: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.22: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.21: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.20: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.19: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.18: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.17: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.16: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.15: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.14: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.13: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.12: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.11: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.10: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.9: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.8: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.7: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.6: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.5: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.4: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.3: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.2: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.1: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.sync_intr.0: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.63: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.62: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.61: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.60: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.59: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.58: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.57: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.56: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.55: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.54: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.53: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.52: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.51: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.50: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.49: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.48: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.47: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.46: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.45: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.44: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.43: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.42: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.41: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.40: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.39: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.38: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.37: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.36: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.35: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.34: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.33: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.32: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.31: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.30: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.29: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.28: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.27: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.26: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.25: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.24: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.23: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.22: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.21: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.20: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.19: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.18: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.17: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.16: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.15: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.14: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.13: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.12: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.11: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.10: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.9: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.8: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.7: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.6: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.5: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.4: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.3: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.2: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.1: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.rx_phy_err.0: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tsfoor: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_ldpc: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_stbc: 611350
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_stbc: 494
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nodeq_overflow: 16697
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_swfiltered: 14163
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_keymiss: 161
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_mcastq_overflow: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_intr: 1608157
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_intr: 1704360
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_aggr_fail: 35910
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_aggr_ok: 1292794
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_aggr_failall: 2157
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_delim_underrun: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_data_underrun: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_swretrymax: 406
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_swretries: 36877
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_desccfgerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_timerexpired: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_xtxop: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_cst: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_timeout: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_hitqueueend: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_htprotect: 1416141
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_hi_rx_chain: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_decrypt_busy_err: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_post_crc_err: 136872
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_pre_crc_err: 419879
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_2040: 1753561
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_halfgi: 614355
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_agg: 1661364
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ani_cal: 152291
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_be_missed: 2856
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nofrag: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_raw_fail: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_ack: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_tsf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_timers: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tdma_update: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nobuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_qfull: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_flush: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_rx: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_txerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ff_txok: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_raw: 5517
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_cabq_busy: 497
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_cabq_xmit: 11118
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ant_txswitch: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_ant_defswitch: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rate_drop: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rate_raise: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rate_calls: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_per_rfgain: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_per_calfail: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_per_cal: 507
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_be_nombuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_be_xmit: 148527
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_ctl: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_mgt: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_packets: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_toobig: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_tooshort: 25933
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_phyerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_badmic: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_badcrypt: 3
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_fifoerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_crcerr: 601674
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_orn: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_busdma: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rx_nombuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_ctsext: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_ctsburst: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_protect: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_altrate: 13990
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_shortpre: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_cts: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_rts: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_noack: 11357
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_badrate: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_longretry: 459257
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_shortretry: 707551
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_filtered: 4872
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_fifoerr: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_xretries: 21984
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_busdma: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nodata: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_linear: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nomcl: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nombuf: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_nonode: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_encap: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_qstop: 38
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_discard: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_mgmt: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_tx_packets: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_intrcoal: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_mib: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_txurn: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rxeol: 3
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_rxorn: 8
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_bstuck: 54
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_bmiss_phantom: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_bmiss: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_hardware: 0
dev.ath.0.stats.ast_watchdog: 0
dev.ath.0.clear_stats: 0
dev.ath.0.txq_node_maxdepth: 128
dev.ath.0.txq_mcastq_maxdepth: 64
dev.ath.0.txq_data_minfree: 10
dev.ath.0.delim_min_pad: 0
dev.ath.0.rts_aggr_limit: 65536
dev.ath.0.aggr_limit: 65530
dev.ath.0.tid_hwq_hi: 4
dev.ath.0.tid_hwq_lo: 2
dev.ath.0.hwq_limit_aggr: 2
dev.ath.0.hwq_limit_nonaggr: 32
dev.ath.0.monpass: 24
dev.ath.0.intmit: 1
dev.ath.0.hangcheck: 0
dev.ath.0.forcebstuck: 0
dev.ath.0.txagg: 0
dev.ath.0.tpcts: 63
dev.ath.0.tpack: 63
dev.ath.0.tpc: 1
dev.ath.0.tpscale: 1
dev.ath.0.diag: 0
dev.ath.0.txintrperiod: 5
dev.ath.0.rxantenna: 2
dev.ath.0.txantenna: 0
dev.ath.0.led_pwr_pin: -1
dev.ath.0.led_net_pin: -1
dev.ath.0.hardled: 0
dev.ath.0.ledidle: 2700
dev.ath.0.ledon: 0
dev.ath.0.ledpin: 0
dev.ath.0.softled: 0
dev.ath.0.ctstimeout: 23
dev.ath.0.acktimeout: 23
dev.ath.0.slottime: 9
dev.ath.0.regdomain: 0
dev.ath.0.countrycode: 0
dev.ath.0.sample_stats: 0
dev.ath.0.sample_rate: 10
dev.ath.0.smoothing_rate: 75
dev.ath.0.%parent: pci0
dev.ath.0.%pnpinfo: vendor=0x168c device=0x002a subvendor=0x168c subdevice=0x3099 class=0x028000
dev.ath.0.%location: slot=0 function=0 dbsf=pci0:0:0:0
dev.ath.0.%driver: ath
dev.ath.0.%desc: Atheros 9280
dev.ath.%parent:

new output showing both antenna used

[JonathanLee]

Another question is does use of antenna 0 really equate to both main and aux? Does use of 1 really equate to main? Or does 2 equate to antenna 2?

While researching this I found some information that 0: is for both, 1: is for main, 2: is for aux. Again my cars lists port 0, and 1. Furthermore another mini pcie card had three ports that can be used with PfSense I am told the mini pcie AR5BXB112 comes with 0, 1, 2 antenna ports.

[stephenw10]

If you have antenna diversity enabled it should use both (or all) antennas to get the best signal. The only time I've seen the antenna settings make a significant difference is when using only one antenna.

The WLE200NX only has two ports but, yes the 802.11X 3x3 card have 3 in which case you could force it to use one specific port. But I would not.

Steve

[JonathanLee]

@stephenw10 is that set to 0? (Both/all)

[stephenw10]

I have always used the defaults there:

dev.ath.0.rxantenna: 1
dev.ath.0.txantenna: 0

[JonathanLee]

@stephenw10 thanks for the reply. This matches mine. I was testing to see if 0 equates to both antenna or just one as the card is labeled 0 and 1 but freeBSD states 0 is for both and 1 is for main. Again I can set one to use 2 so I am a bit mixed up on if the numbers equate to the freeBSD definitions or is it something else that matches the numbers printed on the mini pcie card. I just had poor reception with the pcie versus the AP

As PfSense uses freeBSD I researched this and found.

"Options 0,1,2 (antenna port 1 or 2, both=0) dev.ath.0.diversity: options 0,1(0=disable 1=enable)"

But does this match in the firewall?

Ref:
https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-wireless/2011-September/000682.html

[JonathanLee]

@stephenw10 I could not get diversity to enable

[stephenw10]

A lot more info can be found here: https://wiki.freebsd.org/dev/ath_hal%284%29/AntennaDiversity

It might be a loader value....

[JonathanLee]

@stephenw10 said in pfSense as wireless AP transmit power adjustments?:

https://wiki.freebsd.org/dev/ath_hal%284%29/AntennaDiversity

How do you add this as a loader value?? I just need more pwr for wifi to work in my kitchen

what should be added?

[JonathanLee]

I found the other problem this file locked the transmit power to 17-30 only like it is set for an apartment and not a single family home. I am going to up it by 10 and it should reach my kitchen again.

17 that seems way to low for me.

[stephenw10]

What exactly are you trying to set?

[JonathanLee]

@stephenw10 I got to be honest with you I need more power. My DLink and the extender in the 90s had power adjustments, so did my Apple airport Extreme. All the sudden I have no way to turn up the juice on the wifi side. It has a range equivalent of a small apartment. I want to turn diversity on, I want to boost my signal power by at least 15 percent. Why does the regulatory file degrade the power range to 17-30 percent of power. It seems like it's locked on small apartment mode. It needs house mode. My neighbors signal has more power in home than my own WiFi because of it.

[stephenw10]

Well the maximum power is supposed to be limited by the regulatory domain. As well as whether it's indoors or outdoors etc. You can bypass that I'm sure but it's probably illegal, so hard for me to advise!

[johnpoz]

@JonathanLee for one increasing the output is rarely a fix for anything.. While sure your client might see the signal better, its transmit is normally going to be low, and have issue talking back..

I run all my AP in low power mode..

[stephenw10]

Yup that^.

In the past, when I had more time mess about with this stuff for fun, I found better and correctly aligned antennas produced better results than anything else.