No 5GHz WiFi on RPi 3a+

[ghoeher]

Dear all,

as far as I know, the RPi 3a+ supports 5GHz WiFi but for an (currently) unknown reason it only connects to 2.4GHz in my environment.
I'm using the same SSID for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, other devices are connecting correctly to 5GHz.
Is this, because for my Pi, the Quality of 2.4 GHz (50/70) is higher than for 5GHz (35/70)? If this is the case, is there an option to prefer 5GHz anyway?

Pi is running on moOde 6.1 ...



"iw list" shows the following result:

Code:

Wiphy phy0
       max # scan SSIDs: 10
       max scan IEs length: 2048 bytes
       max # sched scan SSIDs: 16
       max # match sets: 16
       max # scan plans: 1
       max scan plan interval: 508
       max scan plan iterations: 0
       Retry short limit: 7
       Retry long limit: 4
       Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
       Device supports roaming.
       Device supports T-DLS.
       Supported Ciphers:
               * WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
               * WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
               * TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
               * CCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:4)
               * CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
       Available Antennas: TX 0 RX 0
       Supported interface modes:
                * IBSS
                * managed
                * AP
                * P2P-client
                * P2P-GO
                * P2P-device
       Band 1:
               Capabilities: 0x1062
                       HT20/HT40
                       Static SM Power Save
                       RX HT20 SGI
                       RX HT40 SGI
                       No RX STBC
                       Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
                       DSSS/CCK HT40
               Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
               Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 16 usec (0x07)
               HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
               Bitrates (non-HT):
                       * 1.0 Mbps
                       * 2.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
                       * 5.5 Mbps (short preamble supported)
                       * 11.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
                       * 6.0 Mbps
                       * 9.0 Mbps
                       * 12.0 Mbps
                       * 18.0 Mbps
                       * 24.0 Mbps
                       * 36.0 Mbps
                       * 48.0 Mbps
                       * 54.0 Mbps
               Frequencies:
                       * 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
       Band 2:
               Capabilities: 0x1062
                       HT20/HT40
                       Static SM Power Save
                       RX HT20 SGI
                       RX HT40 SGI
                       No RX STBC
                       Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
                       DSSS/CCK HT40
               Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
               Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 16 usec (0x07)
               HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
               VHT Capabilities (0x00001020):
                       Max MPDU length: 3895
                       Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                       short GI (80 MHz)
                       SU Beamformee
               VHT RX MCS set:
                       1 streams: MCS 0-9
                       2 streams: not supported
                       3 streams: not supported
                       4 streams: not supported
                       5 streams: not supported
                       6 streams: not supported
                       7 streams: not supported
                       8 streams: not supported
               VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
               VHT TX MCS set:
                       1 streams: MCS 0-9
                       2 streams: not supported
                       3 streams: not supported
                       4 streams: not supported
                       5 streams: not supported
                       6 streams: not supported
                       7 streams: not supported
                       8 streams: not supported
               VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
               Bitrates (non-HT):
                       * 6.0 Mbps
                       * 9.0 Mbps
                       * 12.0 Mbps
                       * 18.0 Mbps
                       * 24.0 Mbps
                       * 36.0 Mbps
                       * 48.0 Mbps
                       * 54.0 Mbps
               Frequencies:
                       * 5170 MHz [34] (disabled)
                       * 5180 MHz [36] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 5190 MHz [38] (disabled)
                       * 5200 MHz [40] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 5210 MHz [42] (disabled)
                       * 5220 MHz [44] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 5230 MHz [46] (disabled)
                       * 5240 MHz [48] (20.0 dBm)
                       * 5260 MHz [52] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5280 MHz [56] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5300 MHz [60] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5320 MHz [64] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5500 MHz [100] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5520 MHz [104] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5540 MHz [108] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5560 MHz [112] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5580 MHz [116] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5600 MHz [120] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5620 MHz [124] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5640 MHz [128] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5660 MHz [132] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5680 MHz [136] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5700 MHz [140] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                       * 5720 MHz [144] (disabled)
                       * 5745 MHz [149] (disabled)
                       * 5765 MHz [153] (disabled)
                       * 5785 MHz [157] (disabled)
                       * 5805 MHz [161] (disabled)
                       * 5825 MHz [165] (disabled)
       Supported commands:
                * new_interface
                * set_interface
                * new_key
                * start_ap
                * join_ibss
                * set_pmksa
                * del_pmksa
                * flush_pmksa
                * remain_on_channel
                * frame
                * set_wiphy_netns
                * set_channel
                * tdls_oper
                * start_sched_scan
                * start_p2p_device
                * connect
                * disconnect
                * crit_protocol_start
                * crit_protocol_stop
                * update_connect_params
       Supported TX frame types:
                * managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                * P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                * P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                * P2P-device: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
       Supported RX frame types:
                * managed: 0x40 0xd0
                * P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
                * P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                * P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
       software interface modes (can always be added):
       valid interface combinations:
                * #{ managed } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1, #{ P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1,
                  total <= 3, #channels <= 2
                * #{ managed } <= 1, #{ AP } <= 1, #{ P2P-client } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
                  total <= 4, #channels <= 1
       Device supports scan flush.
       Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in sched scans.
       Supported extended features:
               * [ 4WAY_HANDSHAKE_STA_PSK ]: 4-way handshake with PSK in station mode
               * [ 4WAY_HANDSHAKE_STA_1X ]: 4-way handshake with 802.1X in station mode

"iwlist scan" (without sudo) shows:

Code:

wlan0     Scan completed :
         Cell 01 - Address: 9C:C7:A6:B9:DB:CF
                   Channel:11
                   Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                   Quality=44/70  Signal level=-66 dBm
                   Encryption key:on
                   ESSID:"xxxxxx"
                   Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
                             9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                   Bit Rates:24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                   Mode:Master
                   Extra:tsf=0000000000000000
                   Extra: Last beacon: 551530ms ago
                   IE: Unknown: 0004646F726B
                   IE: Unknown: 010882848B960C121824
                   IE: Unknown: 03010B
                   IE: Unknown: 050400010100
                   IE: Unknown: 0706444520010D14
                   IE: Unknown: 2A0100
                   IE: Unknown: 32043048606C
                   IE: Unknown: 2D1ACE111BFFFF000000000000000000000100000000000000000000
                   IE: Unknown: 3D160B0F0600000000000000000000000000000000000000
                   IE: Unknown: 7F080000000000000040
                   IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101000003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
                   IE: Unknown: DD0900037F01010000FF7F
                   IE: Unknown: DD0C00040E010102010000000000
                   IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
                       Group Cipher : CCMP
                       Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
                       Authentication Suites (1) : PSK

"sudo iwlist scan" result shows (removed irrelevant SSIDs):

Code:

wlan0     Scan completed :
         Cell 01 - Address: 9C:C7:xx:xx:xx:xx
                   Channel:11
                   Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                   Quality=50/70  Signal level=-60 dBm
                   Encryption key:on
                   ESSID:"xxxxxx"
                   Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
                             9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                   Bit Rates:24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                   Mode:Master
                   Extra:tsf=0000000000000000
                   Extra: Last beacon: 50ms ago
                   IE: Unknown: 0004646F726B
                   IE: Unknown: 010882848B960C121824
                   IE: Unknown: 03010B
                   IE: Unknown: 05040001000C
                   IE: Unknown: 0706444520010D14
                   IE: Unknown: 2A0100
                   IE: Unknown: 32043048606C
                   IE: Unknown: 2D1ACE111BFFFF000000000000000000000100000000000000000000
                   IE: Unknown: 3D160B0F0600000000000000000000000000000000000000
                   IE: Unknown: 7F080000000000000040
                   IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101000003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
                   IE: Unknown: DD0900037F01010000FF7F
                   IE: Unknown: DD0C00040E010102010000000000
                   IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
                       Group Cipher : CCMP
                       Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
                       Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
         Cell 06 - Address: 9C:C7:xx:xx:xx:xx
                   Channel:40
                   Frequency:5.2 GHz (Channel 40)
                   Quality=35/70  Signal level=-75 dBm
                   Encryption key:on
                   ESSID:"xxxxxx"
                   Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
                             36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                   Mode:Master
                   Extra:tsf=0000000000000000
                   Extra: Last beacon: 50ms ago
                   IE: Unknown: 0004646F726B
                   IE: Unknown: 01088C129824B048606C
                   IE: Unknown: 030128
                   IE: Unknown: 073C4445202401172801172C01173001173401173801173C01174001176401176801176C01177001177401177801177C0117      8001178401178801178C0117
                   IE: Unknown: 200103
                   IE: Unknown: 2D1ACE011BFFFF000000000000000000000100000000000000000000
                   IE: Unknown: 3D16280F0400000000000000000000000000000000000000
                   IE: Unknown: 7F080000000000000040
                   IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101000003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
                   IE: Unknown: DD0900037F01010000FF7F
                   IE: Unknown: DD0C00040E010102010000000000
                   IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
                       Group Cipher : CCMP
                       Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
                       Authentication Suites (1) : PSK

[TheOldPresbyope]

@ghoeher

I suspect your issue arises from 

I'm using the same SSID for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

I'm not able to review the relevant moOde code just now but I suspect it doesn't recognize that there are two channels to choose from. Do you even see the SSID appear twice in the scan list?

I've never had any trouble with my 3A+s on either band. For my dual-band router I've chosen to use the same SSID but in all lowercase for the lower band and uppercase for the higher band.

Regards,
Kent

[Tim Curtis]

Correct, the 3A+ supports 5GHz WiFi.

First verify that the password for your 5GHz SSID can be converted to a PSK by running the command below. It returns a PSK if successful, otherwise an error message. If your password contains embedded double quotes then use 'Password' instead of "Password" in the command.

Code:

wpa_passphrase "SSID" "Password"

If a PSK is returned then in Network Config, double check the SSID and WiFi Country and then re-enter the password for your 5G SSID, then SAVE, Reboot.

[Tim Curtis]

@ghoeher

I suspect your issue arises from 

I'm using the same SSID for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

I'm not able to review the relevant moOde code just now but I suspect it doesn't recognize that there are two channels to choose from. Do you even see the SSID appear twice in the scan list?

I've never had any trouble with my 3A+s on either band. For my dual-band router I've chosen to use the same SSID but in all lowercase for the lower band and uppercase for the higher band.

Regards,
Kent

Oops, I missed that the same SSID is being used for both bands. 

I'm not sure what happens in this case. I've always used a separate SSID for example:

AirnetN2
AirnetN5

-Tim

[ghoeher]

@TheOldPresbyope: I double checked and I really see my SSID twice, but no matter which one I choose, it always connecta to 2.4GHz.

@Tim Curtis: As I also use the same PSK for 2.4 and 5 GHz, I'm sure, that it's ok. For testing, I now disabled the 2.4GHz. Then (after reboot) Moode connects to 5GHz (but it took much longer that connecting to 2.4 GHz for whatever reason).

I'm using the same SSID, because of several reasons. You need only to remember one SSID/PSK, no matter if you have a 2.4 or 5 or dual band device - you don't even need to know which band is supported by your device - this makes it easier for the other family members which are non-technical users. Also in some rooms 5 GHz signal/bandwidth is better then the 2.4GHz because of the several other 2.4 GHz APs of the neighbors sending on the same channel. And till now, all my devices auto-switch between 2.4/5GHz, depending on the better signal (they at least use the better signal after boot and in case of signal drop, they try to switch over to the other band).
On Moode it seems not to automatically switch over (at least on my installation), but I assume this is more an issue of the underlying OS then an issue of Moode itself ...

[TheOldPresbyope]

@ghoeher

Both Android and iOS were designed in the first decade of this century to be used in mobile devices and both offer some form of wireless roaming [1].

The groundwork for Linux was being laid more than a decade earlier in the day of fixed hosts, well before the first release of a rudimentary 802.11 protocol. I can find no results in Google searches to suggest that the roaming capability you require is available even today in mainstream Linux distros.

The question has come up from time to time on other forums. Usually the poster is asking about their enterprise networking environment where the network admins use the same SSID on 2.4GHz AP and 5GHz AP (these may be in the same physical box, but from a systems point of view they are two APs).

The answer seems always to be, if you absolutely can't give the APs different SSIDs, then you can try diddling with the wpa_supplicant.conf file to force your WiFi client to associate on one band or the other but not both.

Since the underlying hooks aren't in Debian, hence not in Raspbian, there's nothing moOde can use to distinguish between the APs.

Regards,
Kent

[1] there's plenty of posts on other forums suggesting differences in opinion of how well the roaming actually works.

[ghoeher]

I also did some research and came to almost the same results like you did.
It looks like Linux is a limited compared to other mainstream Operating Systems like Android/iOS/Windows regarding 2.4/5GHz roaming capabilities.
It's not a big issue for me but it would have been a nice feature. So don't let us waste more time on this topic and let us enjoy Moode.