WiFi6 ...Because it's coming

[CharlyDelta]

I had a CM4 Lite to do nothing and got a newly installed router offering WiFi6E.
And since this is a technology that will take over our wifi gadgets in the near future, I decided to see what it does, especially when it doesn't work!

https://www.waveshare.com/product/cm4-d ... 6-base.htm

https://www.waveshare.com/wireless-ax210.htm

https://pipci.jeffgeerling.com/cards_ne ... fi-6e.html

I found some explanations from Jeff (written and video) but it's beyond my poor knowledge. On the other hand, I think I succeeded in installing the required firmware but I still have to install the driver but I can't find it.

Your ideas and comments are welcomed

[MiscBits]

Been thinking about 6 so managed to get a reasonable price on a WAX 615 to try it out.

Ran the AP for a few days as the only AP in the home (15+ clients inc three simultaneous streaming TV and one gamer) and found that I was only using 60%+ of the 2.4GHz bands and 20%+ of the 5GHz at peak

Shuffled a few devices by creating a new SSID just for 5GHz and decided testing can wait till some point in the future

Did win in that it freed up a network port and two mains sockets (had two APs previously), let me split the IoT bits off and move a pile of devices to WPA3 so I'm happy the 6 is here (but not for the normal expected reasons).

[CharlyDelta]

Personally, I don't see the utility of WiFi6 in my home but curiosity (and the pleasure of tinkering) wins out.
I have about 15 devices that are connected to the internet either via ethernet or wifi--and even both--but since the house is small, I don't need pods to cover everything.
The pods offered by my ISP work on WiFi6. That seems to be the main reason right now.
So I enabled WiFi6 on the router but no device detects it (none has the ability to do so, so I guess that's why it's not displayed on the list of available SSIDs).

[CharlyDelta]

https://www.waveshare.com/catalogsearch ... less-AX210

https://www.waveshare.com/catalogsearch ... -WIFI6-BOX

[MiscBits]

Looking at the JG notes it's a full kernel build to get the card running

Not a simple task - you may find this thread of help.

[CharlyDelta]

Not a simple task - you may find this thread of help.

I did everything indicated, it took half the day without getting WiFi6 to work. Thanks for the info.

[bensimmo]

What are the benefits?
Especially for Pi?
I just replaced my mesh setup with a slight upgrade (2 antenna to 3 in each unit), slill what is now called WiFi5. I could have bought WiFi6 ones (4 antenna) but they are twice the price and I see little benefit, especially as they also have WiFi7 based devices out too.
Why worry about 6 when 7 is here and coming...

I have up to 70odd devices hitting my mesh (just 3 APs)

[CharlyDelta]

What are the benefits?

No benefits.
Just for the pleasure of doing something that will probably never be used.
But this is my main hobby and I've already spent two wonderful full days trying to get this thing to work. And it makes me perfectly happy!
But I'm open to any good idea to make it work.

[MiscBits]

...
Why worry about 6 when 7 is here and coming...
...

Forget 7 it's heading for a mess as we already have different implementations without a solid standard so I will wait till 8 is ratified...

As for why - why not? Some days playing with things is fun and in my case a minor cost increase (though I did get a good deal). Hopefully, this will be the last AP set up I need till I'm in the nursing home

There are a few step by step build instruction - this one helped when I was trying cross compiling sysprogs.

TBH I suck at kernel builds

[CharlyDelta]

There are a few step by step build instruction - this one helped when I was trying cross compiling sysprogs.

Few step ?? .... You was TRYING ??? not encouraging...

Also, it's from 2018. I think I'm going to skip this idea (I really don't understand it)

But based on what I've seen here from Jeff Geerling: https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberr ... wifi-6e.md , I have to recompile but I have no idea how to do it.

I would need some guidelines that are easier to understand because it's way beyond my capabilities. For the rest, I think I could do it.

[bensimmo]

Oh I get the please (and pain here ) of the build and for 'fun'.

It was more what benefit did 6 bring to the Pi and your network. I see nothing and that's good

Keep up with the fun (that's how I'm reading it, I'm ignoring the... damn it, arghh, feck, ah bollocks,... undertones)

Hope you get it to work, keep at it.

[bensimmo]

Just a thought, the newer 6.1 kernel is being tested, you could try that. It may already have the cards module in there for you.

viewtopic.php?t=344246

[CharlyDelta]

Just a thought, the newer 6.1 kernel is being tested, you could try that. It may already have the cards module in there for you.

I have tried it without success. Besides, according to everything I've read, it's 5.1 and up.
But until I find out how to get this step (below), all my tentatives will be fails.

To get this card working on the Pi, you need to compile a custom kernel with the following kernel configuration option added:

Device Drivers
> Network device support
> Wireless LAN
> Intel Wireless WiFi Next Gen AGN - Wireless-N/Advanced-N/Ultimate-N (iwlwifi)
> Intel Wireless WiFi MVM Firmware support

[CharlyDelta]

Still not working. Tried again and again after searching everywhere, the AX210 module still resists.
Any suggestions are welcome. Sometimes it just takes a spark to make it happen!

[CharlyDelta]

I got no idea how to configure the kernel

To get this card working on the Pi, you need to compile a custom kernel with the following kernel configuration option added:

Device Drivers
> Network device support
> Wireless LAN
> Intel Wireless WiFi Next Gen AGN - Wireless-N/Advanced-N/Ultimate-N (iwlwifi)
> Intel Wireless WiFi MVM Firmware support

[MiscBits]

Have you seen https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentati ... ernel.html

Towards the bottom of the page are instructions on building the menuconfig that will let you select the options...

[CharlyDelta]

Have you seen https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentati ... ernel.html

Towards the bottom of the page are instructions on building the menuconfig that will let you select the options...

Yes, I have seen .... but I can't figure out how to do it. A hint or two should get me going.

[CharlyDelta]

Still active.... if you have any ideas, it will be appreciated !

[CharlyDelta]

I dusted off my kit and looked to see if there was any new information on how to make this WiFi6 module work with the CM4. Nothing new... Any information, ideas, comments welcome.