How to configure hostapd to get the maximum performance out of my adapter.

[samthelion17]

Hello, I'm trying to build the fastest WiFi AP that I can, using the internal adapter of my Lenovo ThinkCentre M715q. So far I've tried doing so with garywill's lnxrouter but I can't get more than 54Mbps, so I want to setup hostapd myself. The adapter supports both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. Here's some information I collected from my system:

lspci -nnk | grep -A3 00:10
00:10.0 Network controller [0280]: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [168c:003e] (rev 32)
        Subsystem: Lenovo QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [17aa:0827]
        Kernel driver in use: ath10k_pci
        Kernel modules: ath10k_pci

Here's the output of iw list I can see the max rate is 54Mbps for both freq bands but IDK maybe a higher performance is achievable by tweaking some parameters. As you can see here in the specifications the peak speed goes up to 867 Mbps, I know that's unrealistic but if I can get at least 300Mbps I'll be happy

Wiphy phy0
        wiphy index: 0
        max # scan SSIDs: 16
        max scan IEs length: 195 bytes
        max # sched scan SSIDs: 16
        max # match sets: 16
        Retry short limit: 7
        Retry long limit: 4
        Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
        Device supports RSN-IBSS.
        Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
        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)
                * CMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:13)
                * GMAC-128 (00-0f-ac:11)
                * GMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:12)
        Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * monitor
                 * mesh point
                 * P2P-client
                 * P2P-GO
                 * P2P-device
        Band 1:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                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) (no IR)
                        * 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
                        * 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
        Band 2:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                VHT Capabilities (0x339071b2):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        TX STBC
                        SU Beamformee
                        MU Beamformee
                        RX antenna pattern consistency
                        TX antenna pattern consistency
                VHT RX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9
                        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: MCS 0-9
                        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:
                        * 5180 MHz [36] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5200 MHz [40] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5220 MHz [44] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5240 MHz [48] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5260 MHz [52] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5280 MHz [56] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5300 MHz [60] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5320 MHz [64] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5500 MHz [100] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
        Supported commands:
                 * new_interface
                 * set_interface
                 * new_key
                 * start_ap
                 * new_station
                 * new_mpath
                 * set_mesh_config
                 * set_bss
                 * authenticate
                 * associate
                 * deauthenticate
                 * disassociate
                 * join_ibss
                 * join_mesh
                 * remain_on_channel
                 * set_tx_bitrate_mask
                 * frame
                 * frame_wait_cancel
                 * set_wiphy_netns
                 * set_channel
                 * probe_client
                 * set_noack_map
                 * register_beacons
                 * start_p2p_device
                 * set_mcast_rate
                 * connect
                 * disconnect
                 * channel_switch
                 * set_qos_map
                 * set_multicast_to_unicast
                 * set_sar_specs
        WoWLAN support:
                 * wake up on disconnect
                 * wake up on magic packet
                 * wake up on pattern match, up to 22 patterns of 1-134 bytes,
                   maximum packet offset 114 bytes
                 * wake up on network detection, up to 16 match sets
        software interface modes (can always be added):
                 * monitor
        valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ managed } <= 2, #{ AP, mesh point, P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 2, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
                   total <= 4, #channels <= 1
                 * #{ managed } <= 2, #{ P2P-client } <= 2, #{ AP, mesh point, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
                   total <= 4, #channels <= 2
                 * #{ managed } <= 1, #{ IBSS } <= 1,
                   total <= 2, #channels <= 1
        HT Capability overrides:
                 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
                 * maximum A-MSDU length
                 * supported channel width
                 * short GI for 40 MHz
                 * max A-MPDU length exponent
                 * min MPDU start spacing
        Device supports TX status socket option.
        Device supports HT-IBSS.
        Device supports SAE with AUTHENTICATE command
        Device supports scan flush.
        Device supports AP scan.
        Device supports per-vif TX power setting
        Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
        Driver supports a userspace MPM
        Driver/device bandwidth changes during BSS lifetime (AP/GO mode)
        Device supports static SMPS
        Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
        Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in scans.
        Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in net-detect scans.
        max # scan plans: 2
        max scan plan interval: 7200
        max scan plan iterations: 100
        Supported TX frame types:
                 * IBSS: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                 * managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                 * AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                 * AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
                 * mesh point: 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:
                 * IBSS: 0x40 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                 * managed: 0x40 0xb0 0xd0
                 * AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                 * AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                 * mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                 * P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
                 * P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
                 * P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
        Maximum associated stations in AP mode: 32
        Supported extended features:
                * [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
                * [ RRM ]: RRM
                * [ SET_SCAN_DWELL ]: scan dwell setting
                * [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
                * [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
                * [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
                * [ AIRTIME_FAIRNESS ]: airtime fairness scheduling
                * [ AQL ]: Airtime Queue Limits (AQL)
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
                * [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
                * [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support

[morrownr]

Hi @samthelion17

As you can see here in the specifications the peak speed goes up to 867 Mbps, I know that's unrealistic but if I can get at least 300Mbps I'll be happy

867 Mbps is the maximum link rate. It is very realistic. Link rate and throughput are different things. With a card that has the capability of a link rate of 867, you should be able to see throughput of 400+ Mbps depending on many factors.

The 54 Mbps is only for 80211g connections, which you should not be seeing if setup properly.

To give hostapd the right setttings to maximize performance on the 5 GHz band you need to use the following info I grabbed from above:

Band 1:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40

Based on the above, the below is the ht capabilities line that you need to use in hostapd.conf

ht_capab=[LDPC][HT40+][HT40-][SHORT-GI-20][SHORT-GI-40][TX-STBC][RX-STBC1][MAX-AMSDU-7935][DSSS_CCK-40]

 VHT Capabilities (0x339071b2):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        TX STBC
                        SU Beamformee
                        MU Beamformee
                        RX antenna pattern consistency
                        TX antenna pattern consistency

vht_capab=[MAX-MPDU-11454][RXLDPC][SHORT-GI-80][TX-STBC-2BY1][SU-BEAMFORMEE][MU-BEAMFORMEE][RX-ANTENNA-PATTERN][TX-ANTENNA-PATTERN]

I can take the time to explain if you want.

That is about as far as I can go for now as I do not know how you are setting up your networking or what is the source of connectivity for the laptop. I'd also like to know what distro is being used and any addition wifi cards/adapters that will be used on the system.

[samthelion17]

This is weird AF, I'll try to explain... So the computer is not a laptop, it's a small form factor PC, typically used in the business environment. I'm running Proxmox on it, and the WiFi card is passed through to a VM that's running a using a cut-down version of Lubuntu (with no desktop environment, CLI only). The reason for this is that whenever I tried a minimal installation of Debian or Ubuntu server (and even others) hostapd would refuse to work, because this:

$ iw list
-------------------
Frequencies:
                        * 5180 MHz [36] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5200 MHz [40] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5220 MHz [44] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5240 MHz [48] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5260 MHz [52] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5280 MHz [56] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5300 MHz [60] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5320 MHz [64] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5500 MHz [100] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
---------------------

Not a single channel is allowed to be used... something related to the Wireless Regulatory Domain not being set, I guess... tried a bunch of things to fix it, nothing worked, then I decided to just use Lubuntu and remove the entire graphical environment, which is where we are now.

I based my hostapd config off of your reply in discussion #31, only changing country_code=US,ht_capab and vht_capab and it worked... one time, after that, what looked like this in

$ iw list
---------------------------
Frequencies:
                        * 5180 MHz [36] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5200 MHz [40] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5220 MHz [44] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5240 MHz [48] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5260 MHz [52] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5280 MHz [56] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5300 MHz [60] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5320 MHz [64] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5500 MHz [100] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (30.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
-----------------------

now looks like this

$ iw list
------------------------
Frequencies:
                        * 5180 MHz [36] (23.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5200 MHz [40] (23.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5220 MHz [44] (23.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5240 MHz [48] (23.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5260 MHz [52] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5280 MHz [56] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5300 MHz [60] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5320 MHz [64] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5500 MHz [100] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5520 MHz [104] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5540 MHz [108] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5560 MHz [112] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5580 MHz [116] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5600 MHz [120] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5620 MHz [124] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5640 MHz [128] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5660 MHz [132] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5680 MHz [136] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5700 MHz [140] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5720 MHz [144] (24.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
                        * 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5845 MHz [169] (27.0 dBm) (no IR)
                        * 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
----------------------

Rebooting reverts back to "normal" but hostapd refuses to work on channel 36 (even tho the very first time it worked)

ubuntu@hostapd:~$ sudo hostapd /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf 
wls16: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
wls16: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->HT_SCAN
Could not set channel for kernel driver
Interface initialization failed
wls16: interface state HT_SCAN->DISABLED
wls16: AP-DISABLED 
wls16: interface state DISABLED->DISABLED
wls16: AP-DISABLED 
wls16: CTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING 
hostapd_free_hapd_data: Interface wls16 wasn't started
nl80211: deinit ifname=wls16 disabled_11b_rates=0

If I change the channel to 40 it kinda works but only at 78Mbps Tx 6Mbps Rx and hostapd complains about HT40 channel pair 40, 44 not being allowed...
Here's connected to hostapd's AP

Here to my router

wls16: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
wls16: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->HT_SCAN
HT40 channel pair (40, 44) not allowed
Fallback to 20 MHz
wls16: interface state HT_SCAN->ENABLED
wls16: AP-ENABLED 
^Cwls16: interface state ENABLED->DISABLED
wls16: AP-DISABLED 
wls16: CTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING 
nl80211: deinit ifname=wls16 disabled_11b_rates=0

on top of that, as soon as I close hostapd all frequencies show as (No IR) in iw list and hostapd refuses to work for a second time (again, rebooting fixes this)
here's a quick look of what happens when I start hostapd, then exit, then try to start it again:

ubuntu@hostapd:~$ sudo hostapd /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf 
wls16: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
wls16: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->HT_SCAN
HT40 channel pair (40, 44) not allowed
Fallback to 20 MHz
wls16: interface state HT_SCAN->ENABLED
wls16: AP-ENABLED 
^Cwls16: interface state ENABLED->DISABLED
wls16: AP-DISABLED 
wls16: CTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING 
nl80211: deinit ifname=wls16 disabled_11b_rates=0
ubuntu@hostapd:~$ sudo hostapd /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf 
wls16: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
Frequency 5200 (primary) not allowed for AP mode, flags: 0x3073 NO-IR
Primary frequency not allowed
wls16: IEEE 802.11 Configured channel (40) or frequency (5200) (secondary_channel=1) not found from the channel list of the current mode (2) IEEE 802.11a
wls16: IEEE 802.11 Hardware does not support configured channel
Could not select hw_mode and channel. (-3)
wls16: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->DISABLED
wls16: AP-DISABLED 
wls16: Unable to setup interface.
wls16: interface state DISABLED->DISABLED
wls16: AP-DISABLED 
wls16: CTRL-EVENT-TERMINATING 
hostapd_free_hapd_data: Interface wls16 wasn't started
nl80211: deinit ifname=wls16 disabled_11b_rates=0

EDIT: If I use lnxrouter with the basic arguments eg: sudo ./lnxrouter --freq-band 5 --ap wls16 MyAccessPoint -p MyPassPhrase I can start and stop the AP as many times as I want. I know lnxrouter uses hostapd in the background so I must have messed up copying the config from discussion #31 No, apparently it only works twice... I'm about to start pulling the little hair I have left :frustrated.jpg:

[morrownr]

I need you to slow down for me. You are working too many issues in a complicated setup.

Let's solve one issue at a time. What country are you in?

[samthelion17]

I'm sorry, I get anxious when I don't know the source of my problems 😞 . I'm in the US.