How do we enable 5GHz wifi for the AC8265

I’m having trouble enabling 5GHz for the AC8265 chip on the Xavier so I can have higher bandwidth. My hostapd looks like:

interface=wlan0
hw_mode=a
channel=0
auth_algs=1
driver=nl80211
ieee80211d=1
country_code=US
ieee80211n=1
ieee80211ac=1
wmm_enabled=1
wpa=2
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
wpa_passphrase=0000000000
ssid=AGX-1
wmm_enabled=1
ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd
ctrl_interface_group=0

I’ve only been successful at enabling 2.4Ghz with this config:

interface=wlan0
hw_mode=g
channel=4
auth_algs=1
driver=nl80211
wpa=2
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
wpa_passphrase=0000000000
ssid=AGX-1
ieee80211n=1
wmm_enabled=1
ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd
ctrl_interface_group=0

Is there some sort of restriction where I can’t enable a 5GHz network? If so, how do I get around it? Is there a kernel patch which I need to apply?

Sorry for the late response, have you managed to the the 5GHz wifi enabled?

No I have not. I have been attempting to but to no avail. Do you have any resources on this? I think It’s because the 5GHZ networks are restrictured and have the NO-IR tag on them.

Are you able to see the 5G hotport?
Pls check with iw list and share the result here.

I see the 5GHZ frequencies, but I don’t think I can broadcast on them. Whenever I change my hostapd to the proper settings for 5GHZ config, it just does not work. @alanz, as a note, I’m trying to put my jetson into AP mode so other people can connect to it.

Wiphy phy0
	max # scan SSIDs: 20
	max scan IEs length: 422 bytes
	max # sched scan SSIDs: 20
	max # match sets: 11
	max # scan plans: 2
	max scan plan interval: 65535
	max scan plan iterations: 254
	Retry short limit: 7
	Retry long limit: 4
	Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
	Device supports RSN-IBSS.
	Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
	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
		 * AP/VLAN
		 * monitor
		 * P2P-client
		 * P2P-GO
		 * P2P-device
	Band 1:
		Capabilities: 0x11ef
			RX LDPC
			HT20/HT40
			SM Power Save disabled
			RX HT20 SGI
			RX HT40 SGI
			TX STBC
			RX STBC 1-stream
			Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
			DSSS/CCK HT40
		Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
		Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
		HT Max RX data rate: 300 Mbps
		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] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2417 MHz [2] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2422 MHz [3] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2427 MHz [4] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2432 MHz [5] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2437 MHz [6] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2442 MHz [7] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2447 MHz [8] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2452 MHz [9] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2457 MHz [10] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2462 MHz [11] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2467 MHz [12] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2472 MHz [13] (22.0 dBm)
			* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
	Band 2:
		Capabilities: 0x11ef
			RX LDPC
			HT20/HT40
			SM Power Save disabled
			RX HT20 SGI
			RX HT40 SGI
			TX STBC
			RX STBC 1-stream
			Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
			DSSS/CCK HT40
		Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
		Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
		HT Max RX data rate: 300 Mbps
		HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
		VHT Capabilities (0x039071b0):
			Max MPDU length: 3895
			Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
			RX LDPC
			short GI (80 MHz)
			TX STBC
			SU Beamformee
			MU Beamformee
		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] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5200 MHz [40] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5220 MHz [44] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5240 MHz [48] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5260 MHz [52] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5280 MHz [56] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5300 MHz [60] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5320 MHz [64] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5340 MHz [68] (disabled)
			* 5360 MHz [72] (disabled)
			* 5380 MHz [76] (disabled)
			* 5400 MHz [80] (disabled)
			* 5420 MHz [84] (disabled)
			* 5440 MHz [88] (disabled)
			* 5460 MHz [92] (disabled)
			* 5480 MHz [96] (disabled)
			* 5500 MHz [100] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5520 MHz [104] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5540 MHz [108] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5560 MHz [112] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5580 MHz [116] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5600 MHz [120] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5620 MHz [124] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5640 MHz [128] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5660 MHz [132] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5680 MHz [136] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5700 MHz [140] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5720 MHz [144] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
			* 5745 MHz [149] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5765 MHz [153] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5785 MHz [157] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5805 MHz [161] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5825 MHz [165] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
			* 5845 MHz [169] (disabled)
			* 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
			* 5885 MHz [177] (disabled)
			* 5905 MHz [181] (disabled)
	Supported commands:
		 * new_interface
		 * set_interface
		 * new_key
		 * start_ap
		 * new_station
		 * set_bss
		 * authenticate
		 * associate
		 * deauthenticate
		 * disassociate
		 * join_ibss
		 * remain_on_channel
		 * set_tx_bitrate_mask
		 * frame
		 * frame_wait_cancel
		 * set_wiphy_netns
		 * set_channel
		 * set_wds_peer
		 * tdls_mgmt
		 * tdls_oper
		 * start_sched_scan
		 * probe_client
		 * set_noack_map
		 * register_beacons
		 * start_p2p_device
		 * set_mcast_rate
		 * channel_switch
		 * set_qos_map
		 * add_tx_ts
		 * connect
		 * disconnect
	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 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
	WoWLAN support:
		 * wake up on disconnect
		 * wake up on magic packet
		 * wake up on pattern match, up to 20 patterns of 16-128 bytes,
		   maximum packet offset 0 bytes
		 * can do GTK rekeying
		 * wake up on GTK rekey failure
		 * wake up on EAP identity request
		 * wake up on 4-way handshake
		 * wake up on rfkill release
		 * wake up on network detection, up to 11 match sets
		 * wake up on TCP connection
	software interface modes (can always be added):
		 * AP/VLAN
		 * monitor
	valid interface combinations:
		 * #{ managed } <= 1, #{ AP, P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
		   total <= 3, #channels <= 2
	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 low priority scan.
	Device supports scan flush.
	Device supports per-vif TX power setting
	P2P GO supports CT window setting
	P2P GO supports opportunistic powersave 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 adds DS IE to probe requests
	Device adds WFA TPC Report IE to probe requests
	Device can update TPC Report IE
	Device supports static SMPS
	Device supports dynamic SMPS
	Device supports WMM-AC admission (TSPECs)
	Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
	Device supports TDLS channel switching

Here you can get a good explaining about the 5G channel and its frequencies.

@alanz, So we did a lot of research and testing in-house and figured out that we CAN’T get AP mode 5GHZ working on the AC8265 chips because of a firmware restriction. The second issue with the AC8265 chips we found is that it is VERY unstable. Lot’s of dropped packets and we’re not able to push out the advertised speeds on the chips. We got to 5Mb/s before it starting causing issues. We did ALOT of in-house testing.

What we ended up doing was purchasing these wifi chips for the jetson SX-PCEAC2-M2-SP Silex Technology | Mouser. They work straight out of the box and this fixed all our instability issues. We then applied this kernel patch to the kernel 4.9 source tree https://gist.githubusercontent.com/renaudcerrato/02de8b2e8dc013bc71326defd2ef062c/raw/a2db325e520e6442c8c12f7599d64ac1b7596a3e/402-ath_regd_optional.patch to remove the NO-IR on the 5GHZ channel. The posted link is for another kernel version, so we had to download the source tree and manually apply it ourselves.

In conclusion, we have working 5GHZ AP mode on both Xavier and NX devices with no instabilities. Everybody reading this post, DO NOT purchase AC8265 wifi chips for the NX or Xavier because they are very poor and unstable.

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I made a github repo outlining what I did and some easy to use scripts to get everything running:

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