[Voyage-linux] RSSI different depending on which command used

[Edwin Whitelaw]

I'm working on an 18.5 mi link using 2 WRAPs with the Ubiquiti 600mw 
cards.  Obviously, antenna aiming is critical and difficult so the RSSI 
is an important tool to get things working.

Note the RSSI/SN for "ld-peak" as reported by the different commands run 
on the managed end.

--------------
ld-peak:~# wlanconfig ath0 list
ADDR               AID CHAN RATE RSSI  DBM IDLE  TXSEQ  RXSEQ CAPS ACAPS 
ERP             STATE     MODE
00:15:6d:63:21:91    0  161   6M   16  -79    0  11866  29024 Es   
F       0                 0   Normal WME ATH
ld-peak:~# wlanconfig ath0 list scan
SSID            BSSID              CHAN RATE  S:N   INT CAPS
ld-tr6          00:60:b3:c5:ca:3d   64   54M 50:0   100 EP
ld-heritage     00:0b:6b:4e:29:a5   36   54M 42:0   100 EPs  WME ATH
ld-buffalo      00:0b:6b:4e:2a:25   40   54M 33:0   100 EPs  WME ATH
ld-schaeffer    00:0b:6b:36:ba:e9   44   54M 41:0   100 EPs  WME ATH
ld-reilly       00:0b:6b:4e:2a:52  149   54M 32:0   100 EPs  WME ATH
ld-peak         00:15:6d:63:21:91  161   54M 16:0   100 Es   WME ATH
ld-peak:~# iwconfig ath0
ath0      IEEE 802.11a  ESSID:"ld-peak"  Nickname:""
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:5.805 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Bit Rate:6 Mb/s   Tx-Power:16 dBm   Sensitivity=0/3
          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=16/94  Signal level=-68 dBm  Noise level=-84 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

ld-peak:~# iwspy ath0 00:15:6d:63:21:91
ld-peak:~# iwspy ath0
ath0      Statistics collected:
    00:15:6D:63:21:91 : Quality=16/94  Signal level=-68 dBm  Noise 
level=-84 dBm
    Link/Cell/AP      : Quality=15/94  Signal level=-69 dBm  Noise 
level=-84 dBm
    Typical/Reference : Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
-----------

Any comments on understanding why wlanconfig reports only -79db while 
iwconfig and iwspy report a lovely -68db?  If it really is -68db, I 
would expect association at excellent bit rates that's not happening.

Also, as indicated from iwconfig, the link does not associate.  I do 
have athctrl set correctly for the distance.

----/etc/network/interfaces---
auto ath0
iface ath0 inet static
        address 10.100.1.1
        netmask 255.255.255.0
        broadcast 10.100.1.255
        madwifi-base wifi0
        wireless-mode Managed
        wireless-essid ld-peak
        wireless-channel 161
        up athctrl -i wifi0 -d 29600
        down wlanconfig ath0 destroy
---------------

Thanks,

Edwin

PS.  Anyone heard of the new ALIX boards for sale in the US, yet?

-- 
<=+=+=+==+=+=+==+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=>
Edwin Whitelaw, P.E.
New River Valley Unwired, LLC
2200 Lonesome Dove Dr
Christiansburg, VA 24073
540-239-0318