reg get country code 99, what does this mean?

u666sa · 2021-03-16 21:34:16

This is the output of my iw reg get.

global
country US: DFS-UNSET
	(2400 - 2494 @ 40), (N/A, 36), (N/A)
	(5150 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 36), (N/A), AUTO-BW
	(5250 - 5350 @ 80), (N/A, 36), (N/A), AUTO-BW
	(5470 - 5730 @ 160), (N/A, 36), (N/A)
	(5730 - 5850 @ 80), (N/A, 30), (N/A)
	(57240 - 71000 @ 2160), (N/A, 40), (N/A)

phy#0
country 99: DFS-UNSET
	(2402 - 2472 @ 40), (N/A, 20), (N/A)
	(2457 - 2482 @ 40), (N/A, 20), (N/A), PASSIVE-SCAN
	(5140 - 5360 @ 80), (N/A, 30), (N/A), PASSIVE-SCAN
	(5460 - 5860 @ 80), (N/A, 30), (N/A), PASSIVE-SCAN

What does that second phy#0 mean? Why can't I change it when I reg set to something else. Upper part changes, lower part stays country 99 -- and output of iwconfig shows txpower 20dbm..

seth · 2021-03-17 07:15:36

First physical device, your wifi chip.

https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/include/net/regulatory.h wrote:

99 - built by driver but a specific alpha2 cannot be determined

Do you face some issues w/ you regdomain? Atheros chip?
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=264189

u666sa · 2021-03-17 20:00:39

seth wrote:

Do you face some issues w/ you regdomain? Atheros chip?

So far no problems with ath9k forgot the chip number. I've done firmware mod on my intel 5150 chip and made it output 36 dbm. This atheros chip is stuck on 20 dbm.
Problem is with iwleeprom I could modify the code for intel and change regdomain for the firmware. No such code in ath9300. So I'm not sure how to go about modifying the output power here. Any suggestions?

One more question. Does patching the ath9k driver to ignore card's regdomain make the card output more than 20 dbm? or will the card limit power because it's regdb has txpower fixed at 20 dbm? In other words, will patching the driver help me?

Last edited by u666sa (2021-03-17 20:02:20)

seth · 2021-03-17 21:37:51

The radio could be physically limited to 20dBm (100mW, that's not uncommon and the hardware simply cannot produce more power)
Even if you can alter the firmware/regulatory.bin to make the device generate more power, notice that you're driving it out of specs and this might fry it and damage some surrounding HW as well.
Also ensure that what you're doing is actually legal at your location, see the CoC.

Arch Linux

#1 2021-03-16 21:34:16

reg get country code 99, what does this mean?

#2 2021-03-17 07:15:36

Re: reg get country code 99, what does this mean?

#3 2021-03-17 20:00:39

Re: reg get country code 99, what does this mean?

#4 2021-03-17 21:37:51

Re: reg get country code 99, what does this mean?

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