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SKong

Member

Registered: 2025-03-23

Posts: 1

Trying to setup an hostspot with Intel AX200 card.

Hello,

So I've encountered a problem on AX200 cards (and more  generally speaking on all cards using iwlwifi kernel) while trying to set up a hostspot for my phone/laptop (can't get the Wi-Fi, 2.4 or 5Ghz, to cover all the rooms in my home, and I was planning on using my desktop PC as a Wi-Fi repeater because I can't get a cable to the router).

Before anything, I checked if the card was supporting AP mode, and it supported AP mode.

Next, I tried to use network-manager with nm-applet GUI. I've set up a new Wi-Fi connection as a hostspot and connected to the newly created hostspot via "connection to a hidden Wi-Fi.". Upon connection, it disconnects from the working Wi-Fi, and I'm unable to connect to any networks without disconnecting from the hostspot. I tried in 5GHz and 2.4GHz and changing one by one most of the parameters, still the same issue.

In such, i searched for other solutions, and I found a software solution using create_ap doing what I wanted to do, linux-wifi-hostspot. I ran

wihotspot

and set up a hostspot. I tried various parameters, but if I'm connected to Wi-Fi via network-manager the hostspot won't  run, and I'm left with this error:

Error: Failed to run hostapd, maybe a program is interfering.
If an error like 'n80211: Could not configure driver mode' was thrown
try running the following before starting create_ap:
    nmcli r wifi off
    rfkill unblock wlan
Command not found or exited with error status

The hostspot only run if i type the advised commands deactivating my wifi connection with Network-manager and making the hostspot useless as i can't get my ethernet cable to my desktop computer.

I searched a little bit more, and it seems that  iwlwifi is preventing multichannel operations since this commit related to this issue on the linux-wifi-hostspot GitHub.

With that said, how can I make a hostspot for my phone and laptop ? I was thinking to downgrade the iwlwifi kernel, but i don't really know if it's a good idea, or I should give up and trade my Intel AX200 for a Qualcomm Atheros or any other card ?

I searched a little bit more and it seams that  iwlwifi is preventing multi-channel operations since this commit related to this issue on the linux-wifi-hostspot github.

How can I make a hostspot for my phone and laptop ? I was thinking to downgrade the iwlwifi kernel, but i don't really know if it's a good idea, or should I give up and trade my Intel AX200 for a Qualcomm Atheros or any other card ?

Last edited by SKong (2025-03-24 00:39:03)

jl2

Member

From: 47° 18' N 8° 34' E

Registered: 2022-06-01

Posts: 1,321

Re: Trying to setup an hostspot with Intel AX200 card.

Upon connection, it disconnects from the working Wi-Fi, and I'm unable to connect to any networks without disconnecting from the hostspot. I tried in 5GHz and 2.4GHz and changing one by one most of the parameters, still the same issue.

I think you want to buy a second wifi card and use one for WLAN and the other for AP.
Or you could buy a longer cable.

I searched a little bit more, and it seems that  iwlwifi is preventing multichannel operations since this commit related to this issue on the linux-wifi-hostspot GitHub.

read the issue. you literally answered your own question, didn't you?
We won't fucking read it for you!

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