[Madwifi-devel] Re: Txpower patch does not solve the problem ...

[Daniel W. <dy...@gm...>]

If you're using the patch from ticket 508, here are my replies:

1. Max txpower you can set is 18dbm even country set.


I haven't tested this, but I was looking at a file somewhere on the 'net
that
shows most txpower in diff. countries are limited to 18dbm.



2. You cannot set always 18dbm sometimes there is ther error
> Error for wireless request "Set Tx Power" (8B26) :
>     SET failed on device ath0 ; Invalid argument.


This error means the argument is too high for the regional domain (most of
the time) for txpower.
 You should look at "iwlist ath0 txpower" to see the max tx power your card
allows it to send at.



This comes because ath_hal_getmaxtxpow() does not always report the same
> value
> (as noted in the previous mail). So if it reports 34 the max. is 17 is it
> reports 36 you
> can set 18dbm ... But nevertheless it is set back to 17dbm if reported
> less
> than 36
> and set back if it is again 36 ...


This is why the patch tries to set the value to be a high maximum, and then
read from the hal
for the max value.  Then it can clamp the value down.

http://madwifi.org/wiki/DevDocs/HAL-usage#Transmitpower



>
> Here in Argentina we can send with 1W radio output and 6dbi antenna i.e.
> 6dBW EIRP!!
> If I remember right in australia it's the same ...


Is this for client mode or AP mode ?
I don't think the binary hal/cards splits the txpower limits between modes.
I'll have to check on that.


>
> Please don't tell me again that's a regulatory issue or somewhat like tha=
t
> because
> on all system like MikroTik and StarOS you cat set the domain (like in
> madwifi) and have the full output.


What is the full output ?


>
> Very sad story about this high power cards.


So, you're using the high power cards.

Can you tell me which card you're using  (model/brand/frequency)  ?
Also, what's the card's max tx power.