desultory-zz/7612u

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7612u 🚀

Linux Support for USB WiFi Adapters that are based on the MT7612U chipset.

USB WiFi adapters based on the mt7612u chipset have been supported in-kernel since Linux kernel v4.19 (2018), therefore, there is no need to install a driver if using a modern release of Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi OS, Linux Mint, Kali, Fedora or Manjaro. (and others)

The MT76 series of drivers support managed mode, master mode and monitor modes in accordance with current Linux Wireless standards. Numerous additional capabilities, including WPA3, are supported as well.

Driver information

For Linux users that like to work on driver code, here is the location of the MT76 driver in the Linux kernel repo:

MT76

If you want to report a bug or submit a fix:

Reporting bugs and submitting fixes

If you want to see the Linux Wireless Mediatek team site:

Linux Wireless Mediatek

Setting up an access point

The below document provides instructions for setting up an Access Point using a Raspberry Pi 4b with the Raspberry Pi OS, hostapd and a USB WiFi adapter based on the mt7612u chipset.

Bridged_Wireless_Access_Point.md

The adapter used in the above documents is an Alfa AWUS036ACM.

The Alfa AWUS036ACM works very well with the Raspberry Pi hardware. I have tested the Alfa AWUS036ACM with many different computer systems and Linux distros. In my opinion, it is an outstanding USB WiFi adapter.

ALFA Network Linux support for MT7612U based products

OpenWRT

Driver package: kmod-mt76x2u

Note: If your router has a USB port and supports OpenWRT, you can use adapters based on the mt7612u (and mt7610u also) to add another 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network. It works well.

Known Issues

Known Issue #1. If your mt7612u based adapter is built with an LED, the LED does not come on automatically when the system is turned on. In looking at the source code, it appears this behavior is intentional and I understand that because one of the first things I do is disable the LED, if possible, when I install a new adapter. Should we submit an issue or pull request to change this behavior? What should the behavior be?

To turn on the LED, please follow instructions below: (does not work with Secure Mode)

Step 1: Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T)

Step 2: Change to root user

$ sudo -i

Step 3: Run both of the following commands

# cd /sys/kernel/debug/ieee80211/phy0/mt76
# echo 0x770 > regidx

Note: You may need to change phy0 above depending on the number of adapters in your system.

Step 4: Run one of the following commands

# echo 0x800000 > regval # Turn LED ON
# echo 0x820000 > regval # Turn LED OFF
# echo 0x840000 > regval # Make LED BLINK

The above can be automated but how this is accomplished depends on the operating system you are using.

Known Issue #2. When running in 5 GHz AP mode, some users have reported the need to use the following parameter to disable Scatter-Gather.

The mt7612u driver currently supports one module parameter - disable_usb_sg

This parameter is used to turn USB Scatter-Gather support on or off. Documentation is in the file mt76_usb.conf.

Information about the Scatter-Gather module parameter:

Background: Scatter and Gather (Vectored I/O) is a concept that was primarily used in hard disks and it enhances large I/O request performance.

Problem reports seem to be limited to situations where the user is running an AP with a USB3 capable adapter in a USB3 port while operating on the 5Ghz band. Symtoms include dramatically reduced throughput. If you experience dramatically reduced throughput, try disable_usb_sg=1.

The Installation Steps below can help you make this change.

To make it easy to install and manage support for the disable_usb_sg parameter, I have added some scripts that you can download and use.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T)

Step 2: Install git (select the option for the OS you are using)

    Option for Debian compatible Operating Systems

    $ sudo apt install -y git

    Option for Arch or Manjaro

    $ sudo pacman -S --noconfirm git

Step 3: Create a directory to hold the downloaded files

$ mkdir ~/src

Step 4: Move to the newly created directory

$ cd ~/src

Step 5: Download the repo

$ git clone https://github.com/morrownr/7612u.git

Step 6: Move to the newly created directory

$ cd ~/src/7612u

Step 7: Run the installation script

$ sudo ./install-options.sh

The script called edit-options.sh makes it easy to edit the module paramter:

Step 1: Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T)

Step 2: Move to the driver directory

$ cd ~/src/7612u

Step 3: Run the following script

$ sudo ./edit-options.sh

Known Issue #3. DFS channels are currently not supported in 5 GHz AP mode. The following PR shows a proposed fix. I have not tested it at this point:

openwrt/mt76#428

Wishlist for the MT76 drivers:

AP mode DFS support
LED on by default (keep the ability to turn it off)
Remove Scatter-Gather support (or at least make it off by default)

Alfa AWUS036ACM Technical Information

$ iw list
Wiphy phy0
	max # scan SSIDs: 4
	max scan IEs length: 2243 bytes
	max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
	max # match sets: 0
	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)
		* CCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:10)
		* GCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:8)
		* GCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:9)
		* CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
		* CMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:13)
		* GMAC-128 (00-0f-ac:11)
		* GMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:12)
	Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
   	Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
	Supported interface modes:
		 * IBSS
		 * managed
		 * AP
		 * AP/VLAN
		 * monitor
		 * mesh point
     		 * P2P-client
		 * P2P-GO
	Band 1:
		Capabilities: 0x1ff
			RX LDPC
			HT20/HT40
			SM Power Save disabled
			RX Greenfield
			RX HT20 SGI
			RX HT40 SGI
			TX STBC
			RX STBC 1-stream
			Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
			No DSSS/CCK HT40
		Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
		Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: No restriction (0x00)
		HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
		Bitrates (non-HT):
			* 1.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
			* 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] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2417 MHz [2] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2422 MHz [3] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2427 MHz [4] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2432 MHz [5] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2437 MHz [6] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2442 MHz [7] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2447 MHz [8] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2452 MHz [9] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2457 MHz [10] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2462 MHz [11] (23.0 dBm)
			* 2467 MHz [12] (disabled)
			* 2472 MHz [13] (disabled)
			* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
	Band 2:
		Capabilities: 0x1ff
			RX LDPC
			HT20/HT40
			SM Power Save disabled
			RX Greenfield
			RX HT20 SGI
			RX HT40 SGI
			TX STBC
			RX STBC 1-stream
			Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
			No DSSS/CCK HT40
		Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
		Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: No restriction (0x00)
		HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
		VHT Capabilities (0x318001b0):
			Max MPDU length: 3895
			Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
			RX LDPC
			short GI (80 MHz)
			TX STBC
			RX antenna pattern consistency
			TX antenna pattern consistency
		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] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5200 MHz [40] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5220 MHz [44] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5240 MHz [48] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5260 MHz [52] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5280 MHz [56] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5300 MHz [60] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5320 MHz [64] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5500 MHz [100] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5520 MHz [104] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5540 MHz [108] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5560 MHz [112] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5580 MHz [116] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5600 MHz [120] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5620 MHz [124] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5640 MHz [128] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5660 MHz [132] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5680 MHz [136] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5700 MHz [140] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
			* 5745 MHz [149] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5765 MHz [153] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5785 MHz [157] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5805 MHz [161] (20.0 dBm)
			* 5825 MHz [165] (20.0 dBm)
	Supported commands:
		 * new_interface
		 * set_interface
		 * new_key
		 * start_ap
		 * new_station
		 * new_mpath
		 * set_mesh_config
		 * set_bss
		 * authenticate
		 * associate
		 * deauthenticate
		 * disassociate
		 * join_ibss
		 * join_mesh
       		 * remain_on_channel
		 * set_tx_bitrate_mask
		 * frame
		 * frame_wait_cancel
		 * set_wiphy_netns
		 * set_channel
		 * set_wds_peer
   		 * tdls_mgmt
		 * tdls_oper
		 * probe_client
		 * set_noack_map
		 * register_beacons
		 * start_p2p_device
		 * set_mcast_rate
		 * connect
		 * disconnect
	         * channel_switch
		 * set_qos_map
		 * set_multicast_to_unicast
	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
	software interface modes (can always be added):
		 * AP/VLAN
		 * monitor
	valid interface combinations:
		 * #{ IBSS } <= 1, #{ managed, AP, mesh point } <= 2,
		   total <= 2, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match
	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 AP scan.
	Device supports per-vif TX power setting
	Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
	Driver supports a userspace MPM
	Device supports active monitor (which will ACK incoming frames)
	Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
	Supported extended features:
* [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
* [ RRM ]: RRM
* [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
* [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
* [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
* [ AIRTIME_FAIRNESS ]: airtime fairness scheduling
* [ AQL ]: Airtime Queue Limits (AQL)
* [ SCAN_RANDOM_SN ]: use random sequence numbers in scans
* [ SCAN_MIN_PREQ_CONTENT ]: use probe request with only rate IEs in scans
* [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
* [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
* [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support

desultory-zz / 7612u