Problems R52n-M with RB411AR

Good afternoon,

Recently I bought a RB411AR and R52n-M. The provider installed the card with only one antenna.

The internal PCI works perfectly but the R52n-M is not.

I can’t see the SSID (R52n-M) from any laptop around

In the other hand, I can see and connect to the SSID configured in the internal PCI.

Both network cards have the same configuration as you can see in this configuration:

# jan/02/1970 00:18:33 by RouterOS 5.4
/interface wireless security-profiles
set default authentication-types="" eap-methods=passthrough group-ciphers="" \
group-key-update=5m interim-update=0s management-protection=disabled \
management-protection-key="" mode=none name=default \
radius-eap-accounting=no radius-mac-accounting=no \
radius-mac-authentication=no radius-mac-caching=disabled \
radius-mac-format=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX radius-mac-mode=as-username \
static-algo-0=none static-algo-1=none static-algo-2=none static-algo-3=\
none static-key-0="" static-key-1="" static-key-2="" static-key-3="" \
static-sta-private-algo=none static-sta-private-key="" \
static-transmit-key=key-0 supplicant-identity=MikroTik tls-certificate=\
none tls-mode=no-certificates unicast-ciphers="" wpa-pre-shared-key="" \
wpa2-pre-shared-key=""
add authentication-types=wpa-psk group-ciphers=tkip group-key-update=5m \
interim-update=0s management-protection=allowed \
management-protection-key="" mode=dynamic-keys name=wpa \
radius-eap-accounting=no radius-mac-accounting=no \
radius-mac-authentication=no radius-mac-caching=disabled \
radius-mac-format=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX radius-mac-mode=as-username \
static-algo-0=none static-algo-1=none static-algo-2=none static-algo-3=\
none static-key-0="" static-key-1="" static-key-2="" static-key-3="" \
static-sta-private-algo=none static-sta-private-key="" \
static-transmit-key=key-0 supplicant-identity="" tls-certificate=none \
tls-mode=no-certificates unicast-ciphers=tkip wpa-pre-shared-key=\
abracadabra wpa2-pre-shared-key=abracadabra
/interface wireless
set 0 adaptive-noise-immunity=none allow-sharedkey=no antenna-gain=3 \
antenna-mode=ant-a area="" arp=enabled band=2ghz-b/g basic-rates-a/g=\
6Mbps basic-rates-b=1Mbps bridge-mode=enabled burst-time=disabled \
channel-width=20mhz compression=no country=no_country_set \
default-ap-tx-limit=0 default-authentication=yes default-client-tx-limit=\
0 default-forwarding=yes dfs-mode=none disable-running-check=no disabled=\
no disconnect-timeout=3s distance=dynamic frame-lifetime=0 frequency=2422 \
frequency-mode=manual-txpower frequency-offset=0 hide-ssid=no \
hw-fragmentation-threshold=disabled hw-protection-mode=none \
hw-protection-threshold=0 hw-retries=7 l2mtu=2290 mac-address=\
00:0C:42:94:AF:35 max-station-count=2007 mode=ap-bridge mtu=1500 name=\
wlan1 noise-floor-threshold=default nv2-cell-radius=30 \
nv2-noise-floor-offset=default nv2-preshared-key="" nv2-qos=default \
nv2-queue-count=2 nv2-security=disabled on-fail-retry-time=100ms \
periodic-calibration=default periodic-calibration-interval=60 \
preamble-mode=both proprietary-extensions=post-2.9.25 radio-name=\
000C4294AF35 rate-selection=legacy rate-set=default scan-list=default \
security-profile=wpa ssid=wlan1 station-bridge-clone-mac=\
00:00:00:00:00:00 supported-rates-a/g=\
6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps,24Mbps,36Mbps,48Mbps,54Mbps supported-rates-b=\
1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps,11Mbps tdma-period-size=2 tx-power=17 tx-power-mode=\
card-rates update-stats-interval=disabled wds-cost-range=50-150 \
wds-default-bridge=none wds-default-cost=100 wds-ignore-ssid=no wds-mode=\
disabled wireless-protocol=802.11 wmm-support=disabled
set 1 adaptive-noise-immunity=none allow-sharedkey=no antenna-gain=3 area="" \
arp=enabled band=2ghz-b/g basic-rates-a/g=6Mbps basic-rates-b=1Mbps \
bridge-mode=enabled channel-width=20mhz compression=no country=\
no_country_set default-ap-tx-limit=0 default-authentication=yes \
default-client-tx-limit=0 default-forwarding=yes dfs-mode=none \
disable-running-check=no disabled=no disconnect-timeout=3s distance=\
dynamic frame-lifetime=0 frequency=2422 frequency-mode=manual-txpower \
frequency-offset=0 hide-ssid=no ht-ampdu-priorities=0 ht-amsdu-limit=8192 \
ht-amsdu-threshold=8192 ht-basic-mcs=\
mcs-0,mcs-1,mcs-2,mcs-3,mcs-4,mcs-5,mcs-6,mcs-7 ht-guard-interval=any \
ht-rxchains=0 ht-supported-mcs="mcs-0,mcs-1,mcs-2,mcs-3,mcs-4,mcs-5,mcs-6,\
mcs-7,mcs-8,mcs-9,mcs-10,mcs-11,mcs-12,mcs-13,mcs-14,mcs-15" ht-txchains=\
0 hw-fragmentation-threshold=disabled hw-protection-mode=none \
hw-protection-threshold=0 hw-retries=7 l2mtu=2290 mac-address=\
00:0C:42:64:B4:5B max-station-count=2007 mode=ap-bridge mtu=1500 name=\
wlan2 noise-floor-threshold=default nv2-cell-radius=30 \
nv2-noise-floor-offset=default nv2-preshared-key="" nv2-qos=default \
nv2-queue-count=2 nv2-security=disabled on-fail-retry-time=100ms \
periodic-calibration=default periodic-calibration-interval=60 \
preamble-mode=both proprietary-extensions=post-2.9.25 radio-name=\
000C4264B45B rate-selection=legacy rate-set=default scan-list=default \
security-profile=wpa ssid=wlan2 station-bridge-clone-mac=\
00:00:00:00:00:00 supported-rates-a/g=\
6Mbps,9Mbps,12Mbps,18Mbps,24Mbps,36Mbps,48Mbps,54Mbps supported-rates-b=\
1Mbps,2Mbps,5.5Mbps,11Mbps tdma-period-size=2 tx-power=17 tx-power-mode=\
card-rates update-stats-interval=disabled wds-cost-range=50-150 \
wds-default-bridge=none wds-default-cost=100 wds-ignore-ssid=no wds-mode=\
disabled wireless-protocol=802.11 wmm-support=disabled
/interface wireless manual-tx-power-table
set wlan1 manual-tx-powers="1Mbps:17,2Mbps:17,5.5Mbps:17,11Mbps:17,6Mbps:17,9M\
bps:17,12Mbps:17,18Mbps:17,24Mbps:17,36Mbps:17,48Mbps:17,54Mbps:17,HT20-0:\
17,HT20-1:17,HT20-2:17,HT20-3:17,HT20-4:17,HT20-5:17,HT20-6:17,HT20-7:17,H\
T40-0:17,HT40-1:17,HT40-2:17,HT40-3:17,HT40-4:17,HT40-5:17,HT40-6:17,HT40-\
7:17"
set wlan2 manual-tx-powers="1Mbps:17,2Mbps:17,5.5Mbps:17,11Mbps:17,6Mbps:17,9M\
bps:17,12Mbps:17,18Mbps:17,24Mbps:17,36Mbps:17,48Mbps:17,54Mbps:17,HT20-0:\
17,HT20-1:17,HT20-2:17,HT20-3:17,HT20-4:17,HT20-5:17,HT20-6:17,HT20-7:17,H\
T40-0:17,HT40-1:17,HT40-2:17,HT40-3:17,HT40-4:17,HT40-5:17,HT40-6:17,HT40-\
7:17"
/interface wireless nstreme
set wlan1 disable-csma=no enable-nstreme=no enable-polling=yes framer-limit=\
3200 framer-policy=none
set wlan2 disable-csma=no enable-nstreme=no enable-polling=yes framer-limit=\
3200 framer-policy=none
/interface wireless align
set active-mode=yes audio-max=-20 audio-min=-100 audio-monitor=\
00:00:00:00:00:00 filter-mac=00:00:00:00:00:00 frame-size=300 \
frames-per-second=25 receive-all=no ssid-all=no
/interface wireless sniffer
set channel-time=200ms file-limit=10 file-name="" memory-limit=10 \
multiple-channels=no only-headers=no receive-errors=no streaming-enabled=\
no streaming-max-rate=0 streaming-server=0.0.0.0
/interface wireless snooper
set channel-time=200ms multiple-channels=yes receive-errors=no

Please help me to figure it out how to configure the R52n-M and let me know what I am doing wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Hi ...

Why both APs are on 2422?

Try changing one of them for 2412 (ch1) and another to 2462 (ch11).

Regards;

Hello Marcus, thank for your answer.

I have been trying everything but the results are the same. I changed the channel, turned off the interfaces ... but the wlan2 have the same results.

Even if I do a scan with each interface, the wlan2 only detect the wlan1 and other one installed at home, but if I do the same using the wlan1 I can detect many SSID.

Could it be that the R52n-M does not have the 2 antennas installed?. Only one is installed.

Here are some images.

What other thing should I do?.

Thanks in advance.

Well, don't know; you yourself already stated in your initiatl post that

The provider installed the card with only one antenna.

. This one is connected to the onboard antenna (wlan1).
Your PCI card (wlan2 or R52n-M) is not connected to any antenna.

Hence when you run a scan wlan1 ´sees´ everyting and wlan2 only sees what it can sense on its antenna connectors. This is not a lot since it is not an antenna. Only the signal of the build-in antenna or from a very close router (on your desk?) is strong enought to even get it to the card's receiver circuits through the antenna connector (MMCX) only....

Connect a ´n´ (dual antenna) or two normal antenna's for the the band you wish to use to the R52n card and indeed, set it to other freq. as the build in (to avoid interference) and see how sunny live can be!

Hello!!

Thank you for the answers.

Maybe I made a mistake espousing the situation about the PCI and the antennas attached.

The provider installed 2 antennas, one on the internal card and one on the PCI.

At the end, I finally solved it. I disconnected the internal antenna and attached to the PCI. After that the wifi2 worked properly.

My question about this situation is: why the provider insist that only one antenna was needed?, is that true?

Thanks in advance.

My question about this situation is: why the provider insist that only one antenna was needed?, is that true?

Thanks in advance.

Well, you and he are right. A ´n´ card in ´n´ mode works best with 2 antenna's attached. But one antenna on one chain working is possible.
In legacy mode the ´n´ card can also be used with 2 antenna's as Marcos here can tell you all about, but the default is you use only one antenna in that case.

But why did you buy a ´R´ card if you're not going to use the on-board radio anyway? (Unless price, I found these cards sometimes to be cheaper than the same board without the extra radio.....)

Hi ...

Take a look on R52nM card. Two antenna ports (chain 0 & chain 1), on legacy 802.11 modes (A/B/G) MT says to always use chain 0 (Antenna A equivalent on A/B/G only cards).

I think that for your band scan test may be enough to set it to use chain 0, mode B/G (or A if 5.8G is desired) and if few APs are detectet just swap the pigtail from one MMCX jack to another.

On R52Hn the chain 0 jack is the one at the "center" of the card. I don't remember on R52nM which one is chain 0. May be the PDF brochure at routerboard.com have some notation about.

Anyway, I've been using R52n, R52Hn & R52nM with a single antenna. By default when you start configurying the card it cames with only chain 0 enabled. Later I added a second antenna but for a unnoficial aplication: one antenna aimed to an area, another to a second area (like a single AP with 2 antennas for different covereage areas). And only then I enabled both chains on tx & rx (still on A/B/G mode).

But this is another story.

Regards;