Incorrect, hardware retries are set to 15 by default. This is an old issue. The issue lies with Tranzeo or more specifically the Zcom radios they use although they deny it. Mikrotik attempted to make a bandaid fix with the hardware retries but it is really a fix Tranzeo needs to implement.
Actually, I do not believe that statement is correct.
To start with, any fresh installation or configuration reset I've done of ROS from v3.0 forward (and perhaps even in the latest 2.9.x releases) default to a hardware retry value of 4.
If you upgrade from an older version of 2.9.x that did not have the setting for hardware retries available to one of the latest versions of 2.9.x or 3.x that does have it available, you will find it set to 15. I suspect this is due to the configuration data defaulting to a "legacy setting" when the variable did not previously exist.
I still have about 30 Tranzeo CPQ's in my network, and I can confirm that when the deassociation issue happens (even with HW retries set to 4), *all* CPQ units deauth simultaneously and reconnect, and all MT units stay rock solid. The HW retries at 4 definitely reduced the frequency and impact of the issue, but did not cure it.
I also know that this behaviour is not specific to the Zcom cards, as I know for an absolute certainty that on every sector that has CPQ's on it, there is one or more that have CM9's in them. I know this for certain because previously I personally opened the failed CPQ units and replaced the dead CM9 radio with a new CM9. I don't bother keeping the Tranzeo board anymore, I just retool it with a RB133/411. It appears the "cure" may be just to avoid Tranzeo altogether - let's say I've been less than impressed.
I'm running 802.11b, with WPA-PSK AES on all sectors that still have CPQ's on them, so I may have to try changing one to TKIP to see if that has anything to do with it as reported by Semaphore.
I do agree that this appears to be a Tranzeo specific issue, and needs to be fixed by them. However, I think the chance of that happening are low - at best.
Brad