Wireless-AC 9462 installation

Hi everybody,

I’m quite new to the game and just installed ipfire on my ZBOX CI329 nano sucessfully (well, on the 2nd try to be honest). I found out that the CI329 nano uses the Intel® Wireless-AC 9462 for Wifi connection.
A close up of the hardware can be seen here: https://www.elefacts.de/test/zotac_zbox_ci329_nano_im_test_6.jpg

My green and my red zone is working just fine, I just came across difficulties getting my blue zone up and running. WLAN AP shows me that everything is up and running and I also could/can chose the wifi adapter for the blue zone during the intial setup. But as I could not find any SSID I took a closer look and realized that my wireless card might not have been recognized completely and just a standard from the kernel is displayed - or maybe it is not supported?
I see that Intel has released drivers (for kernels 4.14+), but I am not proficient enough to know if they would work or how I could install them onto ipfire/iwlwifi. (Intel drivers: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005511/network-and-io/wireless.html)

## WLAN AP
WLAN-Karte (NL80211) -> Running
Access Point -> Running

WLAN-Status
Interface blue0
ifindex 5
wdev 0x2
addr 94:e6:f7:a7:cc:a0
type AP
wiphy 0
txpower 0.00 dBm

  • 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
  • 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
    blue0
    Current Tx-Power=0 dBm (1 mW)
    blue0_man
    Current Tx-Power=0 dBm (1 mW)

iwlist
Wiphy phy0
max # scan SSIDs: 20
max scan IEs length: 422 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 20
max # match sets: 11
max # scan plans: 2
max scan plan interval: 65535
max scan plan iterations: 254
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)
* GCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:8)
* GCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:9)
* CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
* GMAC-128 (00-0f-ac:11)
* GMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:12)
Available Antennas: TX 0 RX 0
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
* P2P-device
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x196f
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT Max RX data rate: 150 Mbps
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 1.0 Mbps
* 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] (20.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
* 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x196f
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT Max RX data rate: 150 Mbps
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
VHT Capabilities (0x33907132):
Max MPDU length: 11454
Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
RX LDPC
short GI (80 MHz)
SU Beamformee
MU Beamformee
RX antenna pattern consistency
TX antenna pattern consistency
VHT RX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: not supported
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: not supported
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) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5200 MHz [40] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5220 MHz [44] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5240 MHz [48] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5260 MHz [52] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5280 MHz [56] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5300 MHz [60] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5320 MHz [64] (20.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5500 MHz [100] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5520 MHz [104] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5540 MHz [108] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5560 MHz [112] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5580 MHz [116] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5600 MHz [120] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5620 MHz [124] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5640 MHz [128] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5660 MHz [132] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5680 MHz [136] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5700 MHz [140] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5720 MHz [144] (disabled)
* 5745 MHz [149] (disabled)
* 5765 MHz [153] (disabled)
* 5785 MHz [157] (disabled)
* 5805 MHz [161] (disabled)
* 5825 MHz [165] (disabled)
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
* start_sched_scan
* probe_client
* set_noack_map
* register_beacons
* start_p2p_device
* set_mcast_rate
* testmode
* connect
* disconnect
* channel_switch
* set_qos_map
* add_tx_ts
* 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
WoWLAN support:
* wake up on disconnect
* wake up on magic packet
* wake up on pattern match, up to 20 patterns of 16-128 bytes,
maximum packet offset 0 bytes
* can do GTK rekeying
* wake up on GTK rekey failure
* wake up on EAP identity request
* wake up on 4-way handshake
* wake up on rfkill release
* wake up on network detection, up to 11 match sets
* wake up on TCP connection
software interface modes (can always be added):
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
valid interface combinations:
* #{ managed } <= 1, #{ AP, P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
total <= 3, #channels <= 2
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 per-vif TX power setting
P2P GO supports CT window setting
P2P GO supports opportunistic powersave setting
Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
Driver supports a userspace MPM
Driver/device bandwidth changes during BSS lifetime (AP/GO mode)
Device adds DS IE to probe requests
Device can update TPC Report IE
Device supports static SMPS
Device supports dynamic SMPS
Device supports WMM-AC admission (TSPECs)
Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
Device supports TDLS channel switching

lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Gemini Lake Host Bridge (rev 03)
00:00.1 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Processor Participant (rev 03)
00:00.3 System peripheral: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Gaussian Mixture Model (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation UHD Graphics 605 (rev 03)
00:0c.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation AC 1550i Wireless (rev 03)
00:0e.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor High Definition Audio (rev 03)
00:0f.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Trusted Execution Engine Interface (rev 03)
00:12.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Device 31e3 (rev 03)
00:13.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Gemini Lake PCI Express Root Port (rev f3)
00:13.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Gemini Lake PCI Express Root Port (rev f3)
00:15.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Device 31a8 (rev 03)
00:19.0 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Serial IO SPI Host Controller (rev 03)
00:19.1 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Serial IO SPI Host Controller (rev 03)
00:19.2 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Serial IO SPI Host Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.0 SD Host controller: Intel Corporation Device 31d0 (rev 03)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Device 31e8 (rev 03)
00:1f.1 SMBus: Intel Corporation Celeron/Pentium Silver Processor Gaussian Mixture Model (rev 03)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 0c)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 0c)

Check if you set country on webgui, default is 00.

Thanks for the quick answer!

Country code is changed - I also attached a screenshot now:

First try with gn not ac settings and wpa2.

2 Likes

The most Intel cards will not work in 5 Ghz AP mode because they are configured in the Hardware to region “00” which not allow Inital Radio (no IR) on all 5Ghz channels. This channels will only work in client mode to connect an other AP. So 5Ghz and AC is not useable on such cards as AP.

You need a card programmed to the correct country.

You cannot use channel 6 for 802.11ac since that is only supported in the 5 GHz band.

Thanks everybody, that worked!
WPA2 and gn was the charm.
Unfortunately there is no information about the HT caps I could find - but I am happy it works :slight_smile:

1 Like