Atheros chip for FreeBSD Access Point

[rank1seeker at gmail.com]

So, 2 weeks ago I did ...

At the end, I decided to dump 5Ghz mode, in favor of a Short-GI in HT/20 mode.

So I went for latest 'AR9227/AR9287'. I wondered what is the difference, if they are same.
AR9227 => PCI
AR9287 => PCIe

As I had only 1 free PCI slot, on Supermicro MBO and no PCIe slots, I went for 'AR9227'.

AP is running on P4 Prescott, which has only 1 core, so SMP issues aren't problem for me.

http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/Special:Ask, listed few cards for 'AR9227' chip, all PCI.
One of them was available in my country.

So I've bought 'TP-LINK TL-WN851ND Ver:1.0'

Plugged it in, booted, so let's load a module ...
# kldload if_ath_pci
    pulled if_ath, too.
Kernel had to say:
-----
ath0: <Atheros 9287> mem 0xf1040000-0xf104ffff irq 5 at device 1.0 on pci3
ath0: AR9287 mac 384.2 RF5133 phy 15.15
-----
It shows it as AR9287, which is a PCIe version. 'AR9227' marketing name? :P

I've recompiled kernel with:
---
device ath
device ath_pci
device ath_hal
options AH_SUPPORT_AR5416
device ath_rate_sample
---

Reboot and a ...
I achieved with Win7 clients(each having WiFi G cards, old at least 3 years), speed of 3400 Kb/s => 3.32 Mb/s, which would be 26.56 megabits/sec

However, sometimes I would get a storm of:
--
+ath0: stuck beacon; resetting (bmiss count 4)
--
To get rid of it, for me worked to stick AP to channel 8.


Now, ... what is "Supports Short-GI in HT/20 mode" and how do I get advantage of it?
I'll soon get another 'AR9287' bassed Mini PCIe card for laptop.

N support in FreeBSD is coming in 10, not in 9.1 or 9.x?

What gives 'device ath_rate_sample'?

What does this mean and what is it used for (I didn't compiled with this option):
    'The driver also support tdma operation when compiled with options IEEE80211_SUPPORT_TDMA'

This is a report at '9.0-RELEASE-p5' for 'TP-LINK TL-WN851ND Ver:1.0' card working in 'hostap' mode.
So you are free to put it on a verified list. ;)

Thx for info.



Domagoj Smolčić