HI everybody,

I have 3 Linksys WRT54GLs (all version 1.1).  Two are configured as mesh nodes (A and B), and the third is configured as a mesh access point (MAP).  The MAP has an ethernet cable connecting one of its LAN ports to a LAN port on mesh node A.  Mesh node B has an ethernet cable connecting one of its LAN ports to laptop B's ethernet port.  Finally, Laptop A makes a wireless connection to the MAP.  All 3 WRT54GLs are running on channel 1 with the same SSID.

I checked the mesh status on mesh nodes A and B and they see each other.  I saved the DHCP registration so that DNS will work for laptop A and B.  I can ping from laptop A to laptop B and back with no problems.  So, now I am trying to copy a small 3MB file from laptop A to laptop B via sftp.  Both laptops are running Andy's Ham Radio Linux (an Ubuntu 14.04 remix).

From laptop A: sftp user@laptopB
successfully makes the connection
put <some file>

The file transfer begins, but it takes 5-7 minutes for the file transfer to complete.  I expected it to complete in a few seconds.

Note that all 3 WRT54GLs and the two laptops are sitting in very close proximity on my kitchen table.  AFAIK, there is nothing else on wifi channel 1 in the area.  All antennas are pointing straight up.  I'm using this firmware:  bbhn-1.1.2-wrt54g-2.4-squashfs.bin

Do I perhaps have faulty hardware?  I tried moving the WRT54GLs further apart, to no avail.  I'm not sure what else to try.  Does anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks, and 73,

Andy
KB1OIQ

Process of elimination:

1) Move the MAP node to another channel (while staying in band for our licensing).  To have clear freq separation move up to ch 11 under part 15 normal wifi licensing and revert back to factory linksys image.   (Shouldn't have any effect in your test given there's no mesh RF traffic in your setup to compete, but for expanded use...)

2) The linksys are flaky with combined usage of ports for both DtD and devices that can be plugged into any given LAN port.  Since Linksys factory images don't combine vlan tags on the same external port, we can't be assured this will ever work robustly.  To eliminate this as a problem, you can edit a couple of files (you or friend know ssh and vi?):

Find these configuration files and edit the sections to look like (or similiar to this).  Different versions of linksys have different port mappings (and becareful as some have internal port 1 labeled as port 4 external).  Openwrt website gives the details.  This example turns port '1' internal to be the DtD only port.   vlan2 (or tag 2) is for DtD.  The "option auto no" line is commented out and is only a change to do in the recently uploaded 3.0.0 image to turn DtD on.

/etc/vlan

----------------------------------

config switch eth0

option vlan0 "2 3 4 5*"

      option vlan1 "0 5"

      option vlan2  "1t 5t"

---------------------------------------

/etc/config.mesh/network

---------------------------------------

config interaface dtdlink

      option ifname "eth0.2"

      option proto static

      option ipaddr <ditdlink_ip>

      option netmask 255.0.0.0

#    option auto no

---------------------------------------------

************ in setup, save settings and reboot ****************

3) install 'wireshark' on the laptop and capture the packets to get an idea of the traffic.  Everything is going from correct source to destination IP addresses between all the nodes?  Nothing looks unusual?

For the Mesh Access Point (MAP)

This is actually intended to be operated under PART 15 so move it AWAY from the mesh channel as far as you can (Channel 11 is often recommended) of course stay within part 15 power and antenna gain regulations.