GenBasic 2A4M1 Not Working w/ AML-S905X-CC (MT7601u chipset)

Hardware
,
1

Hello, I am having trouble with the GenBasic WiFi 4 USB Nanos that I ordered from LoveRPI. Their website description indicated it would be plug-n-play. I bought these to provide WLAN for AML-S905X-CC running Debian (bullseye) aarch 64. I reached out to get help from LoveRPI directly but they referred me to post here.

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Without any changes to the kernel or kernel modules, the WLAN comes up for a few minutes but constantly resets. Output from dmesg below. I searched for solutions via Google and found several instances suggesting patch/recomplile for the kernel driver was needed – but I bought these modules specifically from LoveRPI because they were suggested to be plug n’ play w/ upstream drivers… Are these units defective? Thanks in advance for your help.


[170365.793233] usb 1-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci-hcd

[170366.025310] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=7601, bcdDevice= 0.00

[170366.025397] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

[170366.025437] usb 1-1.3: Product: 802.11 n WLAN

[170366.025470] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 1.0

[170366.131564] cfg80211: Loading compiled-in X.509 certificates for regulatory database

[170366.157306] cfg80211: Loaded X.509 cert 'sforshee: 00b28ddf47aef9cea7'

[170366.180287] cfg80211: loaded regulatory.db is malformed or signature is missing/invalid

[170366.293694] usb 1-1.3: reset high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci-hcd

[170366.396011] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: ASIC revision: 76010001 MAC revision: 76010500

[170366.398420] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Firmware Version: 0.1.00 Build: 7640 Build time: 201302052146____

[170366.860015] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: EEPROM ver:0c fae:00

[170367.146218] ieee80211 phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'

[170367.152133] usbcore: registered new interface driver mt7601u

[170372.333160] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU response pre-completed!

[170372.333622] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: send MCU cmd failed:-71

[170372.333662] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU response pre-completed!

[170372.333811] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: send MCU cmd failed:-71

[170372.333851] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU response pre-completed!

[170372.333999] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: send MCU cmd failed:-71

[170372.334031] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU response pre-completed!

[170372.334177] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: send MCU cmd failed:-71

[170372.334207] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU response pre-completed!

[170372.334342] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: send MCU cmd failed:-71

[170372.349214] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU response pre-completed!

[170372.349612] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: send MCU cmd failed:-71

[170372.436345] usb 1-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 4

[170372.757089] usb 1-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci-hcd

[170372.987570] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=7601, bcdDevice= 0.00

[170372.987657] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

[170372.987697] usb 1-1.3: Product: 802.11 n WLAN

[170372.987731] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 1.0

[170373.076064] usb 1-1.3: reset high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci-hcd

[170373.184332] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: ASIC revision: 76010001 MAC revision: 76010500

[170373.185342] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Firmware Version: 0.1.00 Build: 7640 Build time: 201302052146____

[170373.642878] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: EEPROM ver:0c fae:00

[170373.830439] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp urb failed:-71

[170373.830611] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp evt:0 seq:4-3!

[170373.830911] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp urb failed:-71

[170373.831008] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp evt:0 seq:4-3!

[170373.831299] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp urb failed:-71

[170373.831394] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp evt:0 seq:4-3!

[170373.831682] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp urb failed:-71

[170373.831776] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp evt:0 seq:4-3!

[170373.831902] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp urb failed:-71

[170373.832153] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: MCU resp evt:0 seq:4-3!

[170373.832248] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Error: mt7601u_mcu_wait_resp timed out

[170373.993469] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Vendor request req:07 off:0080 failed:-71

[170374.153115] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Vendor request req:02 off:0080 failed:-71

[170374.313464] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Vendor request req:02 off:0080 failed:-71

[170374.313822] mt7601u: probe of 1-1.3:1.0 failed with error -110

[170374.318977] usb 1-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 5

[170374.549067] usb 1-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 6 using xhci-hcd

[170374.779818] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=7601, bcdDevice= 0.00

[170374.780008] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

[170374.780108] usb 1-1.3: Product: 802.11 n WLAN

[170374.780191] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 1.0

[170374.872325] usb 1-1.3: reset high-speed USB device number 6 using xhci-hcd

[170374.980254] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: ASIC revision: 76010001 MAC revision: 76010500

[170374.985833] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Firmware Version: 0.1.00 Build: 7640 Build time: 201302052146____

[170375.436387] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: EEPROM ver:0c fae:00

[170375.715294] ieee80211 phy2: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'

[170735.700836] usb 1-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 6

[170735.738748] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Warning: TX DMA did not stop!

[170739.742556] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Warning: MAC TX did not stop!

[170742.146273] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Warning: MAC RX did not stop!

[170742.146339] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Warning: RX DMA did not stop!

[170742.458209] usb 1-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 7 using xhci-hcd

[170742.688793] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=7601, bcdDevice= 0.00

[170742.688981] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

[170742.689081] usb 1-1.3: Product: 802.11 n WLAN

[170742.689163] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 1.0

[170742.777326] usb 1-1.3: reset high-speed USB device number 7 using xhci-hcd

[170742.883647] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: ASIC revision: 76010001 MAC revision: 76010500

[170742.885257] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: Firmware Version: 0.1.00 Build: 7640 Build time: 201302052146____

[170743.332635] mt7601u 1-1.3:1.0: EEPROM ver:0c fae:00

[170743.611707] ieee80211 phy3: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
2

Where did you get the image? Are you using Debian or Raspbian?

What power supply are you using?

Check that the voltage on the 5V pin is above 5V and below 5.5V. Voltage drop and excessive voltage will cause the dongle to stop working.

3

Try the Raspberry Pi OS from Libre Computer. The 2A4M1 (mt7601u) module worked on first try. I got mine with the AML-S905X-CC/WiFi/heat sink bundle from LoveRPI. Also, make sure your using a good power supply it does matter alot.

4

Not sure if it is best for me to reply on this thread or start a new discussion, but I am also having some issues with WiFi on Le Potato using the GenBasic 2A4M1 dongle supplied by LoverPi.

I received my Potato and WiFi dongle about a month ago and installed the latest Raspian Bullseye from Libre.Computer downloads page. Raspian desktop is nice and snappy with direct connection (HDMI + mouse + keyboard). Also seems OK running terminal over SSH (connecting through wifi).

But, when trying to connect with remote desktop over wifi, it is slow and laggy and things seem to freeze a lot. For example, just re-sizing a window can cause things to freeze for 15-30 seconds. Sometimes the session will drop completely and must re-connect.

Because the supplied VNC client is not fully supported, I am using xrdp on the Le Potato and Window Remote Desktop client on PC. https://www.xrdp.org/

I tried to monitor resources (CPU usage appears very low, reported temperatures are only in the 40’s, memory usage appears very low). I also used a scope to monitor 5V and 3.3V power and it appears very clean and stable.

Finally, I tried connecting directly with an Ethernet cable, and all problems went away. Everything runs pretty smoothly - almost as good as with the direct connection.

So I am convinced that this is a WiFi performance issue, but not sure how to troubleshoot. Any suggestions? Are others seeing better results with this WiFi dongle?

PS - My WiFi router is in the same room, just a few feet away, and I do not have the LePotato in a case.

5

What is the output of the following?

sudo iw dev DEVICE link

sudo iw dev DEVICE info

Replace DEVICE with your device name.

6

OK here are the results (I masked off my SSID before posting):

iw dev wlan0 link:

Connected to ac:db:48:cf:3e:86 (on wlan0)
	SSID: <MASKED>
	freq: 2437
	RX: 2811478 bytes (15870 packets)
	TX: 138004 bytes (1362 packets)
	signal: -15 dBm
	rx bitrate: 65.0 MBit/s MCS 6 short GI
	tx bitrate: 72.2 MBit/s MCS 7 short GI

	bss flags:	short-preamble short-slot-time
	dtim period:	1
	beacon int:	100

iw dev wlan0 info:

Interface wlan0
	ifindex 3
	wdev 0x1
	addr 3c:33:00:50:0d:85
	ssid <MASKED>
	type managed
	wiphy 0
	channel 6 (2437 MHz), width: 20 MHz, center1: 2437 MHz
	txpower 30.00 dBm
7

Those look fine. Can you run ping with adaptive timing, iperf, and check dmesg for any errors?

8

I ran a couple of short test with Ping - just a few minutes each. I can let them go longer, but this is what I saw:
Ping with adaptive timing on eth0 was very stable at 15ms +/-1ms.
Ping with adaptive timing on wlan0 was much less consistent, but still not terrible:

--- 8.8.8.8 ping statistics ---
1049 packets transmitted, 1048 received, 0.0953289% packet loss, time 210450ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 14.489/24.957/229.027/35.972 ms, pipe 2, ipg/ewma 200.811/19.603 ms

I didn’t see much in dmesg… here are all the messages marked error or warning:

:~ $ dmesg --level=err,warn
[    1.460440] db_root: cannot open: /etc/target
[    2.875006] meson-gx-mmc d0074000.mmc: no support for card's volts
[    2.875558] mmc0: error -22 whilst initialising SDIO card
[    3.399434] dwc2 c9100000.usb: supply vusb_d not found, using dummy regulator
[    3.402414] dwc2 c9100000.usb: supply vusb_a not found, using dummy regulator
[    3.895343] mmc0: Card stuck being busy! __mmc_poll_for_busy
[    4.223637] lima d00c0000.gpu: error -ENODEV: _opp_set_regulators: no regulator (mali) found
[    4.248297] Trying to free nonexistent resource <000000007fe5b000-000000007ffeffff>
[    6.140343] systemd[1]: /lib/systemd/system/plymouth-start.service:16: Unit configured to use KillMode=none. This is unsafe, as it disables systemd's process lifecycle management for the service. Please update your service to use a safer KillMode=, such as 'mixed' or 'control-group'. Support for KillMode=none is deprecated and will eventually be removed.
[    7.040622] systemd-journald[323]: File /var/log/journal/dec2b35a92824551bf1ec72ed16871d1/system.journal corrupted or uncleanly shut down, renaming and replacing.
[    8.436364] meson_vdec: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[   12.834341] ICMPv6: process `dhcpcd' is using deprecated sysctl (syscall) net.ipv6.neigh.eth0.retrans_time - use net.ipv6.neigh.eth0.retrans_time_ms instead

I am not familiar with iperf. I see the software here: https://iperf.fr/
It appears I can install this with apt. It looks to me like I need to install this on 2 computers to use it - is that correct?
Do you have a specific test you want me to run with iperf?

9

The standard deviation for your ping timing is too high which is probably why you are experiencing the issues.

Here’s a typical adaptive ping.

352 packets transmitted, 352 received, 0% packet loss, time 2755ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 3.715/7.303/32.294/3.115 ms, pipe 4, ipg/ewma 7.850/6.933 ms

Your signal level is very high (same room). Your ping mdev is an order of magnitude higher indicating there is signal interference during transmission. Are you in an area with a lot of microwave transmission?

10

No, not that I am aware of. I am in a single-family suburban house in a residential area with concrete block construction. So no nearby neighbors running microwave ovens, etc. and no nearby industrial facilities or radio towers that I can think of. Cell phone and broadcast TV signals are weak inside my house. All neighborhood utilities are underground (so no overhead power lines).

I re-ran the ping test. This time I pinged from the wlan0 port on the Le Potato (10.0.0.169) to an ethernet port on my laptop (10.0.0.54), connected on the same local network (the previous test I pinged 8.8.8.8 - Google). The total times are shorter, but the jitter is still quite large.

--- 10.0.0.54 ping statistics ---
849 packets transmitted, 849 received, 0% packet loss, time 170341ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 1.156/7.084/230.266/24.764 ms, pipe 2, ipg/ewma 200.873/4.959 ms
11

Can you try to have your laptop be wired and then to the board which is over WiFi? 230ms is insane for that high signal level. It’s indicating signal interference perhaps between your laptop and the WiFi dongle because your router or the two devices are not doing transmit negotiation properly. There’s is likely medium contention (both devices trying to transmit simultaneously and clashing). Do you have any wireless landline phones using the 2.4GHz band? Or try an adaptive ping to your router only instead of the laptop to isolate the source of the packet delay.