I have a new AR300M. MAC cloning does not work well so far. I am at home doing all of this and WISP is connecting to my home router, a linksys EA9500 - no captive portal or anything. I saw this same issue at a friend’s house with an ASUS router. It looks like if the device that cloned MAC to AR300M remains on the network wirelessly, it will cause problems with WiFi even for other devices. If the device that cloned the MAC stays off after clone, things are OK.
Whenever I do clone mac address from my iPad when connected via WISP wirelessly, it takes the iPad’s MAC and restarts Wi-Fi, and then I reconnect with my iPad and try to run Oooka’s Speedtest IOS app…but then within the space of a minute, it restarts the wireless again, and then again, and then again as though the AR300M is having serious problems communicating with the iPad. If I go back in and do RESTORE of the factory default MAC address, it stabilizes and the Wi-Fi restarts stop, but then I have reverted to the factory default MAC address and not the cloned one that I want, since it would be the iPad I use to logon to first login to a hotel network for example, which defeats the purpose of MAC cloning.
I tried on 2.264 and 2.27 (testing) firmware builds, and I also backleveled via factory restore to 2.261 but that didn’t work either.
I think maybe this other person had the same problem but it was never resolved:
These logs are from build 2.27 but I saw the same behavior on all levels referred to above. I thought I had it working one time when I used DHCP/ethernet cable to help get WISP going, but then after removing the ethernet cable and running OK on wireless for a while, I enabled/disabled OpenVPN and it immediately went back into these constant restarts of WiFi whenever the iPad with same MAC was connected and trying to talk through this AR300M router… also DHCP/ethernet is not always going to be available for me to “jumpstart” things when I am travelling.
Here are some logs that may help understand, I left the first two parts of the MAC in each case and censored the rest in this post - d0:4f: is the iPad.
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info hostapd: wlan0: STA d0:4f:mac:addr:censored IEEE 802.11: authenticated
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info hostapd: wlan0: STA d0:4f:mac:addr:censored IEEE 802.11: associated (aid 1)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: wlan0: AP-STA-CONNECTED d0:4f:mac:addr:censored
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info hostapd: wlan0: STA d0:4f:mac:addr:censored RADIUS: starting accounting session 2D7905F751258913
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info hostapd: wlan0: STA d0:4f:mac:addr:censored WPA: pairwise key handshake completed (RSN)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[6707]: DHCPREQUEST(br-lan) 192.168.8.195 d0:4f:mac:addr:censored
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[6707]: DHCPACK(br-lan) 192.168.8.195 d0:4f:mac:addr:censored Daniels-iPad
Sun Apr 1 22:10:18 2018 daemon.info odhcpd[1310]: Using a RA lifetime of 0 seconds on br-lan
Sun Apr 1 22:10:19 2018 daemon.warn dnsmasq[6707]: possible DNS-rebind attack detected: www.tes500.zillow.net
Sun Apr 1 22:10:23 2018 daemon.info odhcpd[1310]: Using a RA lifetime of 0 seconds on br-lan
Sun Apr 1 22:10:27 2018 daemon.info odhcpd[1310]: Using a RA lifetime of 0 seconds on br-lan
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: AP Ok=1
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: network(caIfnames) = wan wan6 wwan
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: check wpa runing = 7082
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: STA Ok=1
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: Everthing is OK!!!
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: check wpa runing = 7082
Sun Apr 1 22:10:29 2018 daemon.info gl-health>>: Connected Hotspot: SSID = Fort, BSSID = 48:f8:mac:addr:censored
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Network device ‘wlan-sta’ link is down
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ has link connectivity loss
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.169699] wlan-sta: deauthenticated from 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (Reason: 7=CLASS3_FRAME_FROM_NONASSOC_STA)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.211658] wlan-sta: authenticate with 48:f8:mac:addr:censored
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.230479] wlan-sta: send auth to 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (try 1/3)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.238387] wlan-sta: authenticated
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.291102] wlan-sta: associate with 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (try 1/3)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.312313] wlan-sta: RX AssocResp from 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=12)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 579.320916] wlan-sta: associated
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Network device ‘wlan-sta’ link is up
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ has link connectivity
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is setting up now
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (11568): udhcpc: received SIGTERM
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is now down
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is disabled
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is enabled
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is setting up now
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 user.notice mwan3: ifdown interface wwan (unknown)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (15845): udhcpc: started, v1.25.1
Sun Apr 1 22:10:36 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (15845): udhcpc: sending discover
Sun Apr 1 22:10:37 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Network device ‘wlan0’ link is down
Sun Apr 1 22:10:37 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 580.171231] br-lan: port 2(wlan0) entered disabled state
Sun Apr 1 22:10:37 2018 daemon.info odhcpd[1310]: Using a RA lifetime of 0 seconds on br-lan
Sun Apr 1 22:10:38 2018 daemon.notice netifd: bridge ‘br-lan’ link is down
Sun Apr 1 22:10:38 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘lan’ has link connectivity loss
Sun Apr 1 22:10:39 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (15845): udhcpc: sending discover
Sun Apr 1 22:10:40 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:40 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:40 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:40 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:42 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (15845): udhcpc: sending discover
Sun Apr 1 22:10:44 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:44 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:45 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:45 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: handle_probe_req: send failed
Sun Apr 1 22:10:46 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 589.328634] wlan-sta: deauthenticating from 48:f8:mac:addr:censored by local choice (Reason: 3=DEAUTH_LEAVING)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:46 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Network device ‘wlan-sta’ link is down
Sun Apr 1 22:10:46 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ has link connectivity loss
Sun Apr 1 22:10:46 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (15845): udhcpc: received SIGTERM
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.519384] wlan-sta: authenticate with 48:f8:mac:addr:censored
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.538272] wlan-sta: send auth to 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (try 1/3)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.546168] wlan-sta: authenticated
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.551522] wlan-sta: associate with 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (try 1/3)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Network device ‘wlan-sta’ link is up
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ has link connectivity
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is setting up now
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.563032] wlan-sta: RX AssocResp from 48:f8:mac:addr:censored (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=12)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.571674] wlan-sta: associated
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice hostapd: wlan0: AP-STA-DISCONNECTED d0:4f:mac:addr:censored
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.590446] br-lan: port 2(wlan0) entered forwarding state
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 590.596252] br-lan: port 2(wlan0) entered forwarding state
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Network device ‘wlan0’ link is up
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: bridge ‘br-lan’ link is up
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘lan’ has link connectivity
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (16036): udhcpc: started, v1.25.1
Sun Apr 1 22:10:47 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (16036): udhcpc: sending discover
Sun Apr 1 22:10:49 2018 kern.info kernel: [ 592.591374] br-lan: port 2(wlan0) entered forwarding state
Sun Apr 1 22:10:50 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (16036): udhcpc: sending discover
Sun Apr 1 22:10:50 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (16036): udhcpc: sending select for 192.168.1.253
Sun Apr 1 22:10:50 2018 daemon.notice netifd: wwan (16036): udhcpc: lease of 192.168.1.253 obtained, lease time 86400
Sun Apr 1 22:10:50 2018 daemon.notice netifd: Interface ‘wwan’ is now up
Sun Apr 1 22:10:50 2018 user.notice mwan3: ifup interface wwan (wlan-sta)
Sun Apr 1 22:10:51 2018 daemon.info odhcpd[1310]: Using a RA lifetime of 0 seconds on br-lan
Sun Apr 1 22:10:52 2018 user.notice firewall: Reloading firewall due to ifup of wwan (wlan-sta)
root@GL-AR300M:~#
root@GL-AR300M:/etc/config# cat wireless
config wifi-device ‘radio0’
option type ‘mac80211’
option path ‘platform/qca953x_wmac’
option htmode ‘HT20’
option hwmode ‘11ng’
option txpower ‘20’
option channel ‘9’
config wifi-iface
option device ‘radio0’
option network ‘lan’
option mode ‘ap’
option encryption ‘psk-mixed’
option wds ‘1’
option ifname ‘wlan0’
option ssid ‘censoredssid’
option key ‘censoredpassword’
config wifi-iface ‘sta’
option device ‘radio0’
option ifname ‘wlan-sta’
option network ‘wwan’
option mode ‘sta’
option ssid ‘censoredssid’
option key ‘censoredpassword’
option encryption ‘psk-mixed’
option macaddr ‘d0:4f:mac:addr:censored’
Please let me know if there is any other info I can provide, I would love to get a fix for this as so far I like the other aspects of this router.
EDIT: In further testing I found that I can also use my iPhone to help get it working. I find that if I use my iPhone (rather than iPad) to do the clone mac, pretending like I had used my iphone to get through a captive portal for example, and then leave the iphone off the network after doing the clone mac, I am OK. But if the iPhone remains on Wifi and then my iPad does a speedtest, via Ookla’s app, during the server lookup phase it drops the iPad connectivity. If I turn off Wifi for the iPhone, I can run speedtest without issue and iPad connectivity is stable. This is not a good workaround as I want to be able to have my iphone connect too via Wifi especially when there is no LTE available (such as on a boat or plane).
So to summarize, my findings so far seem to indicate that if whatever wireless device has cloned MAC to AR300M is on the network, it or any other device cannot do Speedtest and maybe similar I/O without that device losing wireless connectivity repeatedly. Seems like GL-inet should be able to recreate this phenomenon?