[rt2x00-users] On using a rt2500 card as access point

[Stefano Bettelli]

Hallo,

I have a RaLink RT2500 card that I want to use as master
access point. I have compiled a 2.6.30 standard linux
kernel with the following rt2x00 modules:

----------------------------------------------------
rt2500pci              17320  0 
rt2x00pci               7848  1 rt2500pci
rt2x00lib              25864  2 rt2500pci,rt2x00pci
input_polldev           4152  1 rt2x00lib
mac80211              156400  2 rt2x00pci,rt2x00lib
cfg80211               70808  2 rt2x00lib,mac80211
eeprom_93cx6            2088  1 rt2500pci
----------------------------------------------------

the modules load without any apparent error. 
The card is managed by the hostapd daemon, with the
following configuration (the wi-fi device is part
of a bridge together with one ethernet card):

------------------------
interface=wlan0
bridge=br0
driver=nl80211
ssid=<....>
country_code=AT 
ieee80211d=1
hw_mode=g
channel=8
beacon_int=100
max_num_sta=255
macaddr_acl=0
auth_algs=2
wep_default_key=0
wep_key0=<...>
-----------------------

by typing iwconfig wlan0 I get

-------------------------
IEEE 802.11bg  Mode:Master  Frequency:2.447 GHz  Tx-Power=20 dBm   
Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:<... some encryption key ...>
Power Management:off
Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0
-------------------------

but the ssid of this cell cannot be seen by computers
around it (other cells can be detected easily). Also it
is impossible to scan available cells from the master node:

-----------------------------------------------
> iwlist wlan0 scan
    wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning :
    Operation not supported
-----------------------------------------------

Slightly different answer if I put the card in ad-hoc mode:

-----------------------------------------------
> ifdown br0
> iwconfig wlan0 mode ad-hoc
> ifconfig wlan0 up
> iwlist wlan0 scan
    wlan0     No scan results
-----------------------------------------------

Could someone write a short summary on how to activate
this card in master mode (or on how to check that it is
at all active)? Also, should the led on the back of the
card besides the antenna plug be on when the card is
broadcasting its cell?

Thank you.