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Wireless Connectivity on Tachyon

Tachyon features a Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset, which includes an integrated Wi-Fi 6E module. This provides high-speed, low-latency, and efficient wireless connectivity over PCIe.

Desktop Setup

Overview​

The Wi-Fi module in the QCM6490 supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard, allowing for faster speeds, improved security, and better performance in high-density environments.

Key Features of the QCM6490 Wireless Module​

  • Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) → Supports 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands.
  • Multi-Gigabit Speeds → Faster data transfer and lower network congestion.
  • PCIe Connectivity → The module connects to the main SoC via PCIe (1 of the 2 buses), ensuring high throughput.
  • High Efficiency → Improved power management and network efficiency with Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • OFDMA & MU-MIMO → Handles multiple devices more effectively, reducing latency.
  • Advanced Security → Supports WPA3 encryption for secure network connections.
  • Dual-band & Tri-band Support → Operates on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequencies.

Wireless Bands & Performance​

2.4 GHz Band​

✅ Long-range
✅ Good penetration through walls
❌ Lower speeds compared to 5 GHz and 6 GHz

5 GHz Band​

✅ Faster speeds
✅ Less interference compared to 2.4 GHz
❌ Shorter range than 2.4 GHz

6 GHz Band (Wi-Fi 6E)​

✅ Ultra-fast speeds with low congestion
✅ Higher capacity for modern applications
❌ Limited support in older devices

🛠 Hardware & Interfaces​

The Wi-Fi module is connected via PCIe, ensuring high bandwidth and reliable performance.
It is controlled through Linux drivers, which are included in Ubuntu 20.04 and later versions.

Key Interfaces​

  • PCIe → Primary communication interface.
  • SDIO (Optional) → Alternate interface for embedded applications.
  • GPIO Control → Used for power and reset functions.

Driver & Firmware Support​

Tachyon runs Linux with built-in Qualcomm drivers for the Wi-Fi 6E module.

Checking Wireless Interface​

To check if the Wi-Fi module is detected, run:

lspci 
00:00.0 PCI bridge: Qualcomm Device 010b

If the output lists a Qualcomm Wi-Fi device, the module is recognized.

Restarting the Wireless Interface​

If you experience connection issues, try restarting the Wi-Fi service:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

or manually:

nmcli radio wifi off && nmcli radio wifi on

Note: If you are using a shell attached over Wi-Fi when you do this, it will disconnect...

How to Set Up WiFi on Your Device Manually

Creating a Simple Connection​

nmcli device wifi connect YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME password YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD ifname wlan0

Creating a Connection Using a Specific Security Scheme​

nmcli connection add type wifi con-name YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME ifname wlan0 ssid YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME
nmcli connection modify YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME wifi-sec.key-mgmt wpa-psk wifi-sec.psk YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD
nmcli connection up YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME

Viewing Network Information​

nmcli connection show

Deleting a WiFi Network​

nmcli connection delete id YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME

Scanning and Listing Local WiFi Networks​

nmcli dev wifi rescan
nmcli dev wifi list

Disable WiFi low power mode (to speed up transfers but with increased power)​

nmcli connection modify YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME wifi.powersave disable

Creating a WiFi Hotspot to Share the Built-in Cellular Connection​

Create a Hotspot Network​

nmcli dev wifi hotspot ifname wlan0 ssid tachyon password tachyon123

Configure Routing​

sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=1

iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o rmnet_data0 -j MASQUERADE

iptables -A FORWARD -i wlan0 -o rmnet_data0 -j ACCEPT

iptables -A FORWARD -i rmnet_data0 -o wlan0 -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT

ip route add default via IP_ADDRESS_OF_RMNET_DATA0 dev rmnet_data0 metric 100

ip route del default dev wlan0

nmcli connection modify "Hotspot" ipv4.method auto

nmcli connection up "Hotspot"

Note in the above, IP_ADDRESS_OF_RMNET_DATA0 should be the interface IP address gotten from ifconfig for rmnet_data0 network interface.