MikroTik Metal 52 ac: Stable 2.4 GHz Link

auto-channel-after-client.rsc

/system script add name=auto-channel-after-client policy=read,write,test source={
  :local iface "wlan1";
  :local chans {2412;2437;2462};   
  :local bestFreq 2437;
  :local bestScore 999999;

  :global autoChanDone;
  :if ([:len $autoChanDone] > 0 && $autoChanDone = true) do={
    :log info "[auto-chan] already done, skipping";
    :return;
  }

  :log info "[auto-chan] waiting for a client to connect...";
  :for i from=1 to=120 do={
    :local mon [/interface wireless monitor $iface once as-value];
    :local rc ($mon->"registered-clients");
    :if ([:len $rc] = 0) do={ :set rc 0; }

    :if ($rc > 0) do={
      :log warning ("[auto-chan] client detected (registered=" . $rc . "), scanning...");
      :set i 121;  
    } else={
      :delay 1;
    }
  }

  :local res [/interface wireless scan $iface duration=5];

  :foreach f in=$chans do={
    :local score 0;

    :foreach r in=$res do={
      :local rf ($r->"frequency");
      :if ($rf = $f) do={
        :local s ($r->"signal-strength");
        :if ([:len $s] = 0) do={ :set s -100; }

        :set score ($score + 10);               
        :if ($s > -80) do={ :set score ($score + (80 + $s)); } 
      }
    }

    :log info ("[auto-chan] freq " . $f . " score " . $score);
    :if ($score < $bestScore) do={ :set bestScore $score; :set bestFreq $f; }
  }

  :log warning ("[auto-chan] choosing " . $bestFreq . " score=" . $bestScore);
  /interface wireless set $iface frequency=$bestFreq;

  :set autoChanDone true;
}

guide.md

MikroTik Metal 52 ac: Stable 2.4 GHz Link (ROS7 + wireless) — Step-by-step

Goal: a stable, long-range-friendly 2.4 GHz link (less speed, more reliability), avoiding the “TX drops to 1–2 Mbps” problem.

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0) Connect safely

Recommended for changes: WinBox over Ethernet / MAC so you don’t lock yourself out.

• WinBox → Neighbors → select device → connect (IP or MAC).

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1) Set Wi-Fi mode, band, and channel width

WinBox:

1. Wireless → Interfaces
2. Double-click wlan1
3. Wireless tab:
   • Mode: ap bridge
   • Band: 2GHz-onlyg
   • Channel Width: 20MHz
   • SSID: set a name (e.g. TR-Metal)
4. Apply / OK

Why:

• 2GHz-onlyg disables legacy 802.11b and prevents falling back to CCK rates.
• 20 MHz is more robust on 2.4 GHz.

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2) Configure WPA2 password (Security Profile)

WinBox:

1. Wireless → Security Profiles
2. Add (+) a new profile (recommended)
   • Name: WPA2_HOME (any name)
   • Authentication Types: check WPA2 PSK
   • Uncheck WPA (optional but recommended if all clients support WPA2)
   • Encryption: AES CCM
   • WPA2 Pre-Shared Key: set your password
3. Apply / OK

Assign it:

1. Wireless → Interfaces → wlan1
2. Wireless tab → Security Profile: WPA2_HOME
3. Apply / OK

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3) Remove 802.11b/CCK rates (critical fix)

This is the change that stops “TX=1–2 Mbps”.

CLI (Terminal in WinBox)

Paste:

/interface wireless rates set wlan1 rate-set=configured \
  basic-rates-b="" supported-rates-b="" \
  basic-rates-a/g=6 supported-rates-a/g=6,9,12,18,24