CW9176i not broadcasting SSID i site survey mode

[Mats Nilson]

Hi there.

I seems impossible to get these universal access points (CW9176i) to work properly efter enabling Site Survey mode. I have successfully joined it to a C9800-CL controller running 17.15.4b release and also run the latest APSP BEFORE converting it to site survey mode.

(Also I got the ap to correctly accept wireless domain -E with correct country code, but still when ap is configured for site survey mode the radios fail to transmit.)

In the logfile the following is seen:
"Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.3941] DOT11_DRV[1]: Channel set to 36, width 20
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.3941] DOT11_DRV[1]: Channel set to 36 skipped
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.4360] DOT11_DRV[1]: Channel set to 36, width 20
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.4360] DOT11_DRV[1]: Channel set to 36 skipped
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.4577] DOT11_DRV[2]: Received mbssid configs for VAP apr2v15 delete/disable - mbssid_tx_vap:-2 mbssid_sid:-2 mbssid_vaps_cnt:0
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.4577] DOT11_DRV[2]: mbssid config failed on Radio 2, skip bring up VAP apr2v15 (mbssid group id invalid)
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.4819] DOT11_DRV[2]: Received mbssid configs for VAP apr2v15 add/enable - mbssid_tx_vap:-1 mbssid_sid:-1 mbssid_vaps_cnt:0
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.4819] DOT11_DRV[2]: mbssid config failed on Radio 2, skip bring up VAP apr2v15 (mbssid group id invalid)
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.5303]
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.5303] Radio2 reset due to oeap site-survey radio config change...
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.5303]
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.5824] wlan: [0:I:CMN_MLME] mlme_ext_vap_down: TX VAP (aux_monTx) is down
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.5931] wlan: [16290:E:ANY] dfs_init_chan_state_array: channel state array initialized
Dec 3 20:11:29 mCC6E2A69CE10 kernel: [*12/03/2025 20:11:29.5953] wlan: [0:I:CMN_MLME] mlme_ext_vap_start_setup: Beacon rate is : 6000"

Anyone has encountered similar issues and found a workaround? 

[pieterh]

I have no direct experience with this model AP, but...
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/technical-reference/cw9176-dg.html

states: This mode converts the AP into a limited standalone mode, 
so I'm surprised, to hear you say the AP joined the controller ?

my understanding of site-survey mode is that the AP should be used with only a power source and no connection to the WLC
so you can perform RF measurements , moving the AP around on a pole.

The steps below describe how to convert a CW9176x AP into Site Survey mode:

1.     Change the AP to Site Survey mode. Enter command “ap site-survey”
2.     After booting up, the AP is automatically assigned a static IP of 10.0.23.1.
3.     The AP will start broadcasting the C9178_site_survey SSID with open/OWE security.
4.     Connect your wireless client with the C9178_site_survey SSID and it will receive an IP from 10.0.23.0/24.
5.     Access the AP’s Site Survey WebUI via 10.0.23.1.
6.     The first time, the default username and password are admin/admin. You will be directed to reset that insecure password on the first login.
7.     When done, convert your AP back to CAPWAP mode to join the controller again. Enter command “ap capwap”

-> i suggest to connect only a power source with no connection to the WLC

[Mats Nilson]

Thanks Pieter, but I have followed that procedure. Maybe I didn't explicitly state that I connected this access point to the WLC and did the procedured I described BEFORE converting it to site survey mode with "ap-mode site-survey" command. (corrected now)

I have also verified that the access point is receiving full PoE, so that is not the problem either. I carefully studied the post Site survey 9172 - Cisco Community  and after eliminating any issues stated there, the CW9176i still doesn't broadcast any SSID in site survey mode. Via SSH I can access the access point i Site Survey mode, but NOTHING in the GUI provides any reason to why it fails:

[Mats Nilson · Accepted solution]

Hi all.

I discovered that in order to get a CW9176 access point to transmit anything in site-survey mode you MUST have full PoE whilst being connected to a controller so that not only the wireless interfaces are administratively up but ALSO operationally! 

So in essence the status of the wireless interfaces seems to be inherited from Capwap mode to site-survey mode. Also not configuring indoor or outdoor use seems to limit the use of channels available in site-survey mode. 

I hope this post will help others struggling to get universal access points to operate in SS mode.