How to change mac addresses of wireless interfaces

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rogger
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2025 22:51    Post subject: How to change mac addresses of wireless interfaces Reply with quote
Hi,

I'm trying to connect APs via WDS what doesn't work because of nearly all interface mac addresses in my TP-Link WDR3600 (with dd-wrt build 62606) are eqal.

This is what I get from "ip a s"

2: eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UP qlen 1000
link/ether c0:4a:00:be:78:35 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
3: vlan1@eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue master br0 state UP
link/ether c0:4a:00:be:78:35 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
vlan
4: vlan2@eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel master br0 state UP qlen 1000
link/ether c0:4a:00:be:78:36 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
vlan
12: br0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state UP qlen 1000
link/ether c0:4a:00:be:78:35 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
bridge
inet 192.168.31.253/24 brd 192.168.31.255 scope global br0
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
13: wlan0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue master br0 state UP
link/ether c0:4a:00:be:78:35 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
14: wlan0.wds0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 qdisc noop master br0 state DOWN
link/ether c0:4a:00:be:78:35 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

This situation seems to inhibit working WDS

Proposals like:
nvram set ath0_hwaddr=c0:4a:00:be:78:37 (no effect)
nvram set ath0macaddr=c0:4a:00:be:78:37 (no effect)
iwpriv ath0 setHwaddr c0:4a:00:be:78:37 (not found)
macchanger -m c0:4a:00:be:78:37 ath0 (not found)
fail.

What can be done to change the mac address permanently?
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kernel-panic69
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 1:19    Post subject: Reply with quote
First of all, the interface names are no longer ath*. Second of all, MAC address changes should be done via the Setup -> Networking tab. This shouldn't be necessary for WDS AP or STA modes unless, of course, resetting resulted in the MAC addresses going askew. I don't *think* this device uses the older protocol that has the tab with all the MAC addresses...
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Per Yngve Berg
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 8:08    Post subject: Reply with quote
All interfaces that are bridged will get the MAC of the Bridge.

Last edited by Per Yngve Berg on Thu Nov 20, 2025 19:40; edited 1 time in total
rogger
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Location: Hamburg / Germany

PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 17:05    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you for the hints.
I found the place where to change MAC addresses and changed them.
But my not working WDS between Netgear R7000p and WDR3600 continues.
kernel-panic69
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 18:15    Post subject: Reply with quote
Because it's between Broadcom and Atheros:

WDS Linked Router Network | DD-WRT Wiki

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rogger
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Location: Hamburg / Germany

PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2025 23:44    Post subject: Reply with quote
in some way I could build a connection between the devices.
In Atheros is no modus "WDS Station" as described in your mentioned link.
Only AP (WDS) | Client (WDS) want MAC adresses of the counterpart and only in modus "Client (WDS)" the connection is shown in state / wifi but anyhow there is no package transport and also no arp entry of the counterpart routers visible.
kernel-panic69
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2025 1:13    Post subject: Reply with quote
Client was replaced with Station for all modes a while back across the board, AFAIK.
And again, different chipsets, so it will not work per the Wiki.
WDS is handled differently by the different drivers, I presume.

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rogger
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Joined: 19 Nov 2025
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Location: Hamburg / Germany

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2025 9:09    Post subject: Reply with quote
My fault. My UI is in german and there "Station" is still "Client".
But anyhow my old WDR3600 doesn't seem to make sense in my environment.
Thanks again for the answers.
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