I tried the route of changing regulatory settings. I even recompiled crda and recompile the wireless modules to use a static regdb I created (net/wireless/db.txt)
It certainly appears that Ath9k project is putting out bad information:
Features and modes of operation
All of these modes of operation are supported and should work on all ath9k cards.
Modes of operation
Station Mode
AP Mode
IBSS Mode
Monitor Mode
Mesh point with HT support, as well as RSN
WDS (as of >= 2.6.37)
Because I have 3 ath9k adapters and I found one that works.
Working adapter Ubiquiti SR71-E Atheros - AR9280
Code:
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x11ce
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
Frequencies:
* 5180 MHz [36] (17.0 dBm)
* 5200 MHz [40] (17.0 dBm)
* 5220 MHz [44] (17.0 dBm)
* 5240 MHz [48] (17.0 dBm)
* 5260 MHz [52] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5280 MHz [56] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5300 MHz [60] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5320 MHz [64] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5500 MHz [100] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5520 MHz [104] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5540 MHz [108] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5560 MHz [112] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5580 MHz [116] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5600 MHz [120] (disabled)
* 5620 MHz [124] (disabled)
* 5640 MHz [128] (disabled)
* 5660 MHz [132] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5680 MHz [136] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5700 MHz [140] (20.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm)
* 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm)
* 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm)
* 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm)
* 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm)
Not working adapter Netgear WNDA3200 - Atheros AR9280
Code:
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x114e
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT40 SGI
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
Frequencies:
* 5180 MHz [36] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5200 MHz [40] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5220 MHz [44] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5240 MHz [48] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5260 MHz [52] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5280 MHz [56] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5300 MHz [60] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5320 MHz [64] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS, radar detection)
* 5500 MHz [100] (disabled)
* 5520 MHz [104] (disabled)
* 5540 MHz [108] (disabled)
* 5560 MHz [112] (disabled)
* 5580 MHz [116] (disabled)
* 5600 MHz [120] (disabled)
* 5620 MHz [124] (disabled)
* 5640 MHz [128] (disabled)
* 5660 MHz [132] (disabled)
* 5680 MHz [136] (disabled)
* 5700 MHz [140] (disabled)
* 5745 MHz [149] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5765 MHz [153] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5785 MHz [157] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5805 MHz [161] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)
* 5825 MHz [165] (30.0 dBm) (passive scanning, no IBSS)