---
name: "uath"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/uath"
---

# uath(4)

Atheros USB IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless network device

## NAME

**uath** – Atheros USB IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless network device

## SYNOPSIS

**uath\* at uhub? port ?**

## DESCRIPTION

The **uath** driver supports USB 2.0 wireless network devices based on Atheros Communications fifth generation AR5005UG and AR5005UX chipsets.

The AR5005UG chipset is made of an AR5523 multiprotocol MAC/baseband processor and an AR2112 Radio-on-a-Chip that can operate between 2300 and 2500MHz (802.11b/g).

The AR5005UX chipset is made of an AR5523 multiprotocol MAC/baseband processor and an AR5112 dual band Radio-on-a-Chip that can operate between 2300 and 2500MHz (802.11b/g) or 4900 and 5850MHz (802.11a).

The AR5005UG and AR5005UX chipsets both have an integrated 32-bit MIPS R4000-class processor that runs a firmware and manages, among other things, the automatic control of the transmit rate and the calibration of the radio.

These are the modes the **uath** driver can operate in:

- BSS mode

  Also known as *infrastructure* mode, this is used when associating with an access point, through which all traffic passes. This mode is the default.

- monitor mode

  In this mode the driver is able to receive packets without associating with an access point. This disables the internal receive filter and enables the card to capture packets from networks which it wouldn't normally have access to, or to scan for access points.

**uath** supports hardware WEP. It can be typically configured in one of three modes: no encryption; 40-bit encryption; or 104-bit encryption. It is strongly recommended that WEP not be used as the sole mechanism to secure wireless communication, due to serious weaknesses in it.

The **uath** driver can be configured at runtime with [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) or on boot with [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md).

## FILES

The following firmware file is loaded when a device is plugged:

- */etc/firmware/uath-ar5523*

  This firmware file is not freely redistributable.

A prepackaged version of the firmware can be installed using [fw\_update(8)](/fw_update/8.md).

## HARDWARE

The following adapters should work:

| | |
| --- | --- |
| *Adapter* | *Chipset* |
| Compex WLU108AG | AR5005UX |
| Compex WLU108G | AR5005UG |
| D-Link DWL-G132 | AR5005UG |
| IODATA WN-G54/US | AR5005UG |
| MELCO WLI-U2-KAMG54 | AR5005UX |
| Netgear WG111T | AR5005UG |
| Netgear WG111U | AR5005UX |
| Netgear WPN111 | AR5005UG |
| Olitec 000544 | AR5005UG |
| Philips SNU6500 | AR5005UG |
| PLANET WDL-U357 | AR5005UX |
| Siemens Gigaset 108 | AR5005UG |
| SMC SMCWUSBT-G | AR5005UG |
| SMC SMCWUSBT-G2 | AR5005UG |
| SparkLAN WL-785A | AR5005UX |
| TP-Link TL-WN620G | AR5005UG |
| TRENDware International TEW-444UB | AR5005UG |
| TRENDware International TEW-504UB | AR5005UX |
| Unex Technology UR054ag | AR5005UX |
| ZyXEL XtremeMIMO M-202 | AR5005UX |

## EXAMPLES

The following example scans for available networks:

```
# ifconfig uath0 scan
```

The following [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md) example configures uath0 to join network “mynwid”, using WEP key “mywepkey”, obtaining an IP address using DHCP:

```
join mynwid nwkey mywepkey
inet autoconf
```

## DIAGNOSTICS

- uath0: error N, could not read firmware ...

  For some reason, the driver was unable to read the firmware image from the filesystem. The file might be missing or corrupted.

- uath0: could not load firmware (error=...)

  An error occurred while attempting to upload the firmware to the onboard MIPS R4000 processor.

- uath0: could not initialize adapter

  The firmware was uploaded successfully but did not initialize properly or in time.

- uath0: could not send command 0xXX (error=...)

  An attempt to send a command to the firmware failed.

- uath0: timeout waiting for command reply

  A read command was sent to the firmware but the firmware failed to reply in time.

- uath0: device timeout

  A frame dispatched to the hardware for transmission did not complete in time. The driver will reset the hardware. This should not happen.

## SEE ALSO

[arp(4)](/arp/4.md), [ifmedia(4)](/ifmedia/4.md), [intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [netintro(4)](/netintro/4.md), [usb(4)](/usb/4.md), [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **uath** driver first appeared in OpenBSD 4.0.

## AUTHORS

The **uath** driver was written by Damien Bergamini ⟨*damien.bergamini@free.fr*⟩.

## CAVEATS

Atheros Communications refuses to release any documentation for their products. Atheros proprietary 108 Mbps mode (aka Super AG mode) is not supported.

The **uath** driver does not attempt to do any regulation of radio frequencies.