ath5k_hw_set_power_mode(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💤 ath5k_hw_set_power_mode(9) — the sleepover episode 💤

Okay bestie, so this one is from the Kernel API Manual and it's literally about telling your wifi chip how to nap 😴✨ Not me getting emotional over a power mode function at 2am.

🌸 NAME 🌸

ath5k_hw_set_power_mode — set power mode. She sets the vibe, she sets the sleep. Simple as that 💅

🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

int ath5k_hw_set_power_mode (struct ath5k_hw *ah , enum ath5k_power_mode
mode , bool set_chip , u16 sleep_duration );

That's the whole cast of characters right there, no cap 🫶

✨ ARGUMENTS ✨

  • ah — the struct ath5k_hw. It's the hardware struct, the main character of the whole operation 👑
  • mode — one of enum ath5k_power_mode. Gotta pick your nap style from the official list, no improvising 🧚
  • set_chip — set this to true to write the sleep control register. Fr fr, true actually writes the thing, that's the whole point 💖
  • sleep_duration — how much time the device is allowed to sleep when the sleep logic is enabled, measured in 128 microsecond increments. So like, do the math on that one 🔥

💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

So the way that this works is: ath5k_hw_set_power_mode is the function you use to configure the sleep policy and the allowed sleep modes. It's giving bedtime-routine-for-hardware energy 🛏️✨

For more info, she says go check out the sleep control register on reg.h and STA_ID1. That's where the lore lives, iykyk 📖

And the returns? Bestie, listen:

  • Returns 0 on success 🎉 slay
  • Returns -EIO if the chip didn't wake up 😭 lowkey tragic
  • Returns -EINVAL if an invalid mode is requested 🙈 like, girl, that mode doesn't exist
Heads up: that -EIO is the chip refusing to wake up situation — pay attention to that one, it's not just flavor text 💀

🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

Kernel file ./drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/reset.c — Reset function and helpers(9), plus the whole friend group:

That's the group chat and everyone is invited 🌈

🌸 sign-off 🌸

This icon lives in ./drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k, dated October 2026 — and the page is ath5k_hw_set_power_mode(9) in the Kernel API Manual. Periodt. Sleep tight bestie, don't let the -EIO bite 🍓💤

📦 where this page comes from