diff --git a/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/Makefile b/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/Makefile
index 39640c1c..00b1c7ca 100644
--- a/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/Makefile
+++ b/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=fff-wireless
-PKG_RELEASE:=12
+PKG_RELEASE:=13
 
 PKG_BUILD_DIR:=$(BUILD_DIR)/$(PKG_NAME)
 
diff --git a/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/files/etc/uci-defaults/24a-fff-wireless b/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/files/etc/uci-defaults/24a-fff-wireless
index e0c4a14b..d02af16e 100644
--- a/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/files/etc/uci-defaults/24a-fff-wireless
+++ b/src/packages/fff/fff-wireless/files/etc/uci-defaults/24a-fff-wireless
@@ -17,11 +17,15 @@ configWifiDevice() {
 
 	[ "$freq" = "2" ] && uci set "wireless.${radio}.legacy_rates=0"
 
+	# detect 802.11ac capable radio and set htmode appropriately
+	local htmode="HT20"
+	iw phy "${radio}" info | grep -q 'VHT Capabilities' && htmode="VHT20"
+
 	# Comments
 	# wXmesh: use 802.11s mesh as "default"
 
 	uci batch <<-__EOF__
-		set wireless.${radio}.htmode='HT20'
+		set wireless.${radio}.htmode='${htmode}'
 		set wireless.${radio}.country='DE'
 		set wireless.${radio}.disabled='0'