Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

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catbird

Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by catbird »

Hi,

I am having a recurring problem with my wireless since upgrading to LM13. Every so often my wireless connection goes down, and then just sits there and cannot reconnect. It keeps asking me for the password (which I am definitely getting right) but it just won't reconnect. If I turn the wireless off and on it breaks completely, it just says "unavailable" on the network manager drop down tray menu. This happens with two different routers (work and home) so that's not the problem. It was working fine in LM12. The only way I can figure out how to fix it is to reboot.

Here is the output of mintwifi when everything is working properly:

Code: Select all

tom@tom-Latitude-E6220 ~ $ mintwifi
-------------------------
* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
  -- Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (rev 34)
      ==> PCI ID = 8086:0082 (rev 34)
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
lo        no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11abgn  ESSID:"O2wirelessED17E3"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.462 GHz  Access Point: 00:24:17:ED:17:E3   
          Bit Rate=58.5 Mb/s   Tx-Power=15 dBm   
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=40/70  Signal level=-70 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:27392  Invalid misc:202   Missed beacon:0

eth0      no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 84:8f:69:f0:99:73  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
          Interrupt:20 Memory:e1c00000-e1c20000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:552 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:552 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:64044 (64.0 KB)  TX bytes:64044 (64.0 KB)

wlan0     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 08:11:96:8f:19:40  
          inet addr:192.168.1.69  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::a11:96ff:fe8f:1940/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:100877 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:58613 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:147469334 (147.4 MB)  TX bytes:5710104 (5.7 MB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
[sudo] password for tom: 
Rather than invoking init scripts through /etc/init.d, use the service(8)
utility, e.g. service smbd reload

Since the script you are attempting to invoke has been converted to an
Upstart job, you may also use the reload(8) utility, e.g. reload smbd
RTNETLINK answers: File exists
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
Server:		192.168.1.254
Address:	192.168.1.254#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.69
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.71
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.66
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.78
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.72
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.70
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.73
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.67
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.64
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.65
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.34.68
And here it is after dropping the connection, when it can't reconnect:

Code: Select all

tom@tom-Latitude-E6220 ~ $ mintwifi
-------------------------
* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
  -- Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (rev 34)
      ==> PCI ID = 8086:0082 (rev 34)
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
lo        no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11abgn  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=15 dBm   
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          
eth0      no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 84:8f:69:f0:99:73  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
          Interrupt:20 Memory:e1c00000-e1c20000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:552 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:552 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:64044 (64.0 KB)  TX bytes:64044 (64.0 KB)

wlan0     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 08:11:96:8f:19:40  
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:137158 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:80778 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:197941121 (197.9 MB)  TX bytes:8148587 (8.1 MB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
[sudo] password for tom: 
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached
I don't know if both are needed, I thought it might help. If someone can suggest how to fix it that would be great!

Thanks
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
nanowire

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by nanowire »

I've had this exact problem as well, though I'm on Mint 12. I never could get this fixed with the default Network Manager that comes with Mint. In the end, I ended up removing Network Manager and installing wicd to control my wireless. I will say this nearly completely fixed the problem, though every now and then I will notice a slowdown, but instead of the password thing and needing to reboot, with wicd I'm able to simply disconnect and reconnect to the network and all is good.

The one thing I don't like about wicd is I can't use it to get internet via my cellphone when traveling, so I've been still trying to find a solution that fixes this problem with Network Manager as I'd prefer to use it over wicd, but have had no success so far and have been just using wicd lately.
catbird

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by catbird »

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately it didn't work for me, I couldn't see how to remove the default Network manager, maybe there was a conflict? I tried removing wicd but now I can't seem to connect at all. :(

edit: I can connect now, it's not completely broken - phew!
nanowire

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by nanowire »

catbird wrote:Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately it didn't work for me, I couldn't see how to remove the default Network manager, maybe there was a conflict? I tried removing wicd but now I can't seem to connect at all. :(

edit: I can connect now, it's not completely broken - phew!
Yes from what I have read, having both can cause conflicts. When I installed wicd, I simply opened up Synaptic Software Manager, found the package 'network-manager' and marked it for removal, then found 'wicd' and marked it for installation. Then hit apply, this way it downloaded the packages, wicd in this case, removed network-manager, then installed wicd all at once. I then reset my laptop and everything worked for me at least.

Though I'm glad you got your computer back to at least how it was before. Hopefully someone that reads this will have a better solution, as I too would like to get Network Manager working correctly.
catbird

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by catbird »

Thanks, I got it installed with Synaptic. Unfortunately it doesn't seemed to have fixed things. My connection went down and I couldn't get a list of networks to connect to in Wicd, I kept clicking Refresh but it just said no networks found.
merlinof2

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by merlinof2 »

nanowire,

perfect. Synaptic had the foresight to first install wicd then uninstall NetworkManager. Just remember to scroll down and completely remove NetworkManager as there are artifacts left after the initial removal. BUT, that said. Once I setup my networks again, all worked great. My formerly perfectly working system, (under Mint13, before a kernel upgrade), now scans and finds networks as I move from location to location, and gives wired priority, as it should.

Thanks!!
nanowire

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by nanowire »

catbird wrote:Thanks, I got it installed with Synaptic. Unfortunately it doesn't seemed to have fixed things. My connection went down and I couldn't get a list of networks to connect to in Wicd, I kept clicking Refresh but it just said no networks found.
That's odd, not sure why that would be happening, it should at least find any network that Network Manager could find.
merlinof2 wrote:nanowire,

perfect. Synaptic had the foresight to first install wicd then uninstall NetworkManager. Just remember to scroll down and completely remove NetworkManager as there are artifacts left after the initial removal. BUT, that said. Once I setup my networks again, all worked great. My formerly perfectly working system, (under Mint13, before a kernel upgrade), now scans and finds networks as I move from location to location, and gives wired priority, as it should.

Thanks!!

Glad wicd worked out for you.
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heavy metal
Level 3
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Posts: 149
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Puerto Rico

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by heavy metal »

@Catbird:
Did you turned on your wireless adapter in the Wicd menu, Wicd can turn on and off your wireless adapters check it out and let us know if worked or not!
Debian 12 Gnome on a MSI H61M-P25 (B3) PC & on a Dell Latitude E6410 & HP EliteBook 8540p Laptops.
LMDE 6 on a Panasonic ToughBook CF-C1 Laptop.
Bodhi Linux 7 on a HP Compaq DC5750 Small Form Factor PC.
Windows 11 on a Intel DH55TC PC.
catbird

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by catbird »

Hi,

I tried turning it off and on with Wicd but it didn't fix it, it still says no networks found.

Cheers
Tomasu

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by Tomasu »

It is strange, happened now for second time in one day after couple weeks of using, have no clue what causing it, but that works for me

to check use |sudo rfkill list|

viz.:

Usage: rfkill [options] command
Options:
--version show version (0.4-1ubuntu3 (Ubuntu))
Commands:
help
event
list [IDENTIFIER]
block IDENTIFIER
unblock IDENTIFIER
where IDENTIFIER is the index no. of an rfkill switch or one of:
<idx> all wifi wlan bluetooth uwb ultrawideband wimax wwan gps fm

first time when it happened i noticed when 'rfkill list' that some devices were off so i set them on an than it was as usual, but it happened again after couple of hours with no reason known to me. Anyway above command worked in that case as well so fingers crossed it will be ok now or that this aproach will work in the future again. would be nice if somebody more experienced find out what is happening, but unfortunately cant get any other help unles guided.
Tomasu

Re: Wireless keeps dropping, then breaks completely.

Post by Tomasu »

happend on Mint 14 64bit, sony vaio vpceb4joe if it somehow helps
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