Cannot connect to 2.4Ghz WiFi network but 5Ghz works

[m-s-a]

Hello,

I have a powerline network adapter that has a 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Wifi network.
I have both of them enabled with similar configuration (password, etc).

I am able to connect all my devices to both of them, except for my LinuxMint laptop. The LinuxMint laptop is able to connect to the 5GHz network, but not to the 2.4Ghz network. It does list the 2.4Ghz network in the list of available networks. When I select it, it asks for a password. I enter the password, then it tries to connect for a while and finally kicks me back to the password prompt without any error message.
I'm sure it's the right password, and the signal strength of the 2.4Ghz network is actually better than the one of the 5Ghz network.

I also tried deleting the "Auto ..." configuration in the Network connections and have it recreate the connection, but that didn't help either.

How could I fix this?

Thanks,
Mark

[gittiest personITW]

See if disabling IPv6 helps.

If you don't know how to do that, post back.
Let us know if it works or not.

[m-s-a]

Thank you for the suggestion.
I tried it, but no change...

Any other ideas?

[gittiest personITW]

Can you disable gufw (firewall) to see if that is the problem - at least temporarily.

[MikeNovember]

Hi,

Very often the 2.4 and 5 GHz have the same SSID by default. Check if you can separate them in your network adapter and give them different names.

Next, you will be able to see the two in the list of your detected WiFi access points.

Regards,

MN

[m-s-a]

Very often the 2.4 and 5 GHz have the same SSID by default. Check if you can separate them in your network adapter and give them different names.

They already have 2 different names, that's why I know which one works and which one doesnt

[m-s-a]

Can you disable gufw (firewall) to see if that is the problem - at least temporarily.

That didn't help either, unfortunately... Is there a chance that something might show up in some logs somewhere?

[gittiest personITW]

Go to Menu/Network connections.
Can you check that both 2.4 and 5Ghz have the same settings.
It might be worth you posting your

Code: Select all

 inxi -Fxz

You can try some of these to see if something shows up:
lspci -nnk | grep -i net -A2
sudo tcpdump
ifconfig

[m-s-a]

Here is the inxi output:

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System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-96-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Console: tty 0 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma 
           base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Portable System: Dell product: XPS 15 9530 v: A06 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Dell model: XPS 15 9530 v: A06 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: A06 date: 07/16/2014 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT1 charge: 24.2 Wh condition: 40.2/61.6 Wh (65%) model: Simplo PABAS0241231 status: Discharging 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4702HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Haswell rev: 3 L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 35116 
           Speed: 1432 MHz min/max: 800/3200 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1374 2: 1408 3: 1576 4: 1479 5: 1556 6: 1388 7: 1441 
           8: 1430 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           Device-2: NVIDIA GK107M [GeForce GT 750M] vendor: Dell driver: nouveau v: kernel bus ID: 02:00.0 
           Display: server: X.org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa tty: 190x52 
           Message: Advanced graphics data unavailable in console. Try -G --display 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio driver: N/A bus ID: 00:03.0 
           Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:1b.0 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-96-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: e000 bus ID: 06:00.0 
           IF: wlp6s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 1.85 TiB used: 262.53 GiB (13.9%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10SPCX-75HWST0 size: 931.51 GiB temp: 32 C 
           ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Samsung model: SSD 850 EVO mSATA 1TB size: 931.51 GiB 
           ID-3: /dev/sdd type: USB vendor: Patriot model: N/A size: 28.88 GiB 
RAID:      Hardware-1: Intel 82801 Mobile SATA Controller [RAID mode] driver: ahci v: 3.0 bus ID: 00:1f.2 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 72.83 GiB used: 26.82 GiB (36.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb12 
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 16.00 GiB used: 37.2 MiB (0.2%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb6 
           ID-3: swap-2 size: 16.00 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda9 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 61.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 27 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:      Processes: 376 Uptime: 3d 5h 41m Memory: 15.54 GiB used: 7.18 GiB (46.2%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: 
           gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38 

I did verify that the settings in the powerline adapter are the same for 2.4G and 5G. I also verified that the settings in the linuxmint client are the same between the two frequencies.

I checked some logs and here is what I found:
This is syslog entries for the 2.4G network that is failing:

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Feb  1 16:07:05 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760425.5708] device (wlp6s0): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning
Feb  1 16:07:05 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760425.5709] device (p2p-dev-wlp6s0): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-REENABLED id=0 ssid="SMLA3_nomap"
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: SME: Trying to authenticate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a (SSID='SMLA3_nomap' freq=2422 MHz)
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.546163] wlp6s0: authenticate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.548318] wlp6s0: send auth to d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a (try 1/3)
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: Trying to associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a (SSID='SMLA3_nomap' freq=2422 MHz)
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.555860] wlp6s0: authenticated
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.557897] wlp6s0: associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a (try 1/3)
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760428.2979] device (wlp6s0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> authenticating
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760428.2980] device (p2p-dev-wlp6s0): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> authenticating
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760428.3007] device (wlp6s0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760428.3007] device (p2p-dev-wlp6s0): supplicant management interface state: authenticating -> associating
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.661916] wlp6s0: associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a (try 2/3)
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.769904] wlp6s0: associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a (try 3/3)
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 kernel: [58905.873909] wlp6s0: association with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a timed out
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: CTRL-EVENT-SSID-TEMP-DISABLED id=0 ssid="SMLA3_nomap" auth_failures=2 duration=20 reason=CONN_FAILED
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760428.6487] device (wlp6s0): supplicant interface state: associating -> disconnected
Feb  1 16:07:08 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760428.6487] device (p2p-dev-wlp6s0): supplicant management interface state: associating -> disconnected
Feb  1 16:07:13 XPS15 systemd[1]: systemd-hostnamed.service: Succeeded.
Feb  1 16:07:17 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <warn>  [1643760437.9028] device (wlp6s0): Activation: (wifi) association took too long
Feb  1 16:07:17 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760437.9028] device (wlp6s0): state change: config -> need-auth (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Feb  1 16:07:17 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <warn>  [1643760437.9045] device (wlp6s0): Activation: (wifi) asking for new secrets

And here for the 5G network that does work:

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Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7084] policy: auto-activating connection 'SMLA_5G_nomap' (1c678f38-f769-4581-a774-832f63c20db0)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7089] device (wlp6s0): Activation: starting connection 'SMLA_5G_nomap' (1c678f38-f769-4581-a774-832f63c20db0)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7090] device (wlp6s0): state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7095] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTING
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7100] device (wlp6s0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7104] device (wlp6s0): Activation: (wifi) access point 'SMLA_5G_nomap' has security, but secrets are required.
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7104] device (wlp6s0): state change: config -> need-auth (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7136] device (wlp6s0): state change: need-auth -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7140] device (wlp6s0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7144] device (wlp6s0): Activation: (wifi) connection 'SMLA_5G_nomap' has security, and secrets exist.  No new secrets needed
.
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7145] Config: added 'ssid' value 'SMLA_5G_nomap'
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7145] Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7145] Config: added 'bgscan' value 'simple:30:-70:86400'
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7145] Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'WPA-PSK WPA-PSK-SHA256 FT-PSK'
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7145] Config: added 'auth_alg' value 'OPEN'
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7145] Config: added 'psk' value '<hidden>'
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: SME: Trying to authenticate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b (SSID='SMLA_5G_nomap' freq=5180 MHz)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59037.992471] wlp6s0: authenticate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: Trying to associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b (SSID='SMLA_5G_nomap' freq=5180 MHz)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59037.995355] wlp6s0: send auth to d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b (try 1/3)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59037.997074] wlp6s0: authenticated
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7286] device (wlp6s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> associating
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 NetworkManager[170782]: <info>  [1643760560.7286] device (p2p-dev-wlp6s0): supplicant management interface state: inactive -> associating
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59038.001676] wlp6s0: associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b (try 1/3)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59038.109680] wlp6s0: associate with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b (try 2/3)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59038.164907] wlp6s0: RX AssocResp from d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=1)
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: Associated with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6b
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 wpa_supplicant[905]: wlp6s0: CTRL-EVENT-SUBNET-STATUS-UPDATE status=0
Feb  1 16:09:20 XPS15 kernel: [59038.167087] wlp6s0: associated

It looks like the main issue is the line "wlp6s0: association with d8:47:32:cf:4c:6a timed out" after authentication was already successful...

[gittiest personITW]

Can you see if you have the same problem in Live Mint as that might point to whether it might be a configuration issue.
Compare the syslog entries also.

[m-s-a]

By "Live Mint" do you mean LinuxMint running from a USB stick?
I can try that.

Two other things:
1. I can connect to other 2.4 networks without issue; just not this one
2. Based on a google search for the log error message, I found something about disabling 802.11n mode; but I haven't found anything about how to do that in a newer LinuxMint version. Do you know how to do that?

Thanks,
Mark

[HAWR]

Hello m.s.a.,

2. Based on a google search for the log error message, I found something about disabling 802.11n mode; but I haven't found anything about how to do that in a newer LinuxMint version. Do you know how to do that?

Here you find it:

https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... html#ID2.4

Can it be, that both networks (2.4 and 5 GHz) has the same SSID (name)? You should take different ones, because otherwise you can get interferences with recognition.

[m-s-a]

Can it be, that both networks (2.4 and 5 GHz) has the same SSID (name)? You should take different ones, because otherwise you can get interferences with recognition

No, they all have different names.

[gittiest personITW]

Are the other 2.4Ghz networks at the same place, as in, could there be interference - can you change the channel?
Can you try it in Live Mint also - yes, that is the USB or DVD that you originally installed Mint with.