17.1 WiFi problem (update)

[dbpbandit]

The wifi keeps stopping. It doesn't disconnect from the AP, it just stops like the bandwidth is zero. Sometimes it comes back but most of the time it doesn't. Only way I can get it back is to shut off Wifi, wait a few seconds and then turn it back on.
I have tried it on several different Wifi AP's, all of them work fine except for when I use this laptop. The system tells me there are no other drivers available? What an I missing? It was working fine on the previous build of Mint Cinnamon. Please help this is so frustrating.

Lenovo T540p With a netgear usb Wifi adapter. (built in internal one wont work at all, "RTL8192EE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter" has not worked with any distro) I don't think it's supported so I'm stuck using the USB one. If anyone knows how to get the internal one to work I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks.

[JeremyB]

The internal might work with

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echo "options rtl8188ee ips=0 fwlps=0" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8188.conf

Reboot and see if it is better, if not install backports

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sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-generic

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wget https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/projects/backports/2015/03/13/backports-20150313.tar.xz

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tar xvfJ backports-20150313.tar.xz

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cd backports-20150313

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make defconfig-rtlwifi

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make

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sudo make install

Reboot

[dbpbandit]

When I enter the last command I get this:
davep@X7:~/backports-20150313 > sudo make install
[sudo] password for davep:
/--------------
| Your backport package isn't configured, please configure it
| using one of the following options:
| To configure manually:
| make oldconfig
| make menuconfig
|
| To get defaults for certain drivers:
| make defconfig-alx
| make defconfig-ar5523
| make defconfig-ath10k
| make defconfig-ath5k
| make defconfig-ath6kl
| make defconfig-ath9k
| make defconfig-ath9k-debug
| make defconfig-b43
| make defconfig-b43legacy
| make defconfig-brcmfmac
| make defconfig-brcmsmac
| make defconfig-carl9170
| make defconfig-cw1200
| make defconfig-hwsim
| make defconfig-igb
| make defconfig-iwlwifi
| make defconfig-nfc
| make defconfig-rtlwifi
| make defconfig-wcn36xx
| make defconfig-wifi
| make defconfig-wil6210
| make defconfig-wwan
\--
make[1]: *** [.config] Error 1
make: *** [install] Error 2

Which one do I chose?

Thanks.

[JeremyB]

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make defconfig-rtlwifi

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make

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sudo make install

[dbpbandit]

OK, this time I had no errors. However, I also have no Wifi with the internal Wifi unit. Also, my Netgear USB WiFi adaptor is also not working any more? So I have gone from bad to worse....

What should I do next? Should I try to get the internal one working r try to get the USB one working again?

Thanks.

[JeremyB]

Usually the backports work well, uninstalling them will get the USB working again

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cd backports-20150313

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sudo make uninstall

Reboot

[dbpbandit]

OK, I ran the commands and rebooted but still nothing on my USB Wifi adaptor so still no Wifi??? Do I need to reinitialize it?

Thanks.

[dbpbandit]

I ran:

"lspci -nn | grep -i net"

and I got this back:

"00:19.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection I217-LM [8086:153a] (rev 04)
04:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8192EE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [10ec:818b]"

It looks like the internal one is still in use?

[dbpbandit]

I ran the commands again and rebooted but it still will not see my USB Wifi adaptor. Am I going to need to do another fresh install?

Thanks.

[dbpbandit]

OK, so now I really need to get the internal Wifi working, seems my USB adaptor is dead... I was using another lap top so I switched it to that one and nothing (worked fine before) So I am going to try the original commands again and see if I can get Wifi to work.

Thanks

[JeremyB]

OK, so now I really need to get the internal Wifi working, seems my USB adaptor is dead... I was using another lap top so I switched it to that one and nothing (worked fine before) So I am going to try the original commands again and see if I can get Wifi to work.

Thanks

You might need to install firmware for the wifi

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sudo apt-get install linux-firmware

[dbpbandit]

That didn't work ether.
I went ahead and did a fresh install. I followed your commands again and after a reboot the internal Wifi device is working. I'll use it for a while and see if it has the same problem as before (losing bandwidth) but until then, thank you very much for your help.

-Dave

[dialt1]

i have the same problem unfortunatelly. any other suggestions? :/

[JeremyB]

i have the same problem unfortunatelly. :( any other suggestions? :/

Post

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lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net; lshw -c net

[dbpbandit]

It's been working for several days now so I'm going to mark this as SOLVED.

I hope this helps other users with similar issues.

Thanks for all the help.

[dbpbandit]

So after using the system for several days the problem is still present.
The WiFI IS connected and works for a while but the speed goes to ZERO and stays there for a couple of minutes and sometimes does not come back on it's own. On the plus side, if I turn off WiFI, wait about fifteen seconds and then re-enable it, the WIFI comes back and works for a while. It's better than having to reboot but it's still a pain especially when I have remote sessions open and I lose them. I have tried and experienced the same issue on multiple different networks and access points with the same results. There must be a resolution to this, WiFi on a laptop is a crucial part of it, otherwise it's just a small desktop with a network cable....
Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[JeremyB]

If you haven't deleted the backports you downloaded, we can install all modules

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cd backports-20150313

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make defconfig-wifi

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make

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sudo make install

Reboot

[dbpbandit]

OK, I reinstalled the back-ports. I'll see how it does now. Thanks.

[dbpbandit]

It's still not working right, almost seems worse now. I want to go back to using just my USB wifi adaptor. How can I make the laptop only use this device and not the built in one?

Thanks.

[JeremyB]

It's still not working right, almost seems worse now. I want to go back to using just my USB wifi adaptor. How can I make the laptop only use this device and not the built in one?

Thanks.

what is the result of

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lsusb

with the USB adapter plugged in