Asus VC60 - wifi RTL8821AE 802.11ac keeps dropping connection

[ciarly]

Hello to the Forums, and scused me for my English (I'm Italian). I write beccause I need help for my wifi connection that keeps dropping connection. I always have this problem since I have buyed the Asus VC60, and reading a lot of posts I have understand that it is a problem of bad drivers. I believed to have solved the problem following the guide in https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comm ... er_kernel/ and installing the new driver from https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new.git, and it seems working because from several months i have not more problems..... Recently, last 1-2 months, I have noticed that after the updating the kernel and after i have followed the guide wifi lost or drop connection after, less or more, 10 hours..... I'm using Linux Mint 18.1 'Serena' and i post the result of the command inxi -Fxz.

Code: Select all

andrea@VC60 ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: VC60 Kernel: 4.4.0-59-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: MATE 1.16.1 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.1)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine:   Mobo: ASUSTeK model: VC60 v: Rev X.0x
           Bios: American Megatrends v: 0901 date: 04/17/2014
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-3210M (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9977
           clock speeds: max: 3100 MHz 1: 2434 MHz 2: 1549 MHz 3: 1323 MHz
           4: 1943 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1440x900@59.89hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-59-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: rtl8821ae port: e000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-3: D-Link System DWA-140 RangeBooster N Adapter(rev.B2) [Ralink RT3072]
           driver: rt2800usb v: 2.3.0 usb-ID: 003-002
           IF: wlx14d64d48b285 state: N/A speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 2516.1GB (62.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST500LT012 size: 500.1GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Ext_HDD_1021 size: 2000.4GB
           ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: Ultra size: 15.6GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 28G used: 14G (51%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
           ID-2: /boot size: 1.9G used: 607M (35%) fs: ext2 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-3: /home size: 422G used: 390G (98%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
           ID-4: swap-1 size: 8.00GB used: 0.30GB (4%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 70.0C mobo: 27.8C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0
Info:      Processes: 232 Uptime: 10 days Memory: 1317.3/3859.5MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.461) inxi: 2.2.35 

Thank to everyone can help me

[Pjotr]

Try the rtlwifi_new driver from lwfinger: https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... m-lwfinger
(item 9, right column)

[ciarly]

Hello Pjotr, thank you very much for your answer. Now I try to do the procedure and i prove the wifi connection in this days. Thank you again

[ciarly]

Hello Pjotr, I have installed the new drivers and reboot, but I have the same problem. The wifi connection work for some hours, then drop. After few minutes work again for 5/6 minutes and then drop intermittently. The icon of wifi is active, so the pc is connect to the wifi but if I go to internet the page is blank and the browser try to find the page without success.... Thank you to all for any suggestion

[Pjotr]

Are you sure that you're connecting with the RTL8821AE chipset? I see also another wireless card in the inxi output: D-Link System DWA-140 RangeBooster N Adapter

What happens when you disconnect that one?

[ciarly]

Yes, The other (card 3) is the external adapter wifi, D-Link System DWA-140 RangeBooster N Adapter(rev.B2) [Ralink RT3072], that I use when the RTL8821AE don't work. When I use RTL8821AE i disabled the external. The card 2 sincerly i don't know what is it.. The drop of wifi happens also when D-Link System DWA-140 RangeBooster N Adapter(rev.B2) [Ralink RT3072] is not connect to the pc

[Pjotr]

What does this command give as output (with only the RTL8821AE plugged in):

Code: Select all

iwconfig

[ciarly]

I post the result of the command inxi -Fxz when is connect only the Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac

Code: Select all

andrea@VC60 ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: VC60 Kernel: 4.4.0-59-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: MATE 1.16.1 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.1)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine:   Mobo: ASUSTeK model: VC60 v: Rev X.0x
           Bios: American Megatrends v: 0901 date: 04/17/2014
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-3210M (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9977
           clock speeds: max: 3100 MHz 1: 2899 MHz 2: 2997 MHz 3: 2899 MHz
           4: 2899 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1440x900@59.89hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-59-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: rtl8821ae port: e000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 2500.5GB (63.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST500LT012 size: 500.1GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Ext_HDD_1021 size: 2000.4GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 28G used: 14G (52%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
           ID-2: /boot size: 1.9G used: 607M (35%) fs: ext2 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-3: /home size: 422G used: 397G (99%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
           ID-4: swap-1 size: 8.00GB used: 0.02GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 79.0C mobo: 27.8C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0
Info:      Processes: 224 Uptime: 22:35 Memory: 1467.8/3859.5MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.461) inxi: 2.2.35

[ciarly]

And this is the result of the command iwconfig

Code: Select all

andrea@VC60 ~ $ iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

enp3s0    no wireless extensions.

wlp2s0    IEEE 802.11abgn  ESSID:"Telecom-64454233"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: 30:91:8F:C3:40:59   
          Bit Rate=65 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=54/70  Signal level=-56 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:4   Missed beacon:0

[Pjotr]

Make sure that you've set the best wireless channel for you:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... st-channel
(item 1, left column)

Also, configure your wireless security settings right (avoid the four popular mistakes, apply the 12 tips):
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... tywireless

Does that help?

[ciarly]

Thank you Pjotr, as sonn as possible I'l make the control

[ciarly]

Hallo Pjotr, during the previous week I have make the control that you have suggested, and it was useful to make better the quality of the signal, but not to solve the problem of dropping connection. So I have made some other research on the web and in different forum (I fight with this problem from several months) and I have find some other people with the same problem with the driver Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac. So i have tried to upgrade the kernal version to kernal 4.6.4 or later, as suggested in http://askubuntu.com/questions/797213/w ... -rtl8821ae, because it seems that the new driver that I have installed work without dropp of connecction from kernal 4.6.4. Unfortunatly also with kernel 4.6.4 or later the problem was not resolved. I had loss the hope, but because I am obstinated I have make other research and in this forum I have found a post where, with the same driver and problem, is suggested to downloaded "WICD", an alternate network manager. So I proceeded as explained on this website : https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WICD and with my great happiness it seems that now the driver RTL8821AE 802.11ac is working in the right way (I'm connected to wifi, without drop or lost of connection from more tha 24 Hours.
Thank you for all useful suggestions Pjotr

[nonymous]

Hi Ciarly,

I have exactly the same issue with this damn chipset Realtek rtl8821ae.

My new laptop was unusable with Linux, so I downgraded it to Windows 10.

I try from time to time each new version of Linux Mint (and others distros) with the hope that the issue would be corrected.

Your posts are encouraging, so I ask you the question : since your last post, did your wifi adapter work 100% perfectly ?
Can you connect to 5ghz wifi ?
Is your connection reliable ?

Thank you

[ciarly]

Hy, from my post the wifi is always connect, without lost or dropping connection. I don't know what you mean connect with 5ghz wifi (I am not expert), I can only confirm that now wifi connection is much more stable (no lost or dropping connection, I'm still connect in download), and also the velocity of connection on web is very good. I had solved this problem, in the previous version of Linux Mint with this procedure https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comm ... er_kernel/, but after the upgrading to Linux Mint 18.1 this procedure doesn't solved more the problem.

[samriggs]

I had a rtl8821ae wireless card on my asus laptop that kept crapping out constantly, even with the fixes, I still had to used to ethernet , they supposidly have a fix for it in kernel 4.11 if your willing to wait that long, I'm on 4.9 LTS so that ain't gona happen anytime soon
You can read about that here: https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new ... /rtl8821ae
espcially this thread: https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new ... 0c63634c4e
So I didn't want to wait until I upgraded to 4.11 and I certainly didn't want to continue using an ethernet cord so I swapped the card out today for a intel 5300 wireless card I got off of amazon and it only took me less then 5 minutes to flip the top off the laptop and install it, booted it up and wam bam it works perfectly again, and I am only running on two of the three antennas.

So if this card still gives you issues you can always swap it out like I did, just make sure you got a good tool if you have to take the top off to get at it, I got one from a buddy at work that is made for taking the tops off of asus laptops unless your opens from the bottom, mine doesn't
Sam

[Pjotr]

@samriggs: in some cases that's indeed a good solution. Been there, done that. Most recently in an Acer laptop with an annoying Broadcom wifi card. Out with the bugger; hello Intel!

But unfortunately it doesn't work in some other cases. I once had a Lenovo laptop whose wifi card was hard coded in the UEFI: it simply wouldn't accept any other make/model wifi card. Nasty, because I had already bought the intended replacement card. No more bloody Lenovo for me.

[samriggs]

Ya unfortunatly HP and Lenovo are horrible for swapping parts, you have to check the white paper or sometimes it lets you know in the bios, which is why I would never buy either one of those.
Asus is pretty open for parts, I don't even think they have a white paper for parts, as long as they fit with the pins they're usually good to go.
Acer is usually pretty good for swapping parts.
But the swap fixed it