WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

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derfquintero

WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Hello,

I am using a fully updated version of Linux Mint 18 as my default OS. Everywhere else, the WiFi is an acceptable speed. When I'm using my university's WiFi, however, the download speed is extremely slow, testing at an average of 0.7 Megabits per second, with the upload speed testing considerably higher. This isn't a problem when I use my Windows boot, and it wasn't a problem on Ubuntu beforehand. Any suggestions as to what is going on?

I'm using the Realtek rtl8188ee wireless card using Larry Finger's drivers found here: https://askubuntu.com/questions/452315/ ... e-on-14-04

Code: Select all

System:    Host: phil-HP-Pavilion-Notebook Kernel: 4.13.0-32-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: HP (portable) product: HP Pavilion Notebook v: Type1ProductConfigId
           Mobo: HP model: 80A1 v: 91.1C Bios: Insyde v: F.77 date: 12/18/2015
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-6200U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9600
           clock speeds: max: 2800 MHz 1: 2400 MHz 2: 2400 MHz 3: 2400 MHz
           4: 2400 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Sky Lake Integrated Graphics bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 520 (Skylake GT2)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.2.4 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1f.3
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.13.0-32-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8188EE Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: rtl8188ee port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 3000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: eno1 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 750.2GB (5.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: HGST_HTS541075A9 size: 750.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 571G used: 35G (7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 6.27GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda6
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 35.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 204 Uptime: 16 min Memory: 1362.7/5800.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 [/code]

Thanks!
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Pjotr
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by Pjotr »

What does this command say:

Code: Select all

iwconfig
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derfquintero

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Pjotr wrote:What does this command say:

Code: Select all

iwconfig
Sorry, should have included that in the OP

Code: Select all

lo        no wireless extensions.

wlo1      IEEE 802.11  ESSID:"UNH-Secure"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: A8:BD:27:31:68:E2   
          Bit Rate=72.2 Mb/s   Tx-Power=33 dBm   
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=70/70  Signal level=-32 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:44   Missed beacon:0

eno1      no wireless extensions.

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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by Pjotr »

Difficult to say.... :?

You might try the latest kernel of the 4.4 series (Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels). Note that you'll probably need to install Larry Finger's driver for that kernel as well.
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Pjotr wrote:Difficult to say.... :?

You might try the latest kernel of the 4.4 series (Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels). Note that you'll probably need to install Larry Finger's driver for that kernel as well.
Stupid question: how do I change the kernel? Still new to all of this

thanks again
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by JerryF »

Wild guess---is your wireless adapter connecting to the school by IEEE 802.11 B or G by mistake?
DAMIEN1307

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by DAMIEN1307 »

let me guess...this is in durham NH possibly thompson hall?...or one of the dorms...DAMIEN
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by Pjotr »

derfquintero wrote:
Pjotr wrote:Difficult to say.... :?

You might try the latest kernel of the 4.4 series (Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels). Note that you'll probably need to install Larry Finger's driver for that kernel as well.
Stupid question: how do I change the kernel? Still new to all of this

thanks again
It'll be under the header Advanced in the Grub bootloader menu.
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by DAMIEN1307 »

i say again is this being used at university of NH in Durham NH? either Thompson hall etc. or from the dorms?...are they also still using 5 mhz, your using 2.4mhz etc.etc.
derfquintero

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Yeah it's at UNH
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by JerryF »

DAMIEN1307 wrote:i say again is this being used at university of NH in Durham NH? either Thompson hall etc. or from the dorms?...are they also still using 5 mhz, your using 2.4mhz etc.etc.
Wow, that's incredible. You nailed it!

Now, what number am I thinking of? :!:
DAMIEN1307

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by DAMIEN1307 »

i ran into that problem while visiting the late professor emeritus charlie leighton...a very old friend of mine...my niece is also a UNH grad....now as far as their current up to date instructions on how to connect to their .edu system, what is their present proceedure using linux...(they tend to be more mac and windows centric there)...last i knew, UNH has a very good Linux Club on campus...have you asked your R.A or tried to contact a linux club member as of yet...this is their mission statement...

"Linux Club
The Linux Club is an Open Source community built on the premise of sharing knowledge and experience of the Linux operating system environment with others. Club activities include weekly presentations on topics of interest selected by club members, as well as break-out groups to provide technical support to peers, and also to participate in activities that provide hands-on experience.

i know they will help you in about 3.2 seconds so that you will be able to enjoy your linux distro usage on campus...they will be able to help you with configuring your computer correctly for the the ins and outs of the UNH.edu systems...and yes i know it can be a pain...i also used to live just over in newmarket and was always at the "stone church" when "dave gerard and "savoy truffles"...or "truffles" were playing and yep i remember "Phish" when they played as well...i used to service dave girards jeep back in the 90s as well at the old "speedy oil change and tuneup" in portsmouth on woodbury ave,(jiffy lube is there now) (i was one of the managers way back then)...if ya run into dave tell him i said hello, (he knows me as robb)...(im now old and retired here in alamogordo NM...DAMIEN

ps...and as for you jerryf...your probably thinking of the number 666...lol
derfquintero

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Well I'm a commuting grad student so I don't know much about what happens on campus.

Thanks for all your help though, will try a different kernel when I'm back at school.
DAMIEN1307

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by DAMIEN1307 »

well i dont know how a kernel could cause this problem if everything else seems to work ok...does it do the same thing no matter what wifi you try to connect to?...if not it is pecular to the unh.edu network adapter situation...try connecting to other router situations first...if they all connect ok, then i would not be looking at the kernel but network adapter settings on your system...DAMIEN
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by JerryF »

DAMIEN1307 wrote: ..
ps...and as for you jerryf...your probably thinking of the number 666...lol
You got it!!! The Amazing Damien!
derfquintero

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Yeah the kernel didn't make a difference. Will check network settings again, though I'm not sure where to start.

Thanks for the suggestion though
DAMIEN1307

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by DAMIEN1307 »

hi derf...please keep us informed since this may happen as well with other university systems...i cant quite remember what i did with my laptop or my nieces at that time...too many years ago...also contact sysadmin...as a side point...are you doing grad work with the UNH Nuclear Physics Group?...also the UNH frequently asked questions for wifi connections Last Updated: Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 9:01 AM http://www.unh.edu/it/kb/article/wifi-faq.html
...also... https://www.unh.edu/it/kb/article/confi ... vices.html ...Questions and support requests can be submitted by calling the IT Service Desk at 603-862-4242, submitting an on-line request at https://itsupport.unh.edu/help/ or chatting with a helpful IT employee at https://itsupport.unh.edu/itchat ...DAMIEN
derfquintero

Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by derfquintero »

Alright, so trying the wifi in the library with the same settings results in a perfectly fine speed

looks like the problem is with the wifi router in the building where my grad program is located and has classes
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Re: WiFi Download speed extremely slow at school

Post by trytip »

allocating bandwidth and depending how far you are from campus routers is the main issue as you found out. i wonder how fast a connection has to be if every student, faculty and visitors all used up 10Mbps on their wifi
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