You are not logged in.

#1 2013-01-10 15:32:31

Lowra
Member
Registered: 2009-09-21
Posts: 192

Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

Hello Archers,

Since a few weeks I am experiencing troubles with my WiFi connection. I get randomly disconnected from my Access Point, and I think this issue has been introduced with a Kernel Update:
Indeed, I am now periodically using the lts kernel (3.0.57-1) instead of the main kernel (3.6.11-1), and this issue is not happening as of now.

I am eager to provide any logs or information useful to track down this issue, however, please let me know what commands should I do to provide more info smile

[david@laptop ~]$ lspci | grep Network
02:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)

Software used: networkmanager
Connection information (displayed by nm-applet):
Driver: ath9k
Speed: 150 Mb/s
Security: WPA/WPA2

Thanks !

Last edited by Lowra (2013-01-10 15:33:14)

Offline

#2 2013-01-10 15:58:05

WonderWoofy
Member
From: Los Gatos, CA
Registered: 2012-05-19
Posts: 8,414

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

If you are so sure that it is a module issue, could you please try with a 3.7 kernel.  Either from testing for by using graysky's repo-ck

BTW, if you have not heard of it before, the ck patchset is amazing, and graysky does a pretty stellar job providing our community with up to date cpu optimized kernels in an easy to use repo (and easy to use pkgbuilds I might add).

Offline

#3 2013-01-10 18:53:52

Lowra
Member
Registered: 2009-09-21
Posts: 192

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

Indeed, I never had heard of this repo before yikes

Anyway, since adding this repo seemed as easy as enabling testing, it is now done smile
I am now booted up on a 3.7.1-3-ck kernel, I chose the ck-nehalem package for my i3-350M CPU. I'm not expecting much in terms of speed improvement, but it'll be a way to see if indeed my WiFi instabilities are related to the kernel or not.
Under a week, I'll be pretty much sure about the answer, and will share it here.

Thank you very much WonderWoofy, I learned quite a lot smile

Offline

#4 2013-01-13 12:31:21

Lowra
Member
Registered: 2009-09-21
Posts: 192

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

Update: The problem is still occurring with the 3.7.1-3-ck kernel.
However, it still hasn't happened with the 3.0.57-1-lts, I'll use it for a few more days, to see if nothing happens, but yeah I am now pretty sure this issue was introduced by an update of the 3.6 kernel.

What else could I do to track down more precisely this issue ?

Offline

#5 2013-01-13 14:26:20

Tea2
Member
Registered: 2011-05-08
Posts: 25
Website

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

I have the same issue on my desktop. The particular card is a budget TP-LINK with the ath9k chip. This is with 3.6.11.

However, my netbook (eeePC 1001px) has the same ath9k chip and suffers no such issue. Both my netbook and desktop and a synchronised configuration and it's rare that one has an issue and the other doesn't - especially when we're talking about the same hardware. Of course, they both have the same kernel. My netbook has been running for longer than my desktop installation and has never had an issue with ath9k.

So I have no idea whether I can really place the blame on the module.

It's irritating because I'm between a rock and a hard place; I bought the ath9k card to replace my rt73usb card that drops connection at random times (I'll have to open a separate thread about this - I'm at a complete loss for ideas). So I have to choose between a crappy connection or one that dies whenever it feels like it.

Offline

#6 2013-01-13 14:52:12

Gusar
Member
Registered: 2009-08-25
Posts: 3,605

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

USB devices use a different driver, ath9k_htc. Ok, large parts are shared with ath9k, but it's still a different driver.

Since this is clearly a driver issue, it should be reported upstream. @Tea2: You also have a third option - lts kernels. I personally use 3.4. It's rock-solid.

Last edited by Gusar (2013-01-13 14:53:03)

Offline

#7 2013-01-13 15:20:55

Tea2
Member
Registered: 2011-05-08
Posts: 25
Website

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

I suppose using an older kernel might make sense. I'm not sure I'd miss out on very many features between 3.4 and 3.6. I will look for a 3.4 PKGBUILD or, optimally, an already built package and see if it works any better.

Edit: Of course it seems impossible to downgrade to 3.4 as nvidia requires 3.6.

Last edited by Tea2 (2013-01-13 15:36:06)

Offline

#8 2013-01-13 15:38:02

Gusar
Member
Registered: 2009-08-25
Posts: 3,605

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

Tea2 wrote:

Edit: Of course it seems impossible to downgrade to 3.4 as nvidia requires 3.6.

No it doesn't. Just make your own nvidia package.

Offline

#9 2013-01-13 17:19:15

Lowra
Member
Registered: 2009-09-21
Posts: 192

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

In my case, I'm using a laptop, so no ath9k_htc driver for me.

Should I fill in a bug report on the kernel bugtracker ? I can't much provide much info, otherwise that it happened sometime around the 3.6 kernel update :S

Offline

#10 2013-01-13 17:27:45

ungaminga
Member
Registered: 2012-10-25
Posts: 20

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

Actually, i remember all my expirience with Hp pavilion dv6 6c55er with this bug, and i don't remember, witch kernel version it was, 2.x or 3.x. And, probably, i can't downgrade because of my video drivers.

Offline

#11 2013-01-28 18:53:59

ungaminga
Member
Registered: 2012-10-25
Posts: 20

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

I solved problem by installing crda.

Offline

#12 2013-01-28 19:56:29

the sad clown
Member
From: 192.168.0.X
Registered: 2011-03-20
Posts: 837

Re: Unstable WiFi with Atheros AR9285 (apparently Kernel related)

I've experienced the same thing (same wireless device as well), I've just been too lazy to do anything about it since the connection fixes itself after a few seconds.  I'll look into my journalctl log and see if I can help figure out what is going on.  Of course, knowing what is going on and fixing it are two different things...


I laugh, yet the joke is on me

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB