[Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

xylosper · 2013-11-22 11:12:25

This problem occured some weeks ago.(I don't remember exact date)
Oneday, suddenly I couldn't have connected my home wifi which had no problem at all before.
The problem occured while I'm using my laptop without any update or reboot.
And, I found that the problem is that I cannot get the SSID of my home wifi when scanning.(It was visible before of course.)
From that time, I still cannot use my home wifi.
With netctl/networkmanger/iwlist scan, they show same problem.
There's no connection issue with visible SSID and wired one.
Also, when I enable my Android hotspot, my laptop detects the AP well.

What should I do? Here's my environment:

Model: Macbook Pro 13inch 2011 early
DE: latest stable release of KDE4
LAN Chipset: Broadcom, from lspci:
Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM57765 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe (rev 10)
Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 02)
Firmware: broadcom-wl-6.30.223.141 (from AUR)

Please let me know any other informations which you need in order to find answer.

Last edited by xylosper (2013-11-30 05:58:50)

x33a · 2013-11-22 12:52:19

Can you see the SSID from your android phone?

xylosper · 2013-11-22 12:54:16

Yes, and it works well.

x33a · 2013-11-22 12:59:01

Try from a live cd of Arch or some other distro to rule out a problem with your card itself.

xylosper · 2013-11-22 13:04:25

Okay, I have to burn a new cd or usb to do that, so I'll try that later. Thank you!

ewaller · 2013-11-22 15:23:16

Any chance you have a router problem? For example, If your Android were dual band (a/b/g/n); your computer single band (a/b/g), and your router dual band with a dead or disabled low band (n); then: The android would see the router on the high band (n working, a/b/g dead), the computer could not see the router, and (presumably) the Android AP is in the low band, so the computer can see it.

Also, the Android can see the router; Is the signal strength good?

Last edited by ewaller (2013-11-22 15:24:14)

Jasper1984 · 2013-11-23 02:12:39

I have a similar looking problem, on my Samsung SF310 and BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller (rev 01), the router doesnt show up in nm-tool,(hmm nm-tool doesnt say anything about capabilities?) wicd, of iwlist wlan0 scanning or any such. It does show up on other devices. I am trying a reference to switching out the broadcom driver, No luck yet though.

I do not think this will work because the NetGear, Inc. WG111v2 54 Mbps Wireless [RealTek RTL8187L] stick doesnt show it either.(that thing is ancient tho)

I also added myself to the networkconfig and rfkill groups in case that might help...

And i noticed.. Wasnt there a /dev/wlan0 (/dev/wlanN/) before? There isnt now, for me, no /dev/eth0 either.(wired connection does work)

This set back any potential attempt of getting others to use linux too, ftr/tbh. I should have been more effective in trying to fix it.

xylosper · 2013-11-23 02:14:25

I've tried to several band options(B+G only/N only/B+G+N) and it does not affect anything. The signal my Android catches is strong enough (>70%).

By the way, I found something. When I manipulated my router, I saw 'channel' item.
The default value is 'auto' but if I set it to '1', SSID became visible!
Reverting channel '1' to 'auto' makes SSID invisible again from my laptop(still no problem with my android phone).
From the circumstances, I think the problem resides in laptop-side(linux or driver).
It's not a hardware issue because my dual booting OS(OS X) can detect my router normally.

Last edited by xylosper (2013-11-23 02:18:16)

x33a · 2013-11-23 05:56:13

Yeah, maybe there are many networks using the same channel as yours and are interfering (and the linux driver isn't good enough). So, if changing the channel fixes the issue, then you don't need to do anything else.

Jasper1984 · 2013-11-26 15:43:34

Hmm, the ancient (RTL8187L)wireless stick sees it (only last hex number off, this the wired and wireless MAC adresses differ that way.) but the password wont work, i am sure it isnt the wireless stick or the password..

Also i tried broadcom-wl, and broadcom-wl-dkms, no cigar.

Though it could be the driver+my wireless environment changing, I wouldnt rule out some issue with linux or something...

ewaller · 2013-11-26 17:16:35

Any chance you have somehow directed your hardware on the Arch box to use only channel 1?

Also, as to other networks on the same channel -- 802.11 b/g/n use direct sequencing digital spread spectrum communications. Every network on the channel has a different chipping sequence. The only interference comes in the form of a reduced signal/noise ratio; but I digress

I know you said you had used multiple network managers, so that would tend to mitigate the issue. Perhaps you had more than one running at a time? Maybe one put the hardware into an odd state, and when you changed to the other managers the hardware was already in la-la land.

Try this. Disable all of your network managers. Power down (not reboot). Start cold and boot the system. Look at the output of sudo iw wlan0 scan (Replace wlan0 with the name of your link)

xylosper · 2013-11-30 05:58:37

ewaller wrote:

Any chance you have somehow directed your hardware on the Arch box to use only channel 1?

How can I check if I did so or not?
It's quiet big job to try your suggestion because I've already put all stuffs into their original places.

By the way, I have never used multiple network manger at a same time.
I replaced one with another(never co-installed) and also I removed configuration files for previous manger.
So I don't think there's no conflicts.
Furthermore, the problem 'just' occurred (of course, there should be a reason somehow).
It is the after thing to manipulate router or my network manager/settings.

Anyway, I have no problem currently, so maybe I have to mark [solved].
Thank you for your considerations.

Jasper1984 · 2013-12-08 13:32:23

`systemctl status` told me it was only one at a time? Turned them all of and one on.

It mysteriously works again with wicd, using the `wl` driver.(aur:broadcom-wl 6.30.223.141-3) Btw: it appears as eth1..(thought i already mentioned)

Arch Linux

#1 2013-11-22 11:12:25

[Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#2 2013-11-22 12:52:19

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#3 2013-11-22 12:54:16

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#4 2013-11-22 12:59:01

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#5 2013-11-22 13:04:25

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#6 2013-11-22 15:23:16

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#7 2013-11-23 02:12:39

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#8 2013-11-23 02:14:25

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#9 2013-11-23 05:56:13

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#10 2013-11-26 15:43:34

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#11 2013-11-26 17:16:35

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#12 2013-11-30 05:58:37

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

#13 2013-12-08 13:32:23

Re: [Solved]My SSID is invisible in wifi list

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