Arch Linux

Soptik

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 64

Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

Hi, I've recently managed to connect my bluetooth headphones to my laptop. The problem is, when I do so, the wifi becomes nearly useless.

I cannot even ping or read static pages most of the time, let alone watch videos with bluetooth headphones. When I have bluetooth turned on, wifi drops extremely often, I'm lucky to make it work for few seconds every minute. This isn't HW issue, as it works without problem on Windows (dualboot).

I use blueman to manage BT. I'm not sure what exactly causes the issues, but maybe somehow ratelimiting the BT (which I couldn't find how to do) could help?

bernd_b

Member

Registered: 2013-07-30

Posts: 183

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

On Windows, Blutooth and Wifi work peacfully together at the same time? Do you connect to the same network (speaking of 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz) on both operating systems? As far as I know bluetooth uses the same frequencies as 2.4Ghz Wifi.

I could circumvent such an issue by moving the transmitter about 50cm, But i guess if your using a laptop, everything is built in.

Last chance for you I know of is to check which channel is used in you wifi network and try to play around with different channels.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,375

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

In a thread such as this, you really need to tell us about your hardware.  I have Intel wireless on my system and the combo works just fine.   I've heard horror stories about Broadcom. 

Tell us what hardware you are using, what are software you using to control the WiFi stack and to controlrol the Bluetooth stack.

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The shortest way to ruin a country is to give power to demagogues.— Dionysius of Halicarnassus
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How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

frosth

Member

Registered: 2010-02-13

Posts: 17

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

it's blind shot only but you could try disable ertm

# echo 1 > /sys/module/bluetooth/parameters/disable_ertm

Soptik

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 64

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

Yes, I have no issues on Windows, and I connect to the same network.

The wifi channel changes based on current interference, but it never worked so far, even when the channel changed.

I didn't modify arch in this way, I use the defaults from clean install. I use blueman on Lenovo ideapad 330s,

lspci:

02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [168c:0042] (rev 31)
	Subsystem: Lenovo QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [17aa:0901]
	Kernel driver in use: ath10k_pci
	Kernel modules: ath10k_pci

Disabling ertm didn't work - as soon as I play any audio, wifi stops working, just as before.

I have absolutely no experience in this, but maybe this might be relevant? https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/use … oexistence

An 802.11 device and Bluetooth can interfere with each other when the 802.11 device operates on the 2.4 GHz band.

I use 802.11ac on 2.4Ghz.

Last edited by Soptik (2019-03-23 21:39:38)

bernd_b

Member

Registered: 2013-07-30

Posts: 183

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

But you use 2.4Ghz Wifi on Windows as well?!

Soptik

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 64

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

Yes, I just verified it. It works without issues on windows.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,842

Website

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

Power saving, perhaps?

# iw dev wlp2s0 get power_save

Disable with

# iw dev wlp2s0 set power_save off

If that works then make it permanent with a reversed version of this udev rule.

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

Soptik

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 64

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

This didn't help unfortunately.

Soptik

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 64

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

Maybe this could help?

It looks exactly like mine problem, except that he uses ath9k, I use ath10k. He seemed to solve it by enabling bluetooth coexistence.

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=190118

alphatechnolog

Member

Registered: 2023-06-25

Posts: 1

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

Maybe this could help?

It looks exactly like mine problem, except that he uses ath9k, I use ath10k. He seemed to solve it by enabling bluetooth coexistence.

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=190118

That actually solved the problem for me too!

2ManyDogs

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2012-01-15

Posts: 4,646

Re: Using bluetooth makes WiFi extremely unstable

This thread is four years old and the OP has not been back since January, so I am going to consider it abandoned and close it now.