Unstable connection with ipw2200

isaidyep · 2010-09-11 10:09:08

Hello, i've looked aroud for days but i can't seem to find topics related to this issue created after 2008, so i'm posting a new one.

My wireless connection is unstable, and whenever it goes down it takes a random number of attemps to reconnect, and for every attempt it asks me again for the access key. I'm running under kde4 and using networkmanager.

I don't have any issue on this same laptop when running an old kubuntu 8.04 installation or windows xp.

I already tried

rmmod ipw2200
modprobe ipw2200

as suggested in arch wiki, but nothing changed.
From daemons-log looks like wpa_supplicant times out when trying to associating to my ap:

Sep 11 11:42:47 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  associating -> disconnected
Sep 11 11:42:51 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  disconnected -> associating
Sep 11 11:42:51 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  associating -> disconnected
Sep 11 11:42:53 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <warn> (eth1): link timed out.
Sep 11 11:42:55 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  disconnected -> associating
Sep 11 11:42:55 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  associating -> disconnected
Sep 11 11:43:00 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  disconnected -> associating
Sep 11 11:43:00 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): supplicant connection state:  associating -> disconnected
Sep 11 11:43:04 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <warn> Activation (eth1/wireless): association took too long.
Sep 11 11:43:04 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <info> (eth1): device state change: 5 -> 6 (reason 0)
Sep 11 11:43:04 localhost NetworkManager[3057]: <warn> Activation (eth1/wireless): asking for new secrets

I also found out that ipw is not in the drivers list of wpa_supplicant

wpa_supplicant
...
drivers:
  wext = Linux wireless extensions (generic)
  nl80211 = Linux nl80211/cfg80211
  wired = wpa_supplicant wired Ethernet driver
options:
...

here's my specs:

dmesg | grep ipw2200

libipw: 802.11 data/management/control stack, git-1.1.13
libipw: Copyright (C) 2004-2005 Intel Corporation <jketreno@linux.intel.com>
ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200/2915 Network Driver, 1.2.2kmprq
ipw2200: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
ipw2200 0000:06:02.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 22
ipw2200: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
ipw2200: Detected geography ZZM (11 802.11bg channels, 0 802.11a channels)

lspci | grep -i wireless
06:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG [Calexico2] Network Connection (rev 05)

My rc.conf:

#
# /etc/rc.conf - Main Configuration for Arch Linux
#

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# LOCALIZATION
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# LOCALE: available languages can be listed with the 'locale -a' command
# HARDWARECLOCK: set to "UTC" or "localtime"
# USEDIRECTISA: use direct I/O requests instead of /dev/rtc for hwclock
# TIMEZONE: timezones are found in /usr/share/zoneinfo
# KEYMAP: keymaps are found in /usr/share/kbd/keymaps
# CONSOLEFONT: found in /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts (only needed for non-US)
# CONSOLEMAP: found in /usr/share/kbd/consoletrans
# USECOLOR: use ANSI color sequences in startup messages
#
LOCALE="it_IT.utf8"
HARDWARECLOCK="localtime"
USEDIRECTISA="no"
TIMEZONE="Europe/Rome"
KEYMAP="it"
CONSOLEFONT="lat1-16"
CONSOLEMAP=
USECOLOR="yes"

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# HARDWARE
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# MOD_AUTOLOAD: Allow autoloading of modules at boot and when needed
# MOD_BLACKLIST: Prevent udev from loading these modules
# MODULES: Modules to load at boot-up. Prefix with a ! to blacklist.
#
# NOTE: Use of 'MOD_BLACKLIST' is deprecated. Please use ! in the MODULES array.
#
MOD_AUTOLOAD="yes"
#MOD_BLACKLIST=() #deprecated
MODULES=(!snd-pcm-oss)

# Scan for LVM volume groups at startup, required if you use LVM
USELVM="no"

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# NETWORKING
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# HOSTNAME: Hostname of machine. Should also be put in /etc/hosts
#
HOSTNAME="MirkoArchLaptop"

# Use 'ifconfig -a' or 'ls /sys/class/net/' to see all available interfaces.
#
# Interfaces to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each interface then list in INTERFACES
#   - prefix an entry in INTERFACES with a ! to disable it
#   - no hyphens in your interface names - Bash doesn't like it
# 
# DHCP:     Set your interface to "dhcp" (eth0="dhcp")
# Wireless: See network profiles below
#

#Static IP example
#eth0="eth0 192.168.0.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.0.255"
eth0="dhcp"
eth1="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(!eth0 !eth1)

# Routes to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each route then list in ROUTES
#   - prefix an entry in ROUTES with a ! to disable it
#
gateway="default gw 192.168.0.1"
ROUTES=(!gateway)
 
# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network.d
#
# This now requires the netcfg package
#
#NETWORKS=(main)

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# DAEMONS
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Daemons to start at boot-up (in this order)
#   - prefix a daemon with a ! to disable it
#   - prefix a daemon with a @ to start it up in the background
#
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng  !network hal networkmanager alsa netfs crond mysqld )

Thanks in advance

Mirko

codycarey · 2010-09-11 17:53:23

Is your connection stable when not using wpa_supplicant? And is this a constant problem that occurs no matter what or does it only seem to occur randomly?

isaidyep · 2010-09-12 12:00:19

It occurs randomly. I don't use wpa_supplicant manually, i'm connecting through the NetworkManager, i tried both the kde and gnome applets. The connecton looks more stable then using the gnome applet, but anytime the connection falls it's hard anyway to reconnect.

steve___ · 2010-09-12 14:12:05

Are you in an area where other access points are using the same channel you are?

.:B:. · 2010-09-12 14:37:08

As steve said, check for interference with neighbouring WLANs, and check the strength of your signal overall as well. The 2,4 GHz band is a bit crowded nowadays .

isaidyep · 2010-09-16 09:58:12

Thank you very much for the answers

sudo iwlist eth1 scan |grep -i channel
                    Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)

My AP is on channel 6 and as i stated before this doesn't happen to me on windows or ubuntu nor this happens to any of my roommates.

Any other ideas?

Edit:

          Cell 01 - Address: 00:03:6F:E9:E0:DC
                    ESSID:"FASTWEB-1-00036FE9E0D4"
                    Protocol:IEEE 802.11bg
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Encryption key:on
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
                              9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
                              48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                    Quality=65/100  Signal level=-61 dBm  
                    IE: WPA Version 1
                        Group Cipher : TKIP
                        Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
                    Extra: Last beacon: 63ms ago

As you the signal looks quite good (65%)

Last edited by isaidyep (2010-09-16 10:00:03)

steve___ · 2010-09-16 13:00:26

What kernel are you using? I found 3.6.35 to be buggy with that wireless card. The module would crash quite often when left idle. I failed back to kernel26 2.6.34.3-1 and have not seen it crash since I installed it on September 11.

isaidyep · 2010-09-17 09:24:42

Thank you steve,

By crash you mean something like this?

dmesg 

[...]
ipw2200: Failed to send SYSTEM_CONFIG: Command timed out.
ipw2200: Firmware error detected.  Restarting.

?

You downgraded manually or you have a package to suggest me?

Edit: i'm using 2.6.35

Last edited by isaidyep (2010-09-17 10:15:32)

steve___ · 2010-09-17 12:44:58

I'm not too sure what the output of dmesg was. That module would kernel pacnic and output to all my urxvt terminals. I would press a key or move the mouse and my wireless would reconnect.

Yes I downgraded manually. If you have the package locally

 $ pacman -U /var/cache/pacman/pkg/kernel26-2.6.34.3-1-i686.pkg.tar.xz

if on an x86_64 machine

 $ pacman -U /var/cache/pacman/pkg/kernel26-2.6.34.3-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

If you do not have a local copy

 $ pacman -U http://arm.konnichi.com/2010/08/12/core/os/i686/kernel26-2.6.34.3-1-i686.pkg.tar.xz

if on an x86_64 machine

 $ pacman -U http://arm.konnichi.com/2010/08/12/core/os/i686/kernel26-2.6.34.3-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

Last edited by steve___ (2010-09-17 12:47:01)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-09-11 10:09:08

Unstable connection with ipw2200

#2 2010-09-11 17:53:23

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#3 2010-09-12 12:00:19

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#4 2010-09-12 14:12:05

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#5 2010-09-12 14:37:08

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#6 2010-09-16 09:58:12

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#7 2010-09-16 13:00:26

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#8 2010-09-17 09:24:42

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

#9 2010-09-17 12:44:58

Re: Unstable connection with ipw2200

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