Arch Linux

ecion

Member

Registered: 2010-01-23

Posts: 13

high packet loss on wireless

Hi all. Sorry I wasnt sure if I should post this here, or in the pacman forum, as ever since I did a full system update a few weeks ago, I've been getting 30-70% packet loss on my wifi. It had been working fine for a year or so before hand.  I used ping to test this, and tried to ping the router to eliminate any dns issues connecting to the outside world.

--- 192.168.1.1 ping statistics ---
21 packets transmitted, 13 received, 38% packet loss, time 20075ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 2.251/2.876/7.033/1.259 ms

The wired network works fine. As does my wireless laptop if i put it in the same room as this machine.
The wireless device is a usb one.

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0471:1236 Philips (or NXP) SNU5600 802.11bg

Can anyone shed any light into what may be the problem?\

Many thanks
Phill

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: high packet loss on wireless

Maybe a power-saving option (for the wireless device, or for the USB port), decreasing the signal strength?

NaX_sa

Member

From: South Africa

Registered: 2010-12-18

Posts: 12

Re: high packet loss on wireless

I think you running the Atheros AR5007UG, see this debian doc for good list of supported devices http://wiki.debian.org/zd1211rw

If so, I would look at the wireless wiki page https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup

If I was you I would start by looking at the drivers being load.

ath5k is the preferred driver for AR5xxx chipsets including those which are already working with madwifi-ng and for some chipsets older than AR5xxx.

If ath5k is conflicting with ath_pci on your system, blacklist (and unload using rmmod or reboot) the following drivers...

ecion

Member

Registered: 2010-01-23

Posts: 13

Re: high packet loss on wireless

Thanks for the replies.

How do I go about checking power saving options?

Also, it appears to be using zd1211rw, if thats any help.

Mar 10 06:36:30 SEMPRON kernel: zd1211rw 1-4:1.0: zd1211b chip 0471:1236 v4810 high 00-12-bf AL2230_RF pa0 g--NS

.:B:.

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2006-11-26

Posts: 5,819

Website

Re: high packet loss on wireless

Run modinfo on the concerned kernel module, you can see if it supports powersaving, then reload the module with the relevant options to disable it, if necessary.

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lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

Website

Re: high packet loss on wireless

The command "iwlist wlan0 option" will tell you a lot about your wireless radio system. Read "man iwlist".

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

NaX_sa

Member

From: South Africa

Registered: 2010-12-18

Posts: 12

Re: high packet loss on wireless

Ok I had another look at the wiki and looks like you will need to make sure you have the firmware installed for the zd1211rw. It looks like all Atheros-based USB devices are unsupported by the ath5k, my bad.

See: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wi … p#zd1211rw

But if it is working at all then you must have the firmware installed, and maybe the power management suggestions are more likely.