Thinkpad L430: Wifi rtl8188ce Unstable Connection

**simon002** · July 3rd, 2012

Hi, I've been reading several threads on the forums and askubuntu about people having the same issue as me, which is unstable and slow wifi with the Realtek rtl8188ce wifi adapter. None of the threads have helped.
I am new to Linux, so I can't tell if you in words what I've tried, but if you suggest a terminal command I may recognize it! I can tell you that I've tried the latest official Realtek driver, and it didn't change a thing.

The router I am connected to only supports g and b, not N.

Please let me know if you need more info than this, thanks:

Laptop:

Code:

Lenovo Thinkpad L430 L2N36MD
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64-bit

Kernel/architecture (including 32 vs. 64 bit):
$ uname -mr

Code:

3.2.0-26-generic x86_64

Wireless Brand, Model and Wireless Chipset:
$ lspci | grep Network

Code:

06:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter (rev 01)

Interface:
$ iwconfig wlan0

Code:

wlan0     IEEE 802.11bgn  ESSID:"Fullrate"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.437 GHz  Access Point: 00:19:CB:E7:09:C5   
          Bit Rate=1 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=56/70  Signal level=-54 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:52   Missed beacon:0

Modules:
$ lsmod | grep 8192

Code:

rtl8192ce             137448  0 
rtlwifi               118718  1 rtl8192ce
mac80211              506816  2 rtl8192ce,rtlwifi

Kernel boot messages:
$ dmesg | grep 8192

Code:

[    0.000000] PERCPU: Embedded 28 pages/cpu @ffff88011f200000 s83072 r8192 d23424 u262144
[    0.000000] pcpu-alloc: s83072 r8192 d23424 u262144 alloc=1*2097152
[    2.923992] rtl8192ce 0000:06:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[    2.924006] rtl8192ce 0000:06:00.0: setting latency timer to 64

Network configuration:
$ sudo lshw -C network

Code:

  *-network               
       description: Wireless interface
       product: RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:06:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 01
       serial: 7c:e9:d3:f3:b0:e7
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rtl8192ce driverversion=3.2.0-26-generic firmware=N/A ip=192.168.1.40 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn
       resources: irq:17 ioport:3000(size=256) memory:f1d00000-f1d03fff

Scan for networks:
$ iwlist scan

Code:

wlan0     Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:19:CB:E7:09:C5
                    Channel:6
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality=50/70  Signal level=-60 dBm  
                    Encryption key:off
                    ESSID:"Fullrate"
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 22 Mb/s
                    Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
                              36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                    Mode:Master
                    Extra:tsf=00000014db49d1b6
                    Extra: Last beacon: 12368ms ago
                    IE: Unknown: 000846756C6C72617465
                    IE: Unknown: 010582848B962C
                    IE: Unknown: 030106
                    IE: Unknown: 2A0100
                    IE: Unknown: 32080C1218243048606C

**simon002** · July 6th, 2012

Bump

**Wild Man** · July 6th, 2012

Hi, please copy and paste all commands and do the following:

Code:

gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8192ce.conf

A new empty file will open, paste this one line into the file.

Code:

options rtl8192ce swenc=1

Proofread, save and close gedit.

Set your wireless settings in network manager to match the screenshots.
Reboot

If still having issues post the output of:

Code:

nm-tool

Thanks

**simon002** · July 6th, 2012

Hi wildmanne39, thank you for helping.

I recall reading a post where you suggested the same, and I ended up trying wicd which didn't change my situation. Ultimately I made a fresh Ubuntu install to revert any changes.

I have added the line to rtl8192ce.conf and the issue persists.

This is the output of nm-tool:

Code:

NetworkManager Tool

State: connected (global)

- Device: ttyACM0 --------------------------------------------------------------
  Type:              Mobile Broadband (GSM)
  Driver:            cdc_acm
  State:             disconnected
  Default:           no

  Capabilities:


- Device: eth0 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Type:              Wired
  Driver:            r8169
  State:             unavailable
  Default:           no
  HW Address:        F0:DE:F1:FF:17:1A

  Capabilities:
    Carrier Detect:  yes

  Wired Properties
    Carrier:         off


- Device: wlan0  [Fullrate] ----------------------------------------------------
  Type:              802.11 WiFi
  Driver:            rtl8192ce
  State:             connected
  Default:           yes
  HW Address:        7C:E9:D3:F3:B0:E7

  Capabilities:
    Speed:           54 Mb/s

  Wireless Properties
    WEP Encryption:  yes
    WPA Encryption:  yes
    WPA2 Encryption: yes

  Wireless Access Points (* = current AP)
    *Fullrate:       Infra, 00:19:CB:E7:09:C5, Freq 2437 MHz, Rate 54 Mb/s, Strength 63

  IPv4 Settings:
    Address:         192.168.1.37
    Prefix:          24 (255.255.255.0)
    Gateway:         192.168.1.1

    DNS:             8.8.8.8
    DNS:             8.8.4.4


- Device: usb0 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Type:              Wired
  Driver:            cdc_ncm
  State:             unavailable
  Default:           no
  HW Address:        02:15:E0:EC:01:00

  Capabilities:
    Carrier Detect:  yes

  Wired Properties
    Carrier:         off

**Wild Man** · July 6th, 2012

Hi, post the output of:

Code:

Cat /sys/module/mac80211/parameters/ieee80211_default_rc_algo

Thanks

**simon002** · July 6th, 2012

Output:

Code:

minstrel_ht

**Wild Man** · July 6th, 2012

Hi, post the contents of:

Code:

gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8192ce.conf

output of:

Code:

dmesg | grep 819

what kind of router are you using is it real old?
Thanks

**simon002** · July 6th, 2012

Hi!

Contents of gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8192ce.conf:

Code:

options rtl8192ce swenc=1

$ dmesg | grep 819:

Code:

[    0.000000] PERCPU: Embedded 28 pages/cpu @ffff88011f200000 s83072 r8192 d23424 u262144
[    0.000000] pcpu-alloc: s83072 r8192 d23424 u262144 alloc=1*2097152
[    1.208194] pci_hotplug: PCI Hot Plug PCI Core version: 0.5
[    3.047890] rtl8192ce 0000:06:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[    3.047901] rtl8192ce 0000:06:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[    3.198190] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2462 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[    3.198193] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A mBi, 2000 mBm)
[    3.198195] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2467 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[    3.198198] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (N/A mBi, 2000 mBm)
[    3.246724] rtl8192c_common: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cfw.bin
[    3.698441] rtl8192c_common: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cfw.bin
[   27.830410] rtl8192c_common: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cfw.bin
[   31.153593] rtl8192c_common: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cfw.bin

Code:

what kind of router are you using is it real old?

It is quite old

Unfortunately it's the only one I have available. It's a Zyxel P-2602HW-D1A.
Before I installed Ubuntu on this laptop, Windows 7 had no problems keeping a stable connection. Thanks.

**Wild Man** · July 6th, 2012

Hi, post the output of:

Code:

sudo cat /var/log/syslog | grep -e 819 -e firmware -e wpa -e etork wlan | tail -n55

Also change your channel to 1 or 11 in the router.
Thanks

**simon002** · July 6th, 2012

Hey man, the command didn't work

So I added -e in front of wlan and this is what came out

(working on the channel shift):

simon@sbl:~$ sudo cat /var/log/syslog | grep -e 819 -e firmware -e wpa -e etork -e wlan | tail -n55

Code:

Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl dhclient: receive_packet failed on wlan0: Network is down
Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: activated -> unavailable (reason 'none') [100 20 0]
Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): deactivating device (reason 'none') [0]
Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl wpa_supplicant[1133]: Failed to initiate AP scan.
Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): canceled DHCP transaction, DHCP client pid 1612
Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl kernel: [  865.883437] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
Jul  6 21:13:28 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): writing resolv.conf to /sbin/resolvconf
Jul  6 21:13:33 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): bringing up device.
Jul  6 21:13:33 sbl kernel: [  870.321762] rtl8192c_common: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cfw.bin
Jul  6 21:13:33 sbl kernel: [  870.667396] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
Jul  6 21:13:33 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: starting -> ready
Jul  6 21:13:33 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: unavailable -> disconnected (reason 'supplicant-available') [20 30 42]
Jul  6 21:13:33 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: ready -> inactive
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) starting connection 'Fullrate'
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none') [30 40 0]
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none') [40 50 0]
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless): connection 'Fullrate' requires no security.  No secrets needed.
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Jul  6 21:13:35 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> scanning
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl wpa_supplicant[1133]: Trying to authenticate with 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5 (SSID='Fullrate' freq=2437 MHz)
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> authenticating
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl wpa_supplicant[1133]: Trying to associate with 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5 (SSID='Fullrate' freq=2437 MHz)
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl kernel: [  873.323913] wlan0: authenticate with 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5 (try 1)
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl kernel: [  873.325420] wlan0: authenticated
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl wpa_supplicant[1133]: Associated with 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl wpa_supplicant[1133]: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5 completed (auth) [id=0 id_str=]
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl kernel: [  873.325622] wlan0: associate with 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5 (try 1)
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl kernel: [  873.327692] wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:19:cb:e7:09:c5 (capab=0x461 status=0 aid=2)
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl kernel: [  873.327698] wlan0: associated
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl kernel: [  873.328667] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> completed
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful.  Connected to wireless network 'Fullrate'.
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled.
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started...
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'none') [50 70 0]
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Beginning DHCPv4 transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete.
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): DHCPv4 state changed nbi -> preinit
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl dhclient: Listening on LPF/wlan0/7c:e9:d3:f3:b0:e7
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl dhclient: Sending on   LPF/wlan0/7c:e9:d3:f3:b0:e7
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl dhclient: DHCPREQUEST of 192.168.1.37 on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): DHCPv4 state changed preinit -> reboot
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 5 of 5 (IPv4 Configure Commit) scheduled...
Jul  6 21:13:36 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 5 of 5 (IPv4 Commit) started...
Jul  6 21:13:37 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): writing resolv.conf to /sbin/resolvconf
Jul  6 21:13:37 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: ip-config -> activated (reason 'none') [70 100 0]
Jul  6 21:13:37 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Policy set 'Fullrate' (wlan0) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS.
Jul  6 21:13:37 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) successful, device activated.
Jul  6 21:13:37 sbl NetworkManager[865]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 5 of 5 (IPv4 Commit) complete.
Jul  6 21:13:46 sbl kernel: [  883.540620] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present