8086:0888 [Lenovo ThinkPad Edge S430] Centrino Wireless-N 2230: 802.11n not working

[khink]

On my Lenovo Thinkpad Edge S430 802.11n networks don't show up in the network manager.

With N-band enabled, i see a lot of "Tx excessive retries".

WORKAROUND: Disable N-band explicitly in /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf.

3) Regarding your wireless Access Point (AP): A) What is the AP manufacturer, model, and firmware version? Mikrotik OmniTik UPA 5hnd
    B) What wireless connection type are you using (e.g. 802.11n, 802.11g, etc.)? Only 802.11n has a problem.
    C) Encryption Type (ex. WEP, WPA2-PSK TKIP/AES)? WPA2
    D) MAC Filtering: None, anyone with password can connect.
    E) QoS/WMM Don't know - what is it, how do i find it?
    F) Beacon Interval Don't know - what is it, how do i find it?
    G) Router Internal Firewall Disabled.
        a) If you change any of the settings above does it change anything? Haven't tried and i'm not at liberty to do so.
4) Does another wireless device tested with the AP have the same problem as the hardware you initially reported with? Not to my knowledge.
5) What is the distance of the wireless device from AP? About 5m.
6) What is the number and type of obstructions between your device and the AP? One door.
    A) If you bring the device close to the AP and eliminate obstructions, does this change anything? No.
7) Does the issue occur with different APs? Yes. I first noticed it at the workplace, which the data in this comment is for, but recently when i was at a conference, i noticed other people could "see" an N-band network while i couldn't.
8) Is it a regression (e.g. did the problem happen in a prior Ubuntu release)? I don't know that.
    If so, what release specifically did it last work with?
    If you do not know, could you please test for this in the earliest release of Ubuntu that is supported as per Ubuntu Releases? <MISSING>
9) Does this problem occur in the newest mainline kernel following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds? Please mention what specific version of the mainline kernel you tested with in your report. Latest tested is v3.12-rc4, while latest available is 3.12-rc7.
    If the mainline works, does the Ubuntu provided stable compat-wireless backport work following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LinuxWireless#Compat-wireless_in_Ubuntu? Please mention in your report the specific version you tested.
    If the mainline does not work, could you please test upstream's compat-wireless backport via https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LinuxWireless#Compat-wireless_from_upstream? Please mention in your report the specific version you tested. <MISSING>
10) Does ndiswrapper work following https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper? Please mention what specific version of ndiswrapper you tested with, and a link to the Windows driver you used in your report. Not using ndiswrapper.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-23-generic 3.8.0-23.34
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-23.34-generic 3.8.11
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-23-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8.3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: kees 2139 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Tue Oct 8 22:12:47 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=16c6232f-9aca-4c99-80bc-86f1705fdf0b
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-01-17 (264 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MachineType: LENOVO 33643EG
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB:
 0 inteldrmfb
 1 nouveaufb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.8.0-23-generic root=UUID=6278fb6c-cd42-4010-a8a3-16aa39c1682a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-23-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-23-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.106
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-25 (166 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 06/13/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GAET34WW (1.11 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 33643EG
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGAET34WW(1.11):bd06/13/2012:svnLENOVO:pn33643EG:pvrThinkPadEdgeS430:rvnLENOVO:rn33643EG:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 33643EG
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad Edge S430
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.12 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12-rc4-saucy/

[khink (kees-fmf)]

Tagged kernel-bug-exists-upstream.

uname -a:
Linux zeno 3.12.0-031200rc4-generic #201310080738 SMP Tue Oct 8 11:40:45 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

iwconfig:
wlan0 IEEE 802.11bgn ESSID:off/any
          Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=16 dBm
          Retry long limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off

802.11n networks not showing.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

khink, could you please provide all the missing information following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LinuxWireless#Debugging_information_to_provide_in_your_bug_report ?

[khink (kees-fmf)]

Below, I tried to answer the questions the best way i could right now. 3A and 9 i will have to check later, i'm at home now. I'll mark it Confirmed again when that's done.

By the way: Many questions in that link have already been answered above, or are not so relevant to the issue as described ("Have you tried turning it off and on again" came to mind). I'd say the only worthwile information i haven't provided yet is in 3A and 9. That said:

1) What is the full computer model number (ex. HP G32-301TX Notebook PC)?

Lenovo Thinkpad Edge S430

2) If you update your BIOS to the newest version, does this change anything?

I'm not aware of any possible update to the BIOS.

3) Regarding your wireless Access Point (AP):

    A) What is the AP manufacturer, model, and firmware version?

I'll get back to you on that.

    B) What wireless connection type are you using (e.g. 802.11n, 802.11g, etc.)?

Only 802.11n has a problem

    C) Encryption Type (ex. WEP, WPA2-PSK TKIP/AES)?

WPA2

    D) MAC Filtering

None, anyone with password can connect.

    E) QoS/WMM

Don't know - what is it, how do i find it?

    F) Beacon Interval

Don't know - what is it, how do i find it?

    G) Router Internal Firewall

Disabled.

        a) If you change any of the settings above does it change anything?

Haven't tried and i'm not at liberty to do so.

4) Does another wireless device tested with the AP have the same problem as the hardware you initially reported with?

Not to my knowledge.

5) What is the distance of the wireless device from AP?

About 5m.

6) What is the number and type of obstructions between your device and the AP?

One door.

    A) If you bring the device close to the AP and eliminate obstructions, does this change anything?

No.

7) Does the issue occur with different APs?

Yes. I first noticed it at the workplace, which the data in this comment is for, but recently when i was at a conference, i noticed other people could "see" an N-band network while i couldn't.

8) Is it a regression (e.g. did the problem happen in a prior Ubuntu release)?

I don't know that.

    If so, what release specifically did it last work with?

    If you do not know, could you please test for this in the earliest release of Ubuntu that is supported as per Ubuntu Releases?

9) Does this problem occur in the newest mainline kernel following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds? Please mention what specific version of the mainline kernel you tested with in your report.

Yes, see the comment above where i tried that.

    If the mainline works, does the Ubuntu provided stable compat-wireless backport work following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LinuxWireless#Compat-wireless_in_Ubuntu? Please mention in your report the specific version you tested.

    If the mailine does not work, could you please test upstream's compat-wireless backport via https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LinuxWireless#Compat-wireless_from_upstream? Please mention in your report the specific version you tested.

I'll get back to you on that.

10) Does ndiswrapper work following https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper? Please mention what specific version o...

[khink (kees-fmf)]

Oh, and 8) of course. I'll also check that.

[khink (kees-fmf)]

3A) Mikrotik OmniTik UPA 5hnd

[khink (kees-fmf)]

I wasn't able to test 9). I have upgraded to Saucy, kernel 3.8.0.23, for which i couldn't find any linux-backports-modules (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+search?text=linux-backports-modules). Tab completion on 'sudo apt-get install linux-backports-' also didn't yield anything. Can i try this out in another manner?

[khink (kees-fmf)]

Sorry about the delay. I tried it just now with 12.04, and my card behaves the same way there: No 802.11n, and 802.11g behaving badly (slow, lots of tx excessive retries). Ok for me to mark the bug "confirmed" until futher notice?

BTW, how can i check that my laptops WLAN card isn't borked (remote possibility, but still)?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

khink, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Precise?

As a gut check on hardware failure, you could test it with the operating system that came with the laptop when it was purchased new (presuming Windows).

[khink (kees-fmf)]

Unfortunately, but actually fortunately, i wiped Windows from the machine the day i got it.

There's a lot of old releases for downloading at http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/, trying all isn't an option i'm afraid. Which one would you suggest i try?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

khink, unless someone knew a very old release it may have worked, the latest one is usually asked to test is Lucid via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/ .

[khink (kees-fmf)]

I've tried booting Lucid from a USB stick but for some reason my laptop doesn't want to. (With Precise it worked.) I'll burn a CD. Sorry about the delay.

[khink (kees-fmf)]

Side note: According to this thread https://communities.intel.com/thread/44699, the card only does 2.4GHz, perhaps my office wireless N is 5GHz only?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

khink, as per http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/centrino/centrino-wireless-n-2230-brief.html it does mention it is single band only. Checking into this would be interesting to investigate if this is the problem with your office for WiFi-N.

Regarding the Lucid test, if that doesn't work and it burned correctly, keep trying the next newest release until you can make a test good or bad.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]