168c:002b [Lenovo B570e Notebook] Atheros AR9285 wireless working badly on Ubuntu 13.10

[SavageFX]

The Wifi range and stability is still many times better in Windows 7 than it is in Kubuntu Linux (this is a dualboot system). In many places like public libraries, where the laptop can be quite far from the actual wifi receiver, I still have good signal and multi-MB/s download speeds in windows while in ubuntu I cannot see the network, cannot connect to the network or sometimes can connect but it drops every minute or so.

Moving closer to the wifi receiver improves quality and sitting next to the wifi receiver I have an excellent and uninterrupted connection, so generally speaking, the driver works, but the problem is simply a much more limited range than I have in windows.

This problem has existed ever since I bought the laptop (A lenovo b570e, running kubuntu 12.04 at that time, now kubuntu 13.10). The behavior is consistent across all wifi networks.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: linux-image-3.11.0-18-generic 3.11.0-18.32
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-18.32-generic 3.11.10.4
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-18-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ronintdk 2262 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: ronintdk 2262 F...m pulseaudio
Date: Mon Mar 31 17:40:19 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=fc52dd28-5b9f-4d88-95f6-2bc0eada8e2f
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-04-13 (716 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120328)
MachineType: LENOVO 476025G
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: ro root=/dev/sda3
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.11.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.11.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.116.2
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: rts5139
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to saucy on 2013-10-17 (164 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 10/27/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 44CN43WW
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Emerald Lake
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: FAB1
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr44CN43WW:bd10/27/2011:svnLENOVO:pn476025G:pvrLenovoB570e:rvnLENOVO:rnEmeraldLake:rvrFAB1:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: 476025G
dmi.product.version: Lenovo B570e
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 v3.14 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/v3.14-trusty/

[SavageFX (savagefx)]

I have added tag: kernel-fixed-upstream
I have removed tag: needs-upstream-testing (hope that's ok)

Installing 3.14 kernel fixed the issue.
Test results from one location in attachment. Non-quantitative tests in other locations (home, other university buildings) confirm these results.

NOTE: speed, ping and time-to-connect still seem to be better in Windows, but the improvements over 3.11 kernel are massive and no longer disturb day-to-day operation so I considered it fixed.

PS: removing 3.14 kernel screwed over some symlinks so I could not boot anymore. In my rescue attempts I made a dumb error overwriting system files and consequently decided to reinstall linux. I am now running Kubuntu 14.04 Beta 2 using 3.13 kernel. The issue is fixed here as well.

[SavageFX (savagefx)]

And of course, thank you very much for your assistance (and patience)!

[penalvch (penalvch)]

SavageFX, this bug report is being closed due to your last comment https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1300296/comments/4 regarding this being fixed with an update. For future reference you can manage the status of your own bugs by clicking on the current status in the yellow line and then choosing a new status in the revealed drop down box. You can learn more about bug statuses at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Status. Thank you again for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Please submit any future bugs you may find.