8086:08b1 (rev 73) [Dell Latitude E4300] Stability of Intel 7260ac mini wifi card

[Ej]

Fresh install of Linux and all updates installed. This issue occured on the prior installation of Ubuntu as well (what version specifically???).
Will work connect perfectly on boot and works fine for 10mins - a few hours then it drops out and won't reconnect until system is put in standby (shut lid to standby) and then power back up (open lid to power back up) - then wifi connects and runs fine. I too get the varying signal strength issue - not physically moving laptop at all and signal will jump from 4 bars to 1 then after a while it jumps back to 4 bars again. Laptop is only 4-5 meters away from WiFi router but through one heavy brick wall. I have tried upping the output of the router (Linksys w/ DD-WRT) from 100 mw to 120 then 140 but this made the connection worse (noise to signal was awful). Once router reset back to default at 100mw it returned to the same as prior.
Additionally, if I change router settings and the laptop drops the connection (as it might depending on setting changed), sometimes it will reconnect automatically, sometimes not. If the system is put in standby for a few seconds and woken (as descibed above) it will pick the connection back up every time.

I have dropped the beacon interval as advised and am testing to see how it goes.

I believe related to Intel driver / firmware - iwfwifi-7260-7.ucode and/or iwfwifi-7260-8.ucode

Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 [8086:08b1] (rev 73)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 [8086:4070]

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic 3.13.0-24.47
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.47-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ej 2217 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: ej 2217 F...m pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sat May 10 11:24:51 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=25ef29f2-d739-442c-b2ea-6b5eb584fa26
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-08 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Latitude E4300
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/04/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A26
dmi.board.name: 0J795R
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA26:bd06/04/2013:svnDellInc.:pnLatitudeE4300:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0J795R:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Latitude E4300
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Ej, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Could you please test the latest upstream kernel available (not the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.15-rc5

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Ej (edsjag)]

Have just now downloaded and run "sudo dpkg -i *.deb" on these:

linux-image-3.15.0-031500rc5-generic_3.15.0-031500rc5.201405091635_amd64.deb
linux-headers-3.15.0-031500rc5_3.15.0-031500rc5.201405091635_all.deb
linux-headers-3.15.0-031500rc5-generic_3.15.0-031500rc5.201405091635_amd64.deb

Booted on 3.15.0-031500rc5 and wireless doesn't appear to be any different so far but only have about 30 mins of uptime so far.

I have noticed that wireless strength has been consistently low too over the last 24-36 hours. (It is low, but consistent.)

(quick back-story) : Router is a Linksys E4200 running DD-WRT firmware. The WiFi has been split to b/g on one antennae and the mixed n/a on the other. They are different networks (one with a -n tag on the n/a network SSID to ensure differentiation).

I have my iphone 5 (not 5s) next to me here and the signal is strong (full bars) but the laptop only shows 2 of the 4 bars signal. This has been consistent with the 3.13 Kernel and also now the 3.15rc version.
If I go to a room that is further away (which means signal would run through two walls instead of one), signal strength stays the same; two bars out of 4. I streamed doctor who for a few hours last night and didn't have any issues.

I will continue to use/test and will report again soon.
Is there anything else that I can do to assist with testing?

Also, will I have to GRUB boot and choose the 3.15rc kernel on each boot, or now that I have selected it once will it continue to default to it?

Thanks for your continuing assistance. :)

Kind regards,

Ed.

[Ej (edsjag)]

Additional - Wifi just crashed and took the bluetooth with it. Rebooting wouldn't correct it. Rebooted with original Kernel - all working again.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Ej, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Trusty?

[Ej (edsjag)]

Hi Christopher,
I am returning to Linux after a number of years using windows.
The last release that I used was 7.04. (yep, that long ago :P)

14.04 is the first install that I have put on this laptop.
The 7260 card was purchased and installed within the last few weeks as an upgrade from the factory 5300 series intel card.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Ej, for regression testing purposes, could you please test 12.04.0 via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/12.04.0/ and advise to the results?

[Ej (edsjag)]

Hi Christopher,

I will swap the hdd and install tonight. I'm at UTC +10.00 here in Melbourne.

One question though, at the link there are downloads for 12.04.1/2/3 and alternative.

Which do you recommend that I use, or does it not matter?

Ej.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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