8086:08b1 (rev 73) [HP ENVY 17-j188ez Notebook PC] Intel Wireless-AC 7260 dropping connection and slow

[rjb]

This is a combo WiFi/Bluetooth adapter with mini PCIe connector for mobile devices. While bluetooth seems to have no issues, the WiFi part does have on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. Every now and then the speed may get slow during browsing the internet, sometimes the connection is lost. This may happen almost immediately or after up to 1 hour while using it. Often the slowness and drops are close to each other and it can even happen few times consecutively.

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/controlC1: lavinia_ron 2384 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC1D0p: lavinia_ron 2384 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: lavinia_ron 2384 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Tue May 13 21:58:01 2014
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-26 (17 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP ENVY 17 Notebook PC
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=UUID=3f8ff85b-39c6-4be0-b514-cb00250a9f8e 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 1.127.2
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/05/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde
dmi.bios.version: F.53
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 1968
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 93.49
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 5CG414DSZL
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsyde:bvrF.53:bd03/05/2014:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPENVY17NotebookPC:pvr097E110000405E00000620100:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn1968:rvrKBCVersion93.49:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: HP ENVY 17 Notebook PC
dmi.product.version: 097E110000405E00000620100
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[rjb (ron-buehler)]

Hi Christopher

The exact model is HP Envy 17-j188ez, but the installed Intel WiFi/Bluetooth card is not the one it was shipped with and neither an official HP part. See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1189721 for the reason I replaced the original adapter.
However, this Intel card had been accepted by the BIOS without any notice.

[rjb (ron-buehler)]

Hi Christopher

I was aware of the newer BIOS version, but the change log said something about bugfixing F.53 as it could happen when updating from a previous version to F.53 Windows could become unbootable. At the time I installed Ubuntu, no newer version was available.

Anyway, I just went looking for the new BIOS but it seems disappeared? Only F.53 is listed...

[rjb (ron-buehler)]

Hi Christopher

Few hours later the BIOS version was available again and so I updated the BIOS the next day.
The behavior seems a bit different now - although I can't tell if it's really because of the BIOS update or Ubuntu updates: Now I get disconnects while the wireless icon still tells me I'm connected, I have to manually reconnect to the WiFi network, sometimes I have to disable and enable radio as no networks are listed. I have yet not encountered any slowness while browsing.

sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date returns:
F.56
04/23/2014

[penalvch (penalvch)]

rjb, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available (3.15-rc7) 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-rc6

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.

[rjb (ron-buehler)]

Hi Christopher,

I tested with 3.15.0-031500rc8-generic - unfortunately the bug is still there.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

rjb, latest mainline kernel is http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.15-utopic/ .

[rjb (ron-buehler)]

Hi Christopher,
At the time I tested, it actually was the latest version available.

I have to add that ad-hoc mode is not supported by the default kernel.
sudo iwconfig wlan1 mode master:
Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
    SET failed on device wlan1 ; Invalid argument.

[Seth Forshee (sforshee)]

rjb: We recently incorporated some fixes into 14.04 to fix some disconnection issues seen with Intel 7260 wireless. Could you ensure that your system is fully up to date, reboot (making sure that you boot into the official trusty 3.13 kernel and not any newer kernel which you installed for testing), and let me know whether or not you're still having problems? If you are then we can continue trying to debug your issue. Thanks!

[rjb (ron-buehler)]

Hi Seth,
It seems like there are no problems anymore. Since you posted I've had no slow speeds or connections drops at all. Thank you a lot for your effort.

[Seth Forshee (sforshee)]

Thanks for testing. Based on the feedback, I'm marking this bug as fixed.