14e4:4727 [Gateway NE56R] Closing lid causes WiFi to slow down

[John Scott]

I have a Gateway NE56R and sometimes unusual things happen when closing the lid. Usually, closing the lid will cause the built-in wireless (a Broadcom BCM4313, 14e4:4727) to greatly slow down communication.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: linux-image-3.16.0-22-generic 3.16.0-22.29
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-22.29-generic 3.16.4
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-22-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: john 2718 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Sat Oct 11 13:09:03 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=28ca1d60-e450-4410-a57f-c543612a9ad4
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-10-05 (5 days ago)
InstallationMedia:

MachineType: Gateway NE56R
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-22-generic root=UUID=a8512a3c-6aef-492f-b613-9daafe169f83 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.16.0-22-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.16.0-22-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.135
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/16/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: V2.21
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: EG50_HC_HR
dmi.board.vendor: Gateway
dmi.board.version: Type2 - Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.chassis.version: V2.21
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrV2.21:bd12/16/2013:svnGateway:pnNE56R:pvrV2.21:rvnGateway:rnEG50_HC_HR:rvrType2-BoardVersion:cvnInsydeCorp.:ct10:cvrV2.21:
dmi.product.name: NE56R
dmi.product.version: V2.21
dmi.sys.vendor: Gateway

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

It's also worth mentioning that the problem with wireless connectivity is driver-independent and can be reproduced with the proprietary driver in bcmwl-kernel-source and with brcmsmac, which is included by default in Trusty and Utopic.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

John Scott, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Could you please test the latest upstream kernel available from the very top line at the top of the page (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 exactly shown as:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.17

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.

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

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.

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

Linux 3.17 didn't help at all. No difference was found.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

John Scott, just to clarify, it sounds like when the lid is closed, it is set to suspend. Would this be correct?

Also, for now, let the scope of this report focus on you using the open source drivers for your WiFi, as it would be easier to get support from the entire FOSS community, versus one company (Broadcom) if you are using the proprietary drivers.

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

Christopher No. It's set to do nothing. It does nothing like it's supposed to (except for making my connection MUCH slower).

[penalvch (penalvch)]

John Scott, just to confirm, even though it's set in the GUI to not suspend, if you play a music file when the lid is closed, does it continue playing, or does it stop?

Also, did this problem not occur in a release prior to Utopic?

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

If I play music and then close the lid, the music continues to play. Also, I had this same problem in 14.04 Trusty Tahr. I have not tested any Ubuntu versions other that Trusty or Utopic.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

John Scott, not sure we've ruled out a user-space issue at this point. Does the power management state change going from before the lid close to after? This may be checked at a terminal:
iwconfig

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

No, it does not change. Power Management is off when the lid is open and when it is closed.

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

Can the status of this bug please be changed to Triaged, now that an upstream kernel has been tested?

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

Linux 3.17.1 has been tested and has shown no difference. This bug is still present in 3.17.1, the newest stable version of the kernel as of this writing.

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

This bug has been filed on the official Linux bug tracker at https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=86971.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

John Scott, bugzilla is legacy, the wrong venue for your issue, and you didn't provide either enough nor the preferred information for upstream to work on it. Despite this:
+ Could you please test the latest mainline kernel and advise to the results via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.18-rc1-utopic/ and advise to the results?
+ Did this problem not occur in a release prior to Trusty? If you haven't actually tested a prior release, please test 12.04.0 via http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/12.04.0/ and advise to the results.

This is kernel 3.2.x via at a terminal:
uname -a

[John Scott (fuzzytoothpaste)]

That mainline kernel does not help. As you suggested, I closed the report on Bugzilla. I will soon test Ubuntu Precise (12.04) and see if that fixes the problem.