Constant scanning for access points makes bluetooth audio (a2dp) unusable; setting bssid fixes this

[Prashant L Rao]

While using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth A2DP together there was stuttering on my headset. I noticed that the interruptions were happening at constant intervals and wondered if it was on account of Network Manager scanning for access points. Forcing NM to stick to my local AP by using its BSSID seems to have eliminated the interference/stuttering almost completely.

This is with the iwlwifi driver, the chip is the Intel Wireless 3160. It could be that the driver is buggy too but since tweaking the NM configuration appears to fix it, perhaps something could be done there.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: network-manager 1.8.4-1ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-17.20-generic 4.13.8
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-17-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.5
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Wed Nov 29 07:54:09 2017
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-11-27 (2 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20171018)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.1.1 dev wlp6s0 proto static metric 600
 192.168.1.0/24 dev wlp6s0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.101 metric 600
NetworkManager.state:
 [main]
 NetworkingEnabled=true
 WirelessEnabled=true
 WWANEnabled=true
SourcePackage: network-manager
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
nmcli-con:
 NAME UUID TYPE TIMESTAMP TIMESTAMP-REAL AUTOCONNECT AUTOCONNECT-PRIORITY READONLY DBUS-PATH ACTIVE DEVICE STATE ACTIVE-PATH SLAVE
 JioFi2_16E4CC d11872a2-f551-4196-afca-776b92cda1cf 802-11-wireless 1511922053 Wednesday 29 November 2017 07:50:53 AM IST yes 0 no /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Settings/1 yes wlp6s0 activated /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/11 --
 Wired connection 1 f3db4b13-14a4-345e-9f62-abde3efe9544 802-3-ethernet 1511823262 Tuesday 28 November 2017 04:24:22 AM IST yes 4294966297 no /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Settings/2 no -- -- -- --
nmcli-dev:
 DEVICE TYPE STATE DBUS-PATH CONNECTION CON-UUID CON-PATH
 wlp6s0 wifi connected /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/3 JioFi2_16E4CC d11872a2-f551-4196-afca-776b92cda1cf /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/11
 enp7s0 ethernet unavailable /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/2 -- -- --
 lo loopback unmanaged /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/1 -- -- --
nmcli-nm:
 RUNNING VERSION STATE STARTUP CONNECTIVITY NETWORKING WIFI-HW WIFI WWAN-HW WWAN
 running 1.8.4 connected started full enabled enabled enabled enabled enabled

[Prashant L Rao (prashant-rao)]

Hi,

Please close this as the problem is back. It takes about an hour for it to show up. I've reported the issue to the kernel bugzilla as it looks like a driver/firmware issue (same h/w works in Windows 10). Thanks.