Ralink rt73usb / rt73 intrepid 8.10 -- wireless connection periodically lost

[Ivo Jimenez]

Binary package hint: linux-image-2.6.27-10-generic

Stable rt73 wireless requires linux-backports-2.6.27 installed according to Bug #283759, but with backports the driver is failing to load at all with unknown symbol errors.

Following the advice on this comment https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/283759/comments/25 I'm creating a new bug report for this issue that it hasn't been solved (at least for me and others). The network rt73usb driver doesn't work, my machine keeps disconnecting every few KB transfered (or seconds passed)

Last known good kernel for rt73 chipset devices was 2.6.24-19 with backports installed.

[Ivo Jimenez (ivotron)]

When I install the linux-backports-2.6.27-10-generic package, the driver isn't being loaded:

[ 11.156574] cfg80211: Using static regulatory domain info
[ 11.156577] cfg80211: Regulatory domain: US
[ 11.156578] (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
[ 11.156580] (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2700 mBm)
[ 11.156582] (5170000 KHz - 5190000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2300 mBm)
[ 11.156584] (5190000 KHz - 5210000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2300 mBm)
[ 11.156585] (5210000 KHz - 5230000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2300 mBm)
[ 11.156587] (5230000 KHz - 5330000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2300 mBm)
[ 11.156589] (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 3000 mBm)
[ 11.156590] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: US
[ 11.261480] rt2x00lib: no symbol version for lbm_cw_lbm_cw_ieee80211_iterate_active_interfaces_atomic
[ 11.261483] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol lbm_cw_lbm_cw_ieee80211_iterate_active_interfaces_atomic
[ 11.262350] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_suspend
[ 11.262408] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_probe_dev
[ 11.262624] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_rxdone
[ 11.262796] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_remove_dev
[ 11.262853] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_txdone
[ 11.262967] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00queue_get_queue
[ 11.263146] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_resume
[ 11.292896] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_add_interface
[ 11.293001] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_get_stats
[ 11.293119] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_disable_radio
[ 11.293177] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request_buff
[ 11.293257] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request_large_buff
[ 11.293314] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_kick_tx_queue
[ 11.293371] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_write_tx_data
[ 11.293428] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_config_interface
[ 11.293485] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_remove_interface
[ 11.293541] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request
[ 11.293598] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_probe
[ 11.293680] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_config
[ 11.293765] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00queue_get_queue
[ 11.293829] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_suspend
[ 11.293886] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_clear_entry
[ 11.293942] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_conf_tx
[ 11.294004] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_start
[ 11.294060] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_stop
[ 11.294175] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_configure_filter
[ 11.294232] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_disconnect
[ 11.294313] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_tx
[ 11.294389] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_req_buff_lock
[ 11.294446] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_get_tx_stats
[ 11.294522] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_resume
[ 11.294622] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_uninitialize
[ 11.294679] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_initialize
[ 11.294746] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_bss_info_changed

[Stuart Bishop (stub)]

I see the same thing when rebooting after installing the linux-backports-2.6.27-9 package.

[Stuart Bishop (stub)]

Still failing to load rt73usb with linux-backport-modules-2.6.27-11.10

[Stuart Bishop (stub)]

On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 5:23 PM, Owen Tuz wrote:

> http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Download#DownloadlatestLinuxwirelessdrivers

The installation procedure works smoothly as documented
and I've had no dropouts after a day of heavy usage. This is the
21-12-2008 download with the 2.6.27-11 kernel and a D-Link DWA-110
usb stick (rt73 chipset). It all Just Works, even Network Manager.

So rt73 issues seem to be fixed upstream. I think this means we are left with packaging or compatibility issues with other patches in the -backports package.

[Arton Pereira Dorneles (artondorneles)]

I confirm. In ubuntu 8.10 this solution works!
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Download#DownloadlatestLinuxwirelessdrivers
Thanks!!

[Ivo Jimenez (ivotron)]

Hi,

I couldn't test the latest drivers and test them (lack of time), but on the most recent update my wireless card started to work correctly. I, however, had to remove the network-manager and configure it manually in /etc/network/interfaces.

Cheers!!

No more cables for me, thanks to the Open Source community

[Ivo Jimenez (ivotron)]

Forgot to mention, the kernel version that includes the working driver version is linux-image-2.6.27-11-generic

[Ivo Jimenez (ivotron)]

Not!!

My connection kept going down (approx. every 2 hours). I haven't realize how easy it's to add the drivers on http://wireless.kernel.org/ so I gave it a try and everything is working nicely!!

Thanks much

[Stuart Bishop (stub)]

This is still an issue with 2.6.27-12.

Installing compat-wireless manually works fine. Using lbm fails to load with the same symbol error we have been seeing for months.

rt73 regressed in Hardy - last known good kernel was 2.6.24-19.

I don't think any diagnosis as been made on why some users can successfully use backports with rt73 and others fail with the reported symbol error. I suspect 64 bit, but I'm certainly no expert.

rt73 remains the dominant chipset here in SE Asia for usb wireless sticks, and are popular with home users and small business. All new products appear to be using rt73. All products advertising themselves as supporting linux use rt73. 50-75% of all the devices available here use rt73.

[Stuart Bishop (stub)]

No longer having rt73 issues with the proposed fix in Bug #258985