168c:002a ieee80211 phy0: Atheros AR9280 Rev:2 fails to scan networks

[Neil Wilson]

I've had constant problems with this 9280 wireless adapter failing to scan and connect several APs (ex. Apple Airport). With the Apple Airport it is intermittent whether it picks it up on the scan and it never authenticates. With other APs (the previous netgear I had) there was intermittent disconnects for no good reason, and it never worked with Oneiric's kernel.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-21-generic 3.2.0-21.34
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-21.34-generic 3.2.13
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-21-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Mar 31 16:37:39 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=33b1b459-aa98-46b6-962d-9c880f7e0caa
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Alpha amd64 (20100224.1)
MachineType: Acer Aspire 5536
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 radeondrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-21-generic root=UUID=97bd7f86-677a-4093-8e28-e292a06e0ebd ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-03-28 (3 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 02/27/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
dmi.bios.version: V1.03
dmi.board.name: JV50PU
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Rev
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvrV1.03:bd02/27/2009:svnAcer:pnAspire5536:pvr0100:rvnAcer:rnJV50PU:rvrRev:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: Aspire 5536
dmi.product.version: 0100
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

Testing with mainline 3.4.0-030400rc1-generic #201203312035 SMP Sun Apr 1 00:36:22 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Apr 1 20:54:38 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> WiFi now disabled by radio killswitch
Apr 1 20:54:38 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: disconnected -> unavailable (reason 'none') [30 20 0]
Apr 1 20:54:38 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): deactivating device (reason 'none') [0]
Apr 1 20:54:38 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): taking down device.
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> WiFi now enabled by radio killswitch
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): bringing up device.
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 kernel: [ 304.886614] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: starting -> ready
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: unavailable -> disconnected (reason 'supplicant-available') [20 30 42]
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant interface state: ready -> inactive
Apr 1 20:54:47 acer-aspire-5536 NetworkManager[956]: <warn> Trying to remove a non-existant call id.

Wireless network is not found in initial scan, nor subsequently.

[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

I've had constant problems with this wireless adapter on several APs. With the Apple Airport it is intermittent whether it picks it up on the scan and it never authenticates. With other APs (the previous netgear I had) there was intermittent disconnects for no good reason, and it never worked with Oneiric's kernel.

"Are you referring to a wireless hard switch on the computer that if you toggle is buggy and often disables the wireless?"

Yep. The wireless on/off button on the keyboard. Switch it off and back on and you rarely see any APs on the scan - almost like the driver has given up the ghost.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Neil Wilson, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please provide the missing information following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LinuxWireless ?

As well, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, please just make a comment to this.

If reproducible, could you also 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-v3.13-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.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]