Scan for available networks

[Koen_VL]

Sometimes you need to know which wireless connections are available. But the only way to get there is to wait until Networkmanager automatically refreshes the list.
There should be a "scan now" button so a user can scan for connections at any time.

I've included a mockup :-)

[MT (micdhack)]

i agree with this because it is confusing and not helpful.
Note: in windows 7 i saw that they tried to make the wireless menu look like ubuntu's but they do have a refresh button. I would propose that the menu stays as it is but there should be a refresh button and maybe a refresh counter or reverse progress bar.

[Vish (vish)]

Koen_VL , Hi , not related to this bug report.... ;) I'd like to know the theme you are using? :)

[Koen_VL (koenvl)]

/offtopic

It's New Wave black menu's + Clearlooks OSX icon theme :-)

/ontopic

This is one of my long lasting ubuntu frustrations (haven't tried any other linux distribution yet, so I don't know if it's solely ubuntu).
I think the scan times have been reduced since I started using ubuntu 7.10, but this may be just me getting used to the way it is.
A button would be very helpful!

[X (axcoro)]

duplicate of this https://bugs.launchpad.net/hundredpapercuts/+bug/407433?

[Vish (vish)]

Actually , nm-applet has a refresh feature. but it is hidden very well
The applet refreshes when clicked on the icon, but we dont get a feedback .
http://live.gnome.org/DarrenAlbers/NetworkManagerFAQ#head-96dbd4cab9367561769e01ca9e40776fbab2a83a

I believe there is an old bug already.

*Alexander Sack* , could this be done? It is not required but some feedback to indicate the network is being refreshed ?

[X (axcoro)]

your mockup made mi bug a duplicate :(

Symptoms to add to the problem:
- add a password to a wifi that before hasn't, in the list of wifi networks appear two networks with the same name (one encrypted and the other not).
- move quickly from a place to another takes times to show new networks (and old networks are still visible even when the new networks appears).

[mouse (mr.mouse)]

you can do this without any new button,

the moment the user is clicking on the icon on the panel, the networks manager will do auto scan.

you can add same scanning animation to that (maybe on the icon on the panel)

[Koen_VL (koenvl)]

@X: no hard feelings? :-)

I can confirm those two additions + when you change security settings on your wifi source, it also will show 2 instances with the same name.

@mouse:

I didn't know about that, although I suspected the list refreshes when you click the icon, I didn't know for sure.
Nothing indicating this happens confirms this "bug" really. :-)
Giving some feedback while scanning and when the scan is complete would be very helpful indeed.

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

we have a spec that also includes something like this. However, its not a papercut as it requires patches on all fronts.

https://blueprints.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/desktop-karmic-network-ui

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

also on demand scanning is nothing we really want as of now. The reason its in the spec is because we wanted to look into disabling background scanning which would require this feature.

[tz (thomas-mich)]

I reported a bug which ended up being a duplicate of this.

What I keep hearing is "you won't see anything for two years, but when we eventually do it it will be wonderful". I don't want to wait for zoomy zebra for this to be fixed.

If you detach and reattach the network (right click to disable, then repeat to reenable wireless) it will get all the current networks.

PUT IN A RESCAN to fix the "papercut" and let those who really, really hate demand scanning speed up their efforts so it can be removed.

You can put in a rescan now and easily, and it is a REALLY BIG ANNOYANCE. I have to wait minutes for the AP at work to show up (my computer is never off!) or I have to disable/enable.

You don't have "there is a really good but complex and difficult fix that will be in two years from now" as a criterion why something should NOT qualify as a paper cut.

Band-aid it for Karmic and let those responsible for fixing it properly make a greater effort if they don't like it.

[tz (thomas-mich)]

And the proposed solution is actually worse.

I have to click on More Networks, and then I won't have anything for ...

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For 8 seconds after I click "other networks" and the applet will apparently freeze everything - maybe even any UI interaction for those 8 seconds. Then it will list what it finds even if the card already has a complete list when the scan starts and nothing new is found.

Process the list instead so it is append-only every second, but a scan should not take 8 seconds, and any visible AP (sending beacons) should already be in the list in the wifi card's memory and displayed immediately. Those could be listed in More/other networks immediately WITHOUT ANY SCAN. AFAIK at least half of wifi cards have this property - they don't have to do any active scan if the AP sends out beacons. There are a few where you have to do an active scan, but most are just fully hidden so a scan wouldn't find them anyway.

On my current card, I can do the disable, then enable, and immediately I will have most if not all visible APs in the list. Not 8 seconds later, immediately.