[Worked around]BCM43142 802.11b/g/n (rev 01) wifi adapter random freezes. Possibly affects more broadcom devices.

[Alexey]

Hi,

I've experienced random timeouts on BCM43142 802.11b/g/n (rev 01) adapter on Lenovo Z50-70 laptop.

The flow is as follows: on startup I _always_ have a connection to my network. I use up some traffic, then suddenly packet loss rate climbs up, then maybe goes down, then up again and the connection becomes effectively unresponsive. The device is still connected to the network. Some packets, actually, even may slip through.

After reconnection (rmmod wl -> modprobe wl), it stabilizes a bit, but then it occurs again.

It seems that the probability of such an issue increases with the number of programs that are using connection.

I have removed all drivers but bcmwl-kernel-sources and blacklisted their modules:

(from /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf)

blacklist ideapad_laptop
blacklist ssb
blacklist bcma
blacklist b43
blacklist brcmsmac
blacklist b43legacy
blacklist ndiswrapper

I wasn't able to find a root cause of it, but it happens really often. Two times when I wrote this message, actually.

I am running Mint 17.3 'Rosa'

I have bcmwl-kernel-sources 6.30.223.248+bdcom-0ubuntu0.2~lp1415880~1

I tried other versions, but not succeeded. The issue makes the wifi adapter effectively unusable.

uname -a
Linux dsmdmini-mint 4.2.0-19-generic #23~14.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Thu Nov 12 12:33:30 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

lsmod
Module Size Used by
lib80211_crypt_tkip 20480 0
lib80211 16384 1 lib80211_crypt_tkip
wl 6365184 0
cfg80211 540672 1 wl
bbswitch 16384 0
intel_rapl 20480 0
iosf_mbi 16384 1 intel_rapl
x86_pkg_temp_thermal 16384 0
intel_powerclamp 16384 0
coretemp 16384 0
rfcomm 69632 0
bnep 20480 2
uvcvideo 90112 0
videobuf2_vmalloc 16384 1 uvcvideo
bluetooth 512000 10 bnep,rfcomm
videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_vmalloc
rtsx_usb_ms 20480 0
nvidia 8642560 33
kvm 507904 0
videobuf2_core 49152 1 uvcvideo
v4l2_common 16384 1 videobuf2_core
videodev 172032 3 uvcvideo,v4l2_common,videobuf2_core
media 24576 2 uvcvideo,videodev
memstick 20480 1 rtsx_usb_ms
crct10dif_pclmul 16384 0
crc32_pclmul 16384 0
aesni_intel 167936 0
aes_x86_64 20480 1 aesni_intel
snd_soc_rt5640 114688 0
lrw 16384 1 aesni_intel
snd_soc_rl6231 16384 1 snd_soc_rt5640
gf128mul 16384 1 lrw
glue_helper 16384 1 aesni_intel
snd_soc_core 200704 1 snd_soc_rt5640
ablk_helper 16384 1 aesni_intel
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 49152 1
cryptd 20480 2 aesni_intel,ablk_helper
snd_compress 20480 1 snd_soc_core
binfmt_misc 20480 1
snd_hda_codec_conexant 24576 1
ac97_bus 16384 1 snd_soc_core
snd_pcm_dmaengine 16384 1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_codec_generic 73728 1 snd_hda_codec_conexant
input_leds 16384 0
joydev 20480 0
snd_seq_midi 16384 0
snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_hda_intel 36864 5
serio_raw 16384 0
snd_hda_codec 135168 4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_core 65536 5 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
snd_rawmidi 32768 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_hwdep 16384 1 snd_hda_codec
mei_me 32768 0
lpc_ich 24576 0
snd_pcm 102400 7 snd_soc_rt5640,snd_soc_core,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_dmaengine,snd_hda_core
mei 98304 1 mei_me
shpchp 36864 0
snd_seq 69632 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer 32768 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd 81920 23 snd_soc_core,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_compress
ppdev 20480 0
i2c_hid 20480 0
dm_multipath 24576 0
soundcore 16384 1 snd
dw_dmac 16384 0
scsi_dh 16384 1 dm_multipath
wmi 20480 0
dw_dmac_core 24576 1 dw_dmac
snd_soc_sst_acpi 16384 0
i2c_designware_platform 16384 0
parport_pc 32768 0
i2c_designware_core 16384 1 i2c_designware_platform
8250_fintek 16384 0
spi_pxa2xx_platform 24576 0
soc_button_array 16384 0
8250_dw 16384 0
lp 20480 0
mac_hid 16384 0
parport 49152 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
btrfs 950272 0
xor 24576 1 btrfs
raid6_pq 102400 1 btrfs
dm_mirror 24576 0
dm_region_hash 20480 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 20480 2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
rtsx_usb_sdmmc 28672 0
rtsx_usb 24576 2 rtsx_usb_sdmmc,rtsx_usb_ms
hid_generic 16384 0
usbhid 49152 0
hid 118784 3 i2c_hid,hid_generic,usbhid
i915 1126400 3
i2c_algo_bit 16384 1 i915
drm_kms_helper 126976 1 i915
psmouse 126976 0
drm 360448 7 i915,drm_kms_helper,nvidia
ahci 36864 1
r8169 81920 0
libahci 32768 1 ahci
mii 16384 1 r8169
sdhci_acpi 16384 0
video 36864 1 i915
sdhci 45056 1 sdhci_acpi

lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT DRAM Controller (rev 0b)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0b)
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller (rev 0b)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series USB xHCI HC (rev 04)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series HECI #0 (rev 04)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series HD Audio Controller (rev 04)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev e4)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev e4)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev e4)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series USB EHCI #1 (rev 04)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series LPC Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] (rev 04)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series SMBus Controller (rev 04)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 10)
02:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM43142 802.11b/g/n (rev 01)
03:00.0 3D controller: NVIDIA Corporation GM108M [GeForce 840M] (rev a2)

[Alexey (dsmd90)]

UPD: 1 hours hangouts session went without issues, but after its end, there was an interruption again.

64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=159 ttl=56 time=44.0 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=160 ttl=56 time=44.3 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=161 ttl=56 time=41.2 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=162 ttl=56 time=43.1 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=163 ttl=56 time=43.0 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=165 ttl=56 time=1340 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=166 ttl=56 time=333 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=168 ttl=56 time=697 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=169 ttl=56 time=41.3 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=171 ttl=56 time=41.4 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=172 ttl=56 time=443 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=177 ttl=56 time=41.3 ms
64 bytes from bud02s21-in-f174.1e100.net (216.58.209.174): icmp_seq=192 ttl=56 time=46.9 ms

[Panagiotis Mantzios (pmantzios)]

I think all Broadcom hardware have issues with linux every time i have problems with this manufacturer. I have the same problem in my acer 756 with the wifi broadcom adapter!!

[Alexey (dsmd90)]

So please add yourself as affected if your card is the same.
If not, please tell which one you have.
If you have a bug for it already, please mark as duplicate.

(I failed to google which one may be in 756)
And yes, Broadcom caused much pain in the past, also.

[Panagiotis Mantzios (pmantzios)]

No its not the same card as yours. Mine is BCM4313 802.11b/g/n (rev 01). I'm sure is very similar with yours but not the same. My card also sometimes disconnects with no reason!!

[Alexey (dsmd90)]

Okay, I've found a workaround, though it is indeed very concerning.
My system was unusable while out of the wire so I've tried downgrading kernels.

After unsuccessful try of the 3.13.0.71 (and all later) I tried another one:

uname -a
Linux dsmdmini-mint 3.13.0-37-generic #64-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 22 21:28:38 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

And it appear to work with this driver, at least packet loss was 6%, which is acceptable.

But it really concerns me since this kernel has some security issues, which were fixed later.

So, briefly, if anyone has the same problem, downgrading helps a bit, but it's really silly thing to do.

[Alexey (dsmd90)]

Also, I've found a final workaround that gives 0% losses and a stable connection.
For me it was 3.13.0-37 kernel and a _downgraded_ driver with version 6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu2

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Zi (jung-i)]

I have those problems with my ASUS X555LN with Broadcom BCM43142.
The problems appeared in Min 17.3 and now in Mint 18. Tried different kernels and drivers... no luck.

[Alexey (dsmd90)]

Zi, have you tried my setup?
(3.13.0-37 kernel and a _downgraded_ driver with version 6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu2)

It hurts me to admit it, but for me that _really_ insecure setup worked.

[Ctirad Hrokel (mastershotgun)]

I'm also affected by this bug... Weird thign is that if I leave my wifi on before reboot or shutdown averything works nicely after next boot... othervice wifi refuse to start and even nic needs like 2-3 mins before it is able to connect....