[Gusty] ipw3945abg does not work with 802.11b-only WLANs

[mb]

Binary package hint: linux-restricted-modules-generic

Hello,

I have big problems with the ipw3945 ABG Network driver in Gusty-Tribe-5. Doesn't work in Feisty too. I want to connect to an Vigor 2500 WLAN-Router. (http://www.draytek.com/product/adsl_router_modem/vigor2500/vigor2500.php). The Wireless Access Point is for "802.11b/802.11b+".

I can see aviable Wireless networks and their signal quality but I got no connection to this Wireless Network using network-manager-applet. Connecting to my wireless network works when i use manual configration without roaming-mode of network-manager and static IPs. Then, network connection ist really very very slow, not usable. (maybe similar to this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ipw3945/+bug/103210).

I tried do disable WEP encryption. Connecting without encryption didn't work too.

My Hardware is a new DELL Inspiron 6400 with Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 ABG Network card. That's one of those DELL Notebooks shipped with ubuntu Feisty preinstalled in Germany. Also known as DELL Inspiron E1505n in US I think.

But connecting (and speed) to this Vigor2500-802.11b-Network with another Notebook (Samsung X20) with Intel Pro/Wireless 2200BG Network card is no problem.

Wired Ethernet is working great with Vigor2500.

Connection and Speed in Windows Vista is working great with Vigor2500-802.11b-WLAN.

Here are some Informations. If you need more, please let me know.

-------

modprobe ipw3945:
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.20-16-generic/kernel/ubuntu/wireless/ipw3945/ipw3945.ko
license: GPL
author: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
version: 1.2.0mp
description: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection driver for Linux
srcversion: 9B03103B15A8FE1824967C2
alias: pci:v00008086d00004227sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004222sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: ieee80211
vermagic: 2.6.20-16-generic SMP mod_unload 586
parm: antenna:select antenna (1=Main, 2=Aux, default 0 [both]) (int)
parm: disable:manually disable the radio (default 0 [radio on]) (int)
parm: associate:auto associate when scanning (default 0 off) (int)
parm: auto_create:auto create adhoc network (default 1 on) (int)
parm: led:enable led control (default 1 on)
 (int)
parm: channel:channel to limit associate to (default 0 [ANY]) (int)
parm: rtap_iface:create the rtap interface (1 - create, default 0) (int)
parm: mode:network mode (0=BSS,1=IBSS,2=Monitor) (int)

-------

eth1 IEEE 802.11b ESSID:"Vigor2500"
          Mode:Managed Frequency:2.437 GHz Access Point: 00:90:4B:1A:6E:CC
          Bit Rate:11 Mb/s Tx-Power:15 dBm
          Retry limit:15 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=66/100 Signal level=-68 dBm Noise level=-68 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:3051 Missed beacon:0

Connection does NOT work with this Vigor2500-802.11b WLAN!

-------

tried on linksys-wlan:

franziska@franzimobil:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

eth1 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"linksys"
          Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: 00:14:BF:A5:7D:8D
          Bit Rate:54 Mb/s Tx-Power:15 dBm
          Retry limit:15 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=68/100 Signal level=-65 dBm Noise level=-66 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:176 Missed beacon:0

Connection is working with this 802.11g WLAN.

------

with speedport-router:

franziska@franzimobil:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

eth1 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"SpeedportW500V"
          Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: 00:16:38:AE:4A:75
          Bit Rate:54 Mb/s Tx-Power:15 dBm
          Retry limit:15 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=80/100 Signal level=-54 dBm Noise level=-55 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:12 Missed beacon:0

Connection is working with this 802.11g WLAN.

------

franziska@franzimobil:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

eth1 IEEE 802.11b ESSID:"SpeedportW500V"
          Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: 00:16:38:AE:4A:75
          Bit Rate:11 Mb/s Tx-Power:15 dBm
          Retry limit:15 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=61/100 Signal level=-67 dBm Noise level=-68 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:92 Missed beacon:0

Connection is working with this 802.11g-set-to-802.11b WLAN.

-----

I hope, someone can help me.

regards
Maximilian

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The complete output of 'lspci -vvnn' and your '/var/log/messages' after trying to connect to the troublesome wireless network would be quite helpful. Additionally, if you could do this from Gutsy that would be the most useful. Thanks in advance.

[mb (maxbloemer)]

Thank you very much for your helpfulness.

Okay, here is Feisty after connecting to the Vigor2500 network with network-manager (connecting with n-m sometimes suddently works but connection is still badly slow):

franziska@franzimobil:~$ lspci -vvnn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27a0] (rev 03)
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device [1028:01bd]
        Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Capabilities: <access denied>

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a2] (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device [1028:01bd]
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at eff00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        Region 1: I/O ports at eff8 [size=8]
        Region 2: Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        Region 3: Memory at efec0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
        Capabilities: <access denied>

00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a6] (rev 03)
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device [1028:01bd]
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Region 0: Memory at eff80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        Capabilities: <access denied>

00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device [1028:01bd]
        Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 19
        Region 0: Memory at efebc000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
        Capabilities: <access denied>

00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=0b, subordinate=0b, sec-latency=0
        Memory behind bridge: efd00000-efdfffff
        Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ <SERR- <PERR-
    ...

[mb (maxbloemer)]

annotation:

I made a firmware update of the draytek Vigor2500 router (v2.54_1u1 updatet to v2.57_G). I tried restart/reconfiguration of the router too. Without result - same problem: slow or no connection.

[mb (maxbloemer)]

Additionally I tested wireless network connection with a T-Sinus 130data USB-Stick. (This one works with feisty out of the box.) After plugging in the USB WLAN adapter I can choose both wlan Adpaters in netwerk-manager-applet ("Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection" for ipw3945 and "Unknown USB Vendor Specific Interface" for the 130data) an see the link quality of aviable networks. With the 130data-USB-dongle I can connect everywhere and even with a 3/100 Link Quality. Speed is great! No way with ipw3945. It must be a bug in the ipw3945 driver.

[mb (maxbloemer)]

Today I installed Gusty to my hard disk drive. (by the way: it's great.) But wireless lan ipw3945 is still really slow in downloading stuff from local area network or internet.

modinfo ipw3945 shows version 1.2.2mp.ubuntu1. it seems to be the most actual driver.
but modinfo ieee80211 returns git-1.1.13 as version (2006-Mar-31) in gusty.

maybe it would fix some bugs in gusty, when using the most actual version of ieee80211 subsystem. (1.2.18)
http://ieee80211.sourceforge.net/

[Ketil Malde (ketil-ii)]

This is probably (at least some of) what is reported in bug #103210. (See my comment at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ipw3945/+bug/103210/comments/6).

The symptoms I see are:

* works perfectly on some access points, but problems with others (yes, as far as I remember 802.11b ones .)
* WEP or unencrypted does not appear to make a difference.
* dhclient always fails to see the first DHCPACK, but after switching to a bogus essid and back, it will work(!)
* iwconfig reports tons of "Invalid misc" packets, and ifconfig reports a similar number of "Rx dropped".
* transfer rates are low - bordering on unusable

We've had this problem for ages now, and nothing keeps happening. Quite embarrassing for the "open source drivers" crowd. Especially since the card works flawlessly against the same AP with Windows XP (perhaps we could use an NDIS driver?).

-k

[Ketil Malde (ketil-ii)]

Nothing continues to happen.... it was recently brought to my attention that Intel has their own driver project for this card, called iwlwifi.

Debian instructions here: http://www.nanonanonano.net/linux/debian/iwlwifi

Does anybody know if that will solve this problem?

-k

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Beginning with the Hardy Heron 8.04 development cycle, all open Ubuntu kernel bugs need to be reported against the "linux" kernel package. We are automatically migrating this bug to the new "linux" package. However, development has already began for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. It would be helpful if you could test the upcoming release and verify if this is still an issue - http://www.ubuntu.com/testing . If the issue still exists, please update this report by changing the Status of the "linux" task from "Incomplete" to "New". We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make this transition. Thanks!

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. As a result, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. There are one of two ways you should be able to test:

1) If you are comfortable installing packages on your own, the linux-image-2.6.27-* package is currently available for you to install and test.

--or--

2) The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced. You should then be able to test via a LiveCD.

Please let us know immediately if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains. More importantly, please open a new bug report for each new bug/regression introduced by the 2.6.27 kernel and tag the bug report with 'linux-2.6.27'. Also, please specifically note if the issue does or does not appear in the 2.6.26 kernel. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Per a decision made by the Ubuntu Kernel Team, bugs will longer be assigned to the ubuntu-kernel-team in Launchpad as part of the bug triage process. The ubuntu-kernel-team is being unassigned from this bug report. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeamBugPolicies for more information. Thanks.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

s bug report is being closed because we received no response to the previous inquiry for information. Please reopen if this is still an issue in the current Ubuntu release, Jaunty Jackalope 9.04. To reopen the bug, click on the current status, under the Status column, and change the status back to "New". Thanks.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

The newer, intel supported wireless driver is available in Hardy, Intrepid and Jaunty.

[xteejx (xteejx)]

Assuming linux-meta should be closed.