Realtek r8822be kernel module does not negotiate 802.11ac connection

[David R. Bergstein]

I have an HP Omen laptop with dual boot installed. It has the Realtek 8822BE wireless chip set installed, which when running Windows 10 works as intended, i.e., it establishes an 802.11ac connection with my wireless router with speeds up to 866 mbps. However when running my Linux environment, Ubuntu Studio, the connection speed is established as 802.11n, and is limited to 300 mbps.

I also see the following message in my logs which might be related to this issue:

wlo1: capabilities/regulatory prevented using AP HT/VHT configuration, downgraded

Please advise if additional information is needed. Per the bug reporting guidelines also see below.

1) lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 18.10
Release: 18.10

2) apt-cache policy linux-modules-4.18.0-13-lowlatency
linux-modules-4.18.0-13-lowlatency:
  Installed: 4.18.0-13.14
  Candidate: 4.18.0-13.14
  Version table:
 *** 4.18.0-13.14 500
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu cosmic-updates/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu cosmic-security/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

3) What I expected to happen - connection at 802.11ac speeds
4) What happened instead - 802.11n connection
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.10-0ubuntu13.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: dbergst 1852 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: dbergst 1852 F...m pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: KDE
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-12-19 (67 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Studio 18.10 "Cosmic Cuttlefish" - Release amd64 (20181017.2)
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:b00b Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:58e6 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: HP OMEN by HP Laptop
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 EFI VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.18.0-15-lowlatency root=UUID=e50d64b3-9d61-4d85-bf8f-c30c4759d7e4 ro quiet splash acpi_osi=! "acpi_osi=Windows 2009" vt.handoff=1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.18.0-15.16-lowlatency 4.18.20
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.18.0-15-lowlatency N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.18.0-15-lowlatency N/A
 linux-firmware 1.175.1
StagingDrivers: r8822be
Tags: cosmic staging
Uname: Linux 4.18.0-15-lowlatency x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm audio cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 11/09/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: AMI
dmi.bios.version: F.08
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 846A
dmi.board.vendor: HP
dmi.board.version: 68.21
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: HP
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAMI:bvrF.08:bd11/09/2018:svnHP:pnOMENbyHPLaptop:pvr:rvnHP:rn846A:rvr68.21:cvnHP:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.family: 103C_5335KV HP OMEN
dmi.product.name: OMEN by HP Laptop
dmi.product.sku: 2XP11AV
dmi.sys.vendor: HP

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:

apport-collect 1813372

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

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[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

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[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

apport information

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer
to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest
v5.0-rc8 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following
tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag:
'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as
"Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.0-rc8/

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

I have tested with kernel version 5.0-rc8 and the issue with connection speed is still there (see below)

wlo1 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"XXXXXXXX-5G"
          Mode:Managed Frequency:5.66 GHz Access Point: 20:C0:47:FA:F6:40
          Bit Rate=300 Mb/s Tx-Power=23 dBm
          Retry short limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:on
          Link Quality=59/70 Signal level=-51 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:7 Missed beacon:0

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

It appears there is a problem with my Verizon router. If I manually set the 5 Hz wi-fi channel number to any available channel, I see bit rates of 866.7 Mb/s on my Ubuntu Studio machine.

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

Although iwconfig reports a bit rate of 866.7 Mb/s, it still appears that my wireless connection speeds are less than 300 Mb/s. I recommend this bug report stay open until information can be obtained on the r8822be kernel module and any required fixes.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Please raise the issue to mailing list:
Ping-Ke Shih <email address hidden> (maintainer:REALTEK WIRELESS DRIVER (rtlwifi family))
<email address hidden> (open list:REALTEK WIRELESS DRIVER (rtlwifi family))
<email address hidden> (open list:NETWORKING DRIVERS)
<email address hidden> (open list)

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

Per the request above, a message has been sent to the maintainers list in entry #20 (below is a copy).

Subject: Realtek r8822be kernel module does not negotiate 802.11ac connection

To: <email address hidden>, <email address hidden>,
 <email address hidden>, <email address hidden>

This message is in regard to a bug I have open on bugs.launchpad.net,
1813372, linked below. This issue, originally identified in an Ubuntu
kernel, has been duplicated in the most current mainline kernel,
5.0-rc8, and is in regard to problems attaining a wireless connection at
802.11ac speeds.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1813372

At your earliest convenience, please see the bug report above, and
advise if a fix will be available for the r8822be kernel module.

Sincerely,

David R. Bergstein

[David R. Bergstein (dbergst)]

I have been in touch with several members of the Realtek module development team. They have provided access to the code for a newer module, called rtw88, which is currently under review. Based on comments from Tony Chuang and local tests performed here confirms that this new module better supports 802.11ac connection speeds than the previous r8822be driver.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Thanks for the info.

For anyone who wants to use rtw88:
https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new/tree/rtw88