Realtek 8192_pci regularly disconnects after upgrade to 11.04

[Allen Chemist]

I have a realtek rtl8192_pci wireless card, which is regularly disconecting from the access point after upgrading from 10.10 to 11.04.

While under continuous traffic, the disconnects do not happen (ping is sufficient to remain connected), however normal web browsing is not sufficient, and about once per minute the card will disconnect and re-associate.

Information
----------------
Card:
02:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8191SEvA Wireless LAN Controller (rev 10)

Kernel:
Linux mosasaur 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:24 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Loaded modules for wifi:
r8192se_pci 524220 0
cfg80211 178528 1 r8192se_pci

Network is WPA2 encrypted.

During a constant ping, dmesg has the following errors but the connection is stable (two instances shown which occur 100 seconds apart):
[ 3038.006029] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 3038.060191] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:1
[ 3038.180078] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:2
[ 3038.300094] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:3
[ 3038.420063] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:4
[ 3038.540066] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:5
[ 3038.660073] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 3038.780086] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:7
[ 3038.900059] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:8
[ 3039.029602] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:9
[ 3039.140069] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:10
[ 3039.260065] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:11
[ 3039.380052] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:12
[ 3039.500059] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:13
[ 3039.620084] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 3039.630330] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 3039.630334] rtl8192_update_cap(): WLAN_CAPABILITY_SHORT_PREAMBLE
[ 3138.003814] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 3138.060171] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:1
[ 3138.180057] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:2
[ 3138.300090] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:3
[ 3138.420087] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:4
[ 3138.540063] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:5
[ 3138.660076] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 3138.780075] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:7
[ 3138.900063] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:8
[ 3139.020069] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:9
[ 3139.140046] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:10
[ 3139.260067] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:11
[ 3139.380065] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:12
[ 3139.500068] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:13
[ 3139.620084] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 3139.630325] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 3139.630332] rtl8192_update_cap(): WLAN_CAPABILITY_SHORT_PREAMBLE

During no traffic, the following appears in dmesg:
[ 2767.450318] ===>rtl819x_watchdog_wqcallback(): AP is power off,chan:6, connect another one
[ 2767.450325] ===========>RemovePeerTS,94:0c:6d:f5:e7:c4
[ 2767.450330] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 2767.450389] notify_wx_assoc_event(): Tell user space disconnected
[ 2767.550886] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:1
[ 2767.670076] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:2
[ 2767.790059] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:3
[ 2767.910078] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:4
[ 2768.030073] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:5
[ 2768.150067] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 2768.270096] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:7
[ 2768.390059] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:8
[ 2768.510084] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:9
[ 2768.630091] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:10
[ 2768.750111] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:11
[ 2768.870083] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:12
[ 2768.990071] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:13
[ 2769.111366] Linking with Mitchell,channel:6, qos:0, myHT:0, networkHT:0, mode:6 cur_net.flags:0x406
[ 2769.111391] ===>rtllib_associate_procedure_wq(), chan:6
[ 2769.111395] HTSetConnectBwMode():pHTInfo->bCurBW40MHz:0
[ 2769.111400] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 2769.121624] Linking with Mitchell,channel:6, qos:0, myHT:0, networkHT:0, mode:6 cur_net.flags:0x406
[ 2769.121639] Linking with Mitchell,channel:6, qos:0, myHT:0, networkHT:0, mode:6 cur_net.flags:0x406
[ 2769.122016] ===>rtllib_associate_procedure_wq(), chan:6
[ 2769.122021] HTSetConnectBwMode():pHTInfo->bCurBW40MHz:0
[ 2769.122025] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 2769.133451] rtl8192_SetWirelessMode(), wireless_mode:4, bEnableHT = 0
[ 2769.135810] Associated successfully
[ 2769.135813] normal associate
[ 2769.135820] Using G rates:108
[ 2769.135823] Successfully associated, ht not enabled(0, 0)
[ 2769.135827] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 2769.135832] rtl8192_update_cap(): WLAN_CAPABILITY_SHORT_PREAMBLE
[ 2773.450336] ===>rtl819x_watchdog_wqcallback(): AP is power off,chan:6, connect another one
[ 2773.450343] ===========>RemovePeerTS,94:0c:6d:f5:e7:c4
[ 2773.450348] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 2773.450408] notify_wx_assoc_event(): Tell user space disconnected
[ 2773.550904] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:1
[ 2773.670048] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:2
[ 2773.790056] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:3
[ 2773.910071] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:4
[ 2774.030067] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:5
[ 2774.150062] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 2774.270077] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:7
[ 2774.390083] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:8
[ 2774.510082] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:9
[ 2774.630085] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:10
[ 2774.750099] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:11
[ 2774.870079] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:12
[ 2774.990054] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:13
[ 2775.110645] Linking with Mitchell,channel:6, qos:0, myHT:0, networkHT:0, mode:6 cur_net.flags:0x406
[ 2775.110670] ===>rtllib_associate_procedure_wq(), chan:6
[ 2775.110675] HTSetConnectBwMode():pHTInfo->bCurBW40MHz:0
[ 2775.110678] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 2775.120789] Linking with Mitchell,channel:6, qos:0, myHT:0, networkHT:0, mode:6 cur_net.flags:0x406
[ 2775.120806] Linking with Mitchell,channel:6, qos:0, myHT:0, networkHT:0, mode:6 cur_net.flags:0x406
[ 2775.121232] ===>rtllib_associate_procedure_wq(), chan:6
[ 2775.121235] HTSetConnectBwMode():pHTInfo->bCurBW40MHz:0
[ 2775.121237] =====>rtl8192_set_chan()====ch:6
[ 2775.133114] rtl8192_SetWirelessMode(), wireless_mode:4, bEnableHT = 0
[ 2775.135684] Associated successfully
[ 2775.135688] normal associate
[ 2775.135696] Using G rates:108
[ 2775.135699] Successfully associated, ht not enabled(0, 0)
[ 2775.135703] ===>rtl8192se_link_change():ieee->iw_mode is 2
[ 2775.135708] rtl8192_update_cap(): WLAN_CAPABILITY_SHORT_PREAMBLE

Some of the disconnections are enough to trigger an error in the system tray, however this does not show for every entry in dmesg.

I will continue to test and try to narrow down this bug

[Jeremy von Hoff (jvonhoff)]

I'm having the same issue with the rtl8188ce (using the rtl8192ce driver). However, my dmesg looks different. Regardless, I'm simply subscribing to the bug.

I'm curious if natty contains the latest driver from RealTek. There was a new release on April 6th, which supposedly solves dropped connections. [http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=48&PFid=48&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true#RTL8188CE]

When I tried to make/make install, I got a kernel panic on boot, and had to revert.

[RedSingularity (redsingularity)]

Looks like a driver issue. Assigning to linux kernel.

[kozimodo (forums-theo)]

Is there a solution to this short of downgrading to maverick and compiling the driver? Does ndiswrapper work?

[kozimodo (forums-theo)]

@Allen Out of curiosity, which windows drivers did you try with ndiswrapper? There seem three different 64 bit Windows drivers available.

[cubells (cubells)]

@Jeremy:

I had a lot of problems with this chipset rtl8188ce and as it is said here:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/749871

I've compiled the compat-wireless driver and all works like a charm.

[Jose Marquez (ubuntu-hackwater)]

Looks like you've got the same chipset as me. I was having all kinds of problems with keeping my wireless connected when I went from Lucid to Natty; I got the latest drivers from Realtek today and they seem to have sorted me out. I've posted them over in the forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1267961&page=14

Hope they help. I also had luck with the 3.0 kernel...

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in dianosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 773976

and then change the status of the bug back to 'New'.

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.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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