Wireless problem Precise Pangolin

Asked by Göktuğ Kayaalp

Hello everyone. I'm here to fix my rtl8192se wireless driver. I have asked this a week before here, while installing Ubuntu. I could use wireless till this morning. After some reboot and lots of research, I couldn't find an answer to my problem. Network Manager can't establish a connection, and it asks for authentication periodically (approx. a minute). I have sent an email to Realtek, and I'm pasting it here, so, it may be fixed if it's nothing to do with the Realtek side but the Ubuntu side.
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Hello. Whenever I use ubuntu on my PC, I have problems with my wireless internet. This is some terminal output about my system(which is a Compaq Presario CQ62):

# lspci -nn | grep Wireless
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8191SEvA Wireless LAN Controller [10ec:8171] (rev 10)

#sudo lshw -C network
  *-network
       description: Wireless interface
       product: RTL8191SEvA Wireless LAN Controller
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 10
       serial: 70:f1:a1:c6:95:2e
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rtl8192se driverversion=3.2.0-24-generic-pae firmware=N/A latency=0 link=no multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn
       resources: irq:16 ioport:3000(size=256) memory:93500000-93503fff
->I have cut off the eth0 results since I have no problem with ethernet.

#sudo iwlist scanning
wlan0 Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:E0:4D:CD:76:87
                    Channel:1
                    Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
                    Quality=70/70 Signal level=-36 dBm
                    Encryption key:on
                    ESSID:"Huawei_HG521"
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
                              9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                    Bit Rates:24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                    Mode:Master
                    Extra:tsf=000000018dbcc6c8
                    Extra: Last beacon: 704ms ago
                    IE: Unknown: 000C4875617765695F4847353231
                    IE: Unknown: 010882848B960C121824
                    IE: Unknown: 030101
                    IE: Unknown: 2A0100
                    IE: Unknown: 32043048606C
                    IE: WPA Version 1
                        Group Cipher : TKIP
                        Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
                    IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101000003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
                    IE: Unknown: DD0600E04C020120

#cat /etc/network/interfaces
  auto lo
  iface lo inet loopback

#sudo lshw -short | grep network
  /0/100/1c/0 wlan0 network RTL8191SEvA Wireless LAN Controller
  /0/100/1c.1/0 eth0 network RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller

#uname -a
  Linux cp-cq62 3.2.0-24-generic-pae #39-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 21 18:54:21 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

#iwconfig
wlan0 IEEE 802.11bgn ESSID:"Huawei_HG521"
          Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=20 dBm
          Retry long limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off

#sudo hwinfo --netcard
27: PCI 200.0: 0282 WLAN controller
  [Created at pci.318]
  Unique ID: y9sn.LijBSGb8FsA
  Parent ID: z8Q3.Cj2ByQjL_A7
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.0/0000:02:00.0
  SysFS BusID: 0000:02:00.0
  Hardware Class: network
  Model: "Realtek WLAN controller"
  Vendor: pci 0x10ec "Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd."
  Device: pci 0x8171
  SubVendor: pci 0x103c "Hewlett-Packard Company"
  SubDevice: pci 0x1467
  Revision: 0x10
  Driver: "rtl8192se"
  Driver Modules: "rtl8192se"
  Device File: wlan0
  Features: WLAN
  I/O Ports: 0x3000-0x3fff (rw)
  Memory Range: 0x93500000-0x93503fff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  IRQ: 16 (53625 events)
  HW Address: 70:f1:a1:c6:95:2e
  Link detected: no
  WLAN channels: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
  WLAN frequencies: 2.412 2.417 2.422 2.427 2.432 2.437 2.442 2.447 2.452 2.457 2.462 2.467 2.472
  WLAN encryption modes: WEP40 WEP104 TKIP CCMP
  WLAN authentication modes: open sharedkey wpa-psk wpa-eap
  Module Alias: "pci:v000010ECd00008171sv0000103Csd00001467bc02sc80i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: rtl8192se is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe rtl8192se"
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #15 (PCI bridge)

#sudo lsmod
Module Size Used by
snd_hrtimer 12648 1
ip6table_filter 12711 0
ip6_tables 22528 1 ip6table_filter
ebtable_nat 12695 0
ebtables 21508 1 ebtable_nat
ipt_MASQUERADE 12663 3
iptable_nat 13016 1
nf_nat 24959 2 ipt_MASQUERADE,iptable_nat
nf_conntrack_ipv4 19084 4 iptable_nat,nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv4 12649 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
xt_state 12514 1
nf_conntrack 73847 5 ipt_MASQUERADE,iptable_nat,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,xt_state
ipt_REJECT 12512 2
xt_CHECKSUM 12493 1
iptable_mangle 12646 1
xt_tcpudp 12531 5
iptable_filter 12706 1
ip_tables 18106 3 iptable_nat,iptable_mangle,iptable_filter
x_tables 21974 12 ip6table_filter,ip6_tables,ebtables,ipt_MASQUERADE,iptable_nat,xt_state,ipt_REJECT,xt_CHECKSUM,iptable_mangle,xt_tcpudp,iptable_filter,ip_tables
bridge 79769 0
stp 12811 1 bridge
joydev 17393 0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 31775 1
snd_hda_codec_realtek 174055 1
arc4 12473 2
hp_wmi 13652 0
sparse_keymap 13658 1 hp_wmi
rfcomm 38139 0
bnep 17830 2
parport_pc 32114 0
bluetooth 158438 10 rfcomm,bnep
snd_hda_intel 32765 3
snd_hda_codec 109562 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
ppdev 12849 0
snd_hwdep 13276 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 80845 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 13132 0
snd_rawmidi 25424 1 snd_seq_midi
psmouse 72919 0
serio_raw 13027 0
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 51567 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
wmi 18744 1 hp_wmi
i915 414672 4
rtl8192se 94189 0
rtlwifi 95804 1 rtl8192se
snd_timer 28931 3 snd_hrtimer,snd_pcm,snd_seq
mac_hid 13077 0
mac80211 436455 2 rtl8192se,rtlwifi
snd_seq_device 14172 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
cfg80211 178679 2 rtlwifi,mac80211
snd 62064 17 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
drm_kms_helper 45466 1 i915
soundcore 14635 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 14108 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
drm 197692 5 i915,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 13199 1 i915
video 19068 1 i915
lp 17455 0
parport 40930 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
r8169 56321 0

This has became a big problem for Ubuntu user as there are hundreds of forum posts and askubuntu etc. entries about this bug.
When I switch to Windows 7 (using a dual boot machine), I have no problem with internet. So this is possibly a driver bug or a bug about Ubuntu's networkmanager software. I will post a copy of this e-mail to them. As one of many people who uses Ubuntu and realtek hardware together, I (or we) need a fix for this bug which has affect on particularly Ubuntu Linux OS.
I want to note that I have used Fedora Core 16 for a week, and didn't have wireless problems. The kernel was version 3.4~ on that OS.
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The above text is the full copy of the body of my email which sent to Realtek. I have replaced the subject line with the above description of my problem. This email is based on this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WirelessTroubleshootingProcedure

I have trimmed some unnecessary info, that Realtek wouldn't need to know (in my opinion). I wont consider re-formatting as an answer since we can't format our PC for every bug, and because I have connectivity problems every single time I install Ubuntu (precise pangolin and oneiric ocelot) as many other who has Realtek network hardware.

Question information

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Göktuğ Kayaalp
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Revision history for this message
Göktuğ Kayaalp (cadadr) said :
#1

I want to add that when I rebooted my laptop (excuse me for identifying it as a PC several times) I have some wireless connection, but on low pace and it did not sustain more than a couple of minutes.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#2

Can you give the output of:

cat /etc/lsb-release; uname -a

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Göktuğ Kayaalp (cadadr) said :
#3

#cat /etc/lsb-release; uname -a
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=12.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=precise
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.04 LTS"
Linux cp-cq62 3.2.0-24-generic-pae #39-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 21 18:54:21 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

Revision history for this message
Göktuğ Kayaalp (cadadr) said :
#4

I think I have found the problem: Power management. It is on for wireless when power cable is unplugged.
I have added following to /etc/rc.local:
"
modprobe rtl8192se
/sbin/iwconfig wlan0 power off
"
It is overwritten when cable is plugged in.
So, how can I deactivate it permanently?

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#5

Sounds like you need to make a rule for when the interface comes up, I believe there is an option in network manager.

Revision history for this message
Göktuğ Kayaalp (cadadr) said :
#6

I have tried following:

- touch /etc/pm/power.d/wireless
- touch /etc/pm/sleep.d/wireless
-cat > /etc/pm/config.d/blacklist
HOOK_BLACKLIST="wireless"
HOOK_BLACKLIST="laptop-mode"

but the power management is never permanently off, it's beeing subdued by cable's status.I don't know and can't find any solution. Trying to install backport-drivers and a network-manager update now

Revision history for this message
Göktuğ Kayaalp (cadadr) said :
#7

Solved!
Installed linux-backports-modules-cw and network-manager update. Works well. linux-backports-modules-cw can be found in software center and network-manager update can be get via normal uodatin method.
For anybody who needs this info in Tukish navigate to my blog entry : http://gkaya93.blogspot.com/2012/05/ubuntu-1204-wireless-cozumu.html . I will write an English description here:

- Check the table in this page to see if your wireless card (or sth similar*) is there : http://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/WLAN/Linux-backports-modules#Enthaltene-Treiber
- If there, do the following:
- Go to terminal and enter "uname -r" for returning kernel version.
- Search for a matching version of "linux-backports-modules-cw" in software center. Install it.
- Update network-manager.
- Reboot and see if it affects. It changed my experience a lot. It's really better now.

*My card was rtl8192se. It wasn't included in the table, instead, rtl8180/rtl8187. but the software healed my system. So go ahead and try if your card's model is close to included models. I guess this is safer than manipulating system configuration files.

And sth to include, on the website, it says that linux-backports-modules-cw is included in the Live image, so you can install if have no connection. I didn't try it, as I have formatted my live medium. But if you didn't, add it to your Software sources and try to use.
- Software Center > Edit > Software sources > Installable from CD-ROM/DVD... Check the checkbox below it.

I guess this thing would work well in elderly Ubuntu versions, but I'm not sure and encouraging anyone to try it because of my word. Thanks for any support made.