ath9k (ar9281) and NetworkManager and N-routers

[partha]

Hi All,

Having severe problems with ath9k and N-routers (see this bugzilla report: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=465696).

With the latest yum update, I can connect without Network manager. Never with it. However, connection is slower than molasses and firefox times out. Pings take enormous amount of time.

Some details:
Laptop Sony Viao VGN-FW139E.
FC10 with 2.6.27.3-44.fc10.i686
lspci > 06:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. Device 002a (rev 01)
Connecting to Netgear N-router WNR834Bv2 RangeMax Next Router.

Also, with the 27 series kernel, the wireless light does not turn on as it did for 26 series kernel.

Any insight appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Partha

[scottro]

As for wireless light, it seems that some sysctl variables have disappeared in 2.6.27, specifically dev.wifi.0.softled and dev.wifi.0.ledpins (or something similar, I've forgotten the exact name.) That might be why there's no LED anymore.
I'm not familiar with the ath9k, but judging from the thread, it seems as if you folks are working on troubleshooting it.
Those cards and the ath9k are relatively new, so unfortunately, unlike my 5007, there's not a great deal of experience with it yet.
Have you tried searching Ubuntu forums at all? The reason I ask is that with the large amount of Ubuntu users, there might be someone who's had a similar problem with the same hardware. Of course, if it is specifically the Fedora kernel, that won't help. :)
(On the other hand, a recent Intrepid 2.6.27 update broke the ath5k module, though it's fixed by installing backports.) :)

[partha]

Scottro,

Thanks for your response. Appreciate it. Nice it isn't it? Something that was easily available before is no longer available in the name of progress? :)

Yes - I was wondering if any other user here has similar equipment. I will try the Ubuntu forums as well.

Partha

[scottro]

That is the trouble with Fedora. Although it seems to sometimes want to be a desktop distribution, it's still very much a testing distro, or developer's distro, if you prefer.
There really oughta be something in between the stability of CentOS/RHEL and Fedora's bleeding edge, a stable Fedora if you will, for those of us who like the gee whiz stuff that you sometimes get with newer kernels but don't want every upgrade to be an adventure.

Easier said than done, of course. :)

[partha]

I still don't get why something that was working was removed. Anyway c'est la vie. :)

I checked out Ubuntu. This seems to be a big problem over there as well. No connection using ath9k.

I have made a bit of a progress though ....

I stopped Network manager and wpa_supplicant. Also, blacklisted ipv6. Then I tried connecting. First it would not connect. Then suddenly when I tried dhclient again, I got a stable connection!! However, I could do this when the link quality as reported by iwconfig was 70/100.

Now, I am using this connection. Let's see how long this last.

Thanks,
Partha

[partha]

Update:

Didn't last very long. Funny thing is, I can ping and do traceroute etc. But the amount of time it takes is humongous. Needless to say, firefox times out.

[Balinus]

I have the same card and it doesn't work with Fedora 10 beta, nor does it work with RC of Ubuntu 8.10.

[partha]

I have the same card and it doesn't work with Fedora 10 beta, nor does it work with RC of Ubuntu 8.10.

Hi,

Can you be more specific? Can you tell us the symptoms? This will helps us all to get this card working faster. Also, can you also add your comments to the bugzilla at the top of this thread?

Thanks!
Partha

[Balinus]

Hi,

Can you be more specific? Can you tell us the symptoms? This will helps us all to get this card working faster. Also, can you also add your comments to the bugzilla at the top of this thread?

Thanks!
Partha

Sure, it seems to try to connect...ask for password and hangs there withtout completing the connection process.

I didn't tried anything more than that though.

Bugzilla is over my understanding so I'm not sure I can be of good assistance.

[partha]

Sure, it seems to try to connect...ask for password and hangs there withtout completing the connection process.

Have you tried connecting without any security? Are you able to turn off wpa/wpa2 and connect? Could you try that?

I didn't tried anything more than that though.

Bugzilla is over my understanding so I'm not sure I can be of good assistance.
[/QUOTE]

It is really quite simple. You need to open an account. After you do that 0 click on the link on the first post and add your comments. Look at my comments and add similar stuff.

Thanks,
Partha

[Balinus]

Have you tried connecting without any security? Are you able to turn off wpa/wpa2 and connect? Could you try that?



I'll try!

But I lost mt DVD with Fedora 10 beta, so re-installing might be a problem in the short-term. I guess I'll wait for the official release as november is quite busy for me.

[partha]

I'll try!

But I lost mt DVD with Fedora 10 beta, so re-installing might be a problem in the short-term. I guess I'll wait for the official release as november is quite busy for me.

OK - sounds good. However, you don't need the DVD to change the security settings. That setting is in your router.

Thanks,
Partha

[younker]

I have the problem too, I installed F10 preview on my macbook C2D, but I can not connect to my wireless N router, I can get connection when running with live CD mode, but can not when start up from hard disk, the same problem exists when I tried Ubuntu 8.10 and OpenSuse 11.1 Beta 4, so I think there are something wrong about ath9k driver, I do really hope that this issue can be solved in the final version, since I think F10 is the best choice for my macbook pro.

Btw, according to some posts in ubuntu forums, I tried to blacklist the bluetooth module, but not work.

[partha]

Younker,

Can you add your comments to the bug listed above (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=465696) ?

Thanks,
Partha

[younker]

Younker,

Can you add your comments to the bug listed above (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=465696) ?

Thanks,
Partha

Partha, I have added my comment to that bug, now I can connect to my wireless N router by disable NM serivce.

[partha]

Thanks Younker. What wireless N router do you have?

Partha

[partha]

New update:

I tried one more experiment. I disconnected my N-router and reconnected my old linksys wrt54g
router. Then a peculiar thing happened.

Now using ath9k, I could no longer connect without NetworkManager!!
Here is the error message:

dhclient wlan0
Nothing to flush.
ipcalc: netmask or prefix expected
Usage: ipcalc [OPTION...]
-b, --broadcast Display calculated broadcast address
-h, --hostname Show hostname determined via DNS
-m, --netmask Display default netmask for IP (class A, B, or C)
-n, --network Display network address
-p, --prefix Display network prefix
-s, --silent Don't ever display error messages

Help options:
-?, --help Show this help message
--usage Display brief usage message
Nothing to flush.
Nothing to flush.
^C

Then I restarted NetworkManager and wlan0 started working! I now have
connection with the G-router but no connection with the N-router.

So, N-router I can connect only without NetworkManager but no firefox
or thunderbird, and with a G-router, I can only connect with
NetworkManager and get firefox and thunderbird working.

Btw, building the ath9k driver outside the Fedora
kernel and installing it results in a segmentation fault and a kernel
oops.

Well, I went and bought a Linksys N-router (my current N-router is Netgear). I am going to see if that connection with that router is stable or not.

Partha

[kevaljd]

I just checked the Initial posts.. I would want to add up here, I am using 5007 on my acer..
Wifi is out after the recent update.
I have plugged in my eth yellow cable and writing this post, is there any possibility for ath5k or ath9k to stop showing attitude to its users and be more friendly?

confused!

[scottro]

@Keval, this thread is really more for the ath9k, which is a separate entity.
I would recommend either looking for one of the many threads about whatever card you're using and asking there, or, if you feel it merits a new thread, starting one.

However, assuming it's the AR5007EG card which is the one that seems to give the most trouble, ath5k has been working steadily for me in rawhide for awhile.

The trouble is that your post is really a bit uninformative, and would require several questions to give you assistance, another reason it's best not to post in a thread about the ath9k.
Try my page at http://home.nyc.rr.com/computertaijutsu/rhwireless.html#5007 and see if it helps.


And now, back to our regularly scheduled ath9k thread. :)

[partha]

I just checked the Initial posts.. I would want to add up here, I am using 5007 on my acer..
Wifi is out after the recent update.
Do you know what model and/or your chip is? Are you using the ath9k module? Note that I have had a lot of frustration with that module and my Netgear N-Router.

I have plugged in my eth yellow cable and writing this post, is there any possibility for ath5k or ath9k to stop showing attitude to its users and be more friendly?

confused!
Well ... I think there is frustration on both sides. :) The developers are unpaid (though paid in the case of Atheros Engineers) hardworking engineers who are trying to make Fedora "just work(TM)" and there is way too much variety in the wifi cards (internal or external) out there. So, it is probably tough to make sure that all combination of cards and routers work properly. Would you add your comments in bugzilla (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=465696) and also post your symptoms to the ath9k-devel mailing list? Please add as much detail about your setup as possible.

Thanks,
Partha

[kevaljd]

@Keval, this thread is really more for the ath9k, which is a separate entity.
I would recommend either looking for one of the many threads about whatever card you're using and asking there, or, if you feel it merits a new thread, starting one.

However, assuming it's the AR5007EG card which is the one that seems to give the most trouble, ath5k has been working steadily for me in rawhide for awhile.

The trouble is that your post is really a bit uninformative, and would require several questions to give you assistance, another reason it's best not to post in a thread about the ath9k.
Try my page at http://home.nyc.rr.com/computertaijutsu/rhwireless.html#5007 and see if it helps.


And now, back to our regularly scheduled ath9k thread. :)


Well, its the same card as of yours. I do understand and now I have the process in my mind. My question was, that wifi was running steadily with my acer, till last update that I made at around 2000hrs GMT. Since then my wifi stopped working. My question was is anything clashing with it. Sorry to interrupt, i did mention that I just looked for the initial posts and interrupted... at my risk :D

madwifi will definitely help was just concerned.

Cheers!

[younker]

Thanks Younker. What wireless N router do you have?

Partha

my N router is TP-Link941, works fine under Mac and Vista, so I don't think it is the router's issue.