I recently installed Ubuntu 14.04 on a new Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro with a Broadcom BCM4352 wlan adapter. I used to be a Unix sysadmin, but in the intervening 20yrs windows has prob fried my brain. So Ubuntu package mgmt is new to me, but otherwise I'm not really a newbie.
I've been trying to fix unstable WiFi connectivity all week, researching the numerous threads. However, I believe I have correctly followed the
guidelines for installing Broadcom drivers (altho I discovered them after the fact). So, in desperation, I'm resorting to a forum post.
Here's two thumbnail plots of pings at 5s and 60s intervals respectively, with an otherwise quiet radio environment. Click on them to see periods of "Destination Unreachable" (not just timed out) lasting tens of minutes for just over half the time.
bcm4352-ping-5s-unreachable-linux.jpg
bcm4352-ping-60s-unreachable-linux.jpg
Other machines can successfully use the same wifi with no problems during the periods when the Broadcom driver fails to transmit. And to prove it's not the hardware or the access point, here's pings at 60s intervals from the same machine booted into Win8.1 (also note that when Linux is 'working', there are more unusually delayed pings than with Windows).
bcm4352-ping-60s-win.jpg
Workround: disconnect/reconnect from the access point whenever connectivity stalls, but that's not tenable long-term.
I have ruled out channel switching or security problems, because I'm 300m from the next nearest house, so I've turned off WiFi authentication and there's no reason why there would be any switching between access points or between channels.
Here's the output from wireless-info:
Code:
########## wireless info START ##########
Report from: 18 Jun 2015 12:49 BST +0100
Booted last: 18 Jun 2015 11:10 BST +0100
Script from: 21 May 2015 09:10 UTC +0000
##### release ###########################
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS
Release: 14.04
Codename: trusty
##### kernel ############################
Linux 3.16.0-41-generic #55~14.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Sun Jun 14 18:43:36 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Parameters: ro, quiet, splash, vt.handoff=7
##### desktop ###########################
Ubuntu
##### lspci #############################
01:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4352 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [14e4:43b1] (rev 03)
Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:0623]
Kernel driver in use: wl
##### lsusb #############################
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 048d:8386 Integrated Technology Express, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 1bcf:2c43 Sunplus Innovation Technology Inc.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0489:e07a Foxconn / Hon Hai
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 093a:2510 Pixart Imaging, Inc. Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
##### PCMCIA card info ##################
##### rfkill ############################
0: ideapad_wlan: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: ideapad_bluetooth: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
2: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
3: brcmwl-0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
4: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
##### lsmod #############################
wl 6367833 0
cfg80211 494362 1 wl
ideapad_laptop 18278 0
sparse_keymap 13948 1 ideapad_laptop
wmi 19193 0
##### interfaces ########################
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
##### ifconfig ##########################
wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr <MAC 'wlan0' [IF]>
inet addr:192.168.1.5 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::9248:9aff:fefb:25cf/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:7464 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:1833
TX packets:8980 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:3759461 (3.7 MB) TX bytes:1173314 (1.1 MB)
Interrupt:18
##### iwconfig ##########################
lo no wireless extensions.
wlan0 IEEE 802.11abg ESSID:"Home-Farm"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point: <MAC 'Home-Farm' [AC1]>
Retry short limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:off
##### route #############################
Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 wlan0
192.168.1.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0 U 9 0 0 wlan0
##### resolv.conf #######################
nameserver 127.0.1.1
search lan
##### network managers ##################
Installed:
NetworkManager
Running:
root 789 1 0 11:10 ? 00:00:00 NetworkManager
##### NetworkManager info ###############
NetworkManager Tool
State: connected (global)
- Device: wlan0 [Home-Farm] ---------------------------------------------------
Type: 802.11 WiFi
Driver: wl
State: connected
Default: yes
HW Address: <MAC 'wlan0' [IF]>
Capabilities:
Speed: 144 Mb/s
Wireless Properties
WEP Encryption: yes
WPA Encryption: yes
WPA2 Encryption: yes
Wireless Access Points (* = current AP)
*Home-Farm: Infra, <MAC 'Home-Farm' [AC1]>, Freq 2412 MHz, Rate 54 Mb/s, Strength 39
IPv4 Settings:
Address: 192.168.1.5
Prefix: 24 (255.255.255.0)
Gateway: 192.168.1.254
DNS: 192.168.1.254
##### NetworkManager.state ##############
[main]
NetworkingEnabled=true
WirelessEnabled=true
WWANEnabled=true
WimaxEnabled=true
##### NetworkManager.conf ###############
[main]
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile,ofono
dns=dnsmasq
no-auto-default=<MAC address>,
[ifupdown]
managed=false
##### NetworkManager profiles ###########
[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/USR9108]] (600 root)
[connection] id=USR9108 | type=802-11-wireless
[802-11-wireless] ssid=USR9108 | mac-address=<MAC 'wlan0' [IF]>
[ipv6] method=auto
[ipv4] method=auto
[[/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Home-Farm]] (600 root)
[connection] id=Home-Farm | type=802-11-wireless
[802-11-wireless] ssid=Home-Farm | mac-address=<MAC 'wlan0' [IF]>
[ipv6] method=auto
[ipv4] method=auto
##### iw reg get ########################
Region: Europe/London (based on set time zone)
country GB:
(2402 - 2482 @ 40), (N/A, 20)
(5170 - 5250 @ 40), (N/A, 20)
(5250 - 5330 @ 40), (N/A, 20), DFS
(5490 - 5710 @ 40), (N/A, 27), DFS
(57240 - 65880 @ 2160), (N/A, 40), NO-OUTDOOR
##### iwlist channels ###################
lo no frequency information.
wlan0 32 channels in total; available frequencies :
Channel 01 : 2.412 GHz
Channel 02 : 2.417 GHz
Channel 03 : 2.422 GHz
Channel 04 : 2.427 GHz
Channel 05 : 2.432 GHz
Channel 06 : 2.437 GHz
Channel 07 : 2.442 GHz
Channel 08 : 2.447 GHz
Channel 09 : 2.452 GHz
Channel 10 : 2.457 GHz
Channel 11 : 2.462 GHz
Channel 12 : 2.467 GHz
Channel 13 : 2.472 GHz
Channel 36 : 5.18 GHz
Channel 38 : 5.19 GHz
Channel 40 : 5.2 GHz
Channel 42 : 5.21 GHz
Channel 44 : 5.22 GHz
Channel 46 : 5.23 GHz
Channel 48 : 5.24 GHz
Channel 52 : 5.26 GHz
Channel 54 : 5.27 GHz
Channel 56 : 5.28 GHz
Channel 58 : 5.29 GHz
Channel 60 : 5.3 GHz
Channel 62 : 5.31 GHz
Channel 64 : 5.32 GHz
Channel 100 : 5.5 GHz
Channel 102 : 5.51 GHz
Channel 104 : 5.52 GHz
Channel 106 : 5.53 GHz
Channel 108 : 5.54 GHz
Current Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
##### iwlist scan #######################
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
Channel occupancy:
1 APs on Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: <MAC 'Home-Farm' [AC1]>
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=29/70 Signal level=-81 dBm
Encryption key:off
ESSID:"Home-Farm"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
Mode:Master
Extra:tsf=0000000000000000
Extra: Last beacon: 68ms ago
##### module infos ######################
[wl]
filename: /lib/modules/3.16.0-41-generic/updates/dkms/wl.ko
license: MIXED/Proprietary
srcversion: DF2576C38AD45205B3556DD
depends: cfg80211
vermagic: 3.16.0-41-generic SMP mod_unload modversions
parm: passivemode:int
parm: wl_txq_thresh:int
parm: oneonly:int
parm: piomode:int
parm: instance_base:int
parm: nompc:int
parm: intf_name:string
[cfg80211]
filename: /lib/modules/3.16.0-41-generic/kernel/net/wireless/cfg80211.ko
description: wireless configuration support
license: GPL
author: Johannes Berg
srcversion: 33ED2C1448F5AEDBE7AF59E
depends:
intree: Y
vermagic: 3.16.0-41-generic SMP mod_unload modversions
signer: Magrathea: Glacier signing key
sig_key: 42:AE:B7:DF:54:E6:D9:1C:A0:F4:01:21:E2:2F:EA:E6:B2:30:88:16
sig_hashalgo: sha512
parm: ieee80211_regdom:IEEE 802.11 regulatory domain code (charp)
parm: cfg80211_disable_40mhz_24ghz:Disable 40MHz support in the 2.4GHz band (bool)
##### module parameters #################
[cfg80211]
cfg80211_disable_40mhz_24ghz: N
ieee80211_regdom: 00
##### /etc/modules ######################
lp
rtc
##### modprobe options ##################
[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ath_pci.conf]
blacklist ath_pci
[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf]
blacklist b43
blacklist b43legacy
blacklist ssb
blacklist bcm43xx
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmfmac
blacklist brcmsmac
blacklist bcma
[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf]
blacklist evbug
blacklist usbmouse
blacklist usbkbd
blacklist eepro100
blacklist de4x5
blacklist eth1394
blacklist snd_intel8x0m
blacklist snd_aw2
blacklist i2c_i801
blacklist prism54
blacklist bcm43xx
blacklist garmin_gps
blacklist asus_acpi
blacklist snd_pcsp
blacklist pcspkr
blacklist amd76x_edac
[/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rare-network.conf]
alias net-pf-3 off
alias net-pf-6 off
alias net-pf-9 off
alias net-pf-11 off
alias net-pf-12 off
alias net-pf-19 off
alias net-pf-21 off
alias net-pf-36 off
[/etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf]
remove iwlwifi \
(/sbin/lsmod | grep -o -e ^iwlmvm -e ^iwldvm -e ^iwlwifi | xargs /sbin/rmmod) \
&& /sbin/modprobe -r mac80211
[/etc/modprobe.d/mlx4.conf]
softdep mlx4_core post: mlx4_en
[/etc/modprobe.d/modesetting.conf]
options cirrus modeset=1
options mgag200 modeset=1
##### rc.local ##########################
exit 0
##### pm-utils ##########################
##### udev rules ########################
[/etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules]
# PCI device 0x14e4:0x43b1 (wl)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="<MAC 'wlan0' [IF]>", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="wlan*", NAME="wlan0"
# USB device 0x:0x (ax88179_178a)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="<MAC address>", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth0"
##### dmesg #############################
[ 2.393027] bluetooth hci0: Direct firmware load failed with error -2
[ 2.396088] Bluetooth: hci0: BCM: patch brcm/BCM20702A0-0489-e07a.hcd not found
[ 5921.193960] ERROR @wl_dev_intvar_get : error (-1)
########## wireless info END ############
I've also included the output of dmesg below, because the wireless-info script doesn't reveal the transmit power error:
Code:
$ dmesg -T | grep wl
[Thu Jun 18 11:10:53 2015] wl: module license 'MIXED/Proprietary' taints kernel.
[Thu Jun 18 11:10:53 2015] wl: module verification failed: signature and/or required key missing - tainting kernel
[Thu Jun 18 11:10:54 2015] wlan0: Broadcom BCM43b1 802.11 Hybrid Wireless Controller 6.30.223.248 (r487574)
[Thu Jun 18 12:49:33 2015] ERROR @wl_dev_intvar_get : error (-1)
[Thu Jun 18 12:49:33 2015] ERROR @wl_cfg80211_get_tx_power : error (-1)