Hi,
I have some problem with my rtl8187b device. It is included in my laptop
running Ubuntu linux 2.6.28. I've tested several compat-wireless
releases including 2.6.30 and 2.6.31-rc7.
The problem is that the network adapter looses the connection to the
access point at very low distances. It seems to be as if the driver is
too optimistic about tx power. I monitored the singnal strength on the
access point (Buffalo running DD-WRT). When I associate the laptop with
it the recieved signal strength starts full and drops rapidly in the
first seconds. At the end it is about 0 at a distance of 4m. At this
moment no ping will arrive the destination. Tests with other access
points show similar results.
After several attempts to get different drivers working I used an Ubuntu
8.04 boot CD this morning which seems to work out of the box. It has
kernel 2.6.24 using a module called r8187. I compared these two drivers
and got much better signal strengths, at least more stable connections.
Maybe it's interesting that the two drivers report different signal
strength (compat-wireless reports about 10dBm higher values than the old
driver) also in signal quality the compat wireless driver seems to be
more optimistic.
Interestingly iwconfig always reports TX power of 20dBm, regardless of
the actual tx power, but always a TX rate of 1M. Setting the latter to a
higher value results in packet loss.
As I leave for holidays on Tuesday I can give further information only
tomorrow and in two weeks.
Tobias
Log of iw event -t
Sun Aug 30 21:26:57 2009
iwdied with signal 2
Sun Aug 30 21:27:22 2009
----------------
1251660460.087134: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660481.753561: wlan0 (phy #0): disassoc 00:16:44:fb:52:6c -> 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 reason 1: Unspecified
1251660486.831135: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660487.041865: wlan0 (phy #0): auth 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 -> 00:16:44:fb:52:6c status: 0: Successful
1251660487.050600: wlan0 (phy #0): assoc 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 -> 00:16:44:fb:52:6c status: 0: Successful
1251660588.213505: wlan0 (phy #0): deauth 00:16:44:fb:52:6c -> 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 reason 3: Deauthenticated because sending station is leaving (or has left) the IBSS or ESS
1251660600.900453: wlan0 (phy #0): scan aborted: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660607.237699: wlan0 (phy #0): disassoc 00:16:44:fb:52:6c -> 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 reason 1: Unspecified
1251660613.427166: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660614.348485: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660620.263160: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660621.152487: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660626.311193: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660627.200489: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660632.359167: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660633.248491: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660638.415165: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660639.304490: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660644.467730: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660645.356493: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660650.519172: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660651.419254: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660656.587182: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660657.512517: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660662.655181: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660663.532509: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660668.711181: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660669.588513: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660674.779164: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660675.656519: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660680.943163: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660681.836528: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660686.879163: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660687.768520: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660692.927168: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660693.816525: wlan0 (phy #0): auth: timed out
1251660698.975165: wlan0 (phy #0): scan finished: 2412 2417 2422 2427 2432 2437 2442 2447 2452 2457 2462 2467 2472 2484, ""
1251660699.400865: wlan0 (phy #0): auth 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 -> 00:16:44:fb:52:6c status: 0: Successful
1251660699.412964: wlan0 (phy #0): assoc 00:17:3f:7e:ab:08 -> 00:16:44:fb:52:6c status: 0: Successful
[ 346.940054] usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 347.086851] usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 347.418280] cfg80211: Calling CRDA for country: EU
[ 348.348579] phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
[ 348.349108] phy0: hwaddr e3c7a080, RTL8187BvE V0 + rtl8225z2
[ 348.349131] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187
[ 361.807409] phy0: device now idle
[ 361.878423] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 361.893826] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 364.225226] phy0: device now idle
[ 364.806379] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 366.893227] phy0: device now idle
[ 390.835706] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 392.917362] phy0: device now idle
[ 412.002426] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 412.371061] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 414.498373] wlan0: authenticate with AP e3c7b708
[ 414.498397] wlan0: privacy configuration mismatch and mixed-cell disabled - disassociate
[ 414.499742] phy0: device now idle
[ 417.572157] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 419.649259] phy0: device now idle
[ 419.718250] phy0: device no longer idle - in use
[ 419.785249] wlan0: authenticate with AP e3c7b708
[ 419.786755] wlan0: authenticated
[ 419.786756] wlan0: associate with AP e3c7b708
[ 419.789134] wlan0: RX AssocResp from e3f8201a (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=3)
[ 419.789138] wlan0: associated
[ 419.789142] phy0: Allocated STA e3c00a08
[ 419.789403] phy0: Inserted STA e3c00a08
[ 419.790372] wlan0: switched to short barker preamble (BSSID=e3c7b708)
[ 419.790374] wlan0: switched to short slot time (BSSID=e3c7b708)
[ 419.795862] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[ 420.664625] padlock: VIA PadLock not detected.
[ 426.992527] wlan0: setting MTU 1492
[ 429.796020] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
[ 465.032820] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 2
[ 520.958259] wlan0: deauthenticating by local choice (reason=3)
[ 520.959293] phy0: device now idle
[ 521.037304] phy0: Removed STA e3c00a08
[ 521.037411] phy0: Destroyed STA e3c00a08
[ 524.902800] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 533.450798] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 533.452844] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 533.645340] phy0: device now idle
[ 537.890760] ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 537.890876] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 539.982438] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 1
[ 539.982476] wlan0: privacy configuration mismatch and mixed-cell disabled - disassociate
[ 539.983926] phy0: device now idle
[ 543.973724] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 546.270791] phy0: device now idle
[ 546.358314] phy0: device no longer idle - in use
[ 546.425311] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 1
[ 546.624050] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 2
[ 546.824039] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 3
[ 547.024037] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 timed out
[ 547.024044] phy0: device now idle
[ 551.030732] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 553.093323] phy0: device now idle
[ 553.162315] phy0: device no longer idle - in use
[ 553.229316] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 1
[ 553.428042] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 2
[ 553.628037] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 3
[ 553.828036] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 timed out
[ 553.828043] phy0: device now idle
[ 557.082433] phy0: device no longer idle - scanning
[ 559.141327] phy0: device now idle
[ 559.210312] phy0: device no longer idle - in use
[ 559.277319] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 1
[ 559.476045] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 2
[ 559.676044] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 try 3
[ 559.876044] wlan0: direct probe to AP e3c7b708 timed out
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0bda:8189 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187B Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Adapter
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x0bda Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
idProduct 0x8189 RTL8187B Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Adapter
bcdDevice 2.00
iManufacturer 1 Manufacturer_Realtek
iProduct 2
iSerial 3 00e04c000001
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 81
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 4 Wireless Network Card
bmAttributes 0x80
(Bus Powered)
MaxPower 500mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 9
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 2
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x04 EP 4 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x05 EP 5 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x06 EP 6 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x07 EP 7 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x89 EP 9 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x0a EP 10 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x0b EP 11 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x0c EP 12 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
bLength 10
bDescriptorType 6
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
bNumConfigurations 1
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)
