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I'm experimenting with an interesting problem that started about a month or two ago. My Linux machine can read Wi-Fi signals and I can connect to my home Wi-Fi network. However, after anywhere between 5 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted work time, the Wi-Fi stops (it still shows up as being connected, but my browser stops working -- both Chrome and Firefox).

Interestingly I have also noticed the following:

  • Chrome and Firefox can't connect to the internet but Google Meet and Zoom can continue running as if nothing happened. Slack will also possibly halt.
  • This only happens with my home internet provider and at my Mother's house (she has the same internet provider), it works fine in other locations eg. at University/Work (with potentially the same/different) providers.
  • Internet connection will interrupt spontaneously on my computer (browsing mainly), but my Android phone can hold the connection steadily to the same Wi-Fi.
  • There are no interruptions on the internet in my computer if I use my phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot (the same service as my Wi-Fi, ironically). So I find this a bit strange.

Where is the problem in this situation? And what should I try doing first?

It doesn't seem to be an internet provider problem because my phone would have the same issue. It doesn't seem to be my laptop Wi-Fi card either because I can go with perfect internet when I use my phone as a hotspot provider. So I'm a bit stumped. I will see if I can re-install Chrome/Firefox and perhaps that is the issue.

Some extra details of my setup: ASUS Zenbook. Pure Linux Ubuntu running on MATE. No Windows Dual boot. I recall having some trouble when I bought the computer setting up the Wi-Fi card to work (and got it working by upgrading to a new kernel), but it worked smoothly for about 2 years and I'm only having trouble now.

$uname -r
6.5.0-18-generic
$uname -a
Linux alphastar 6.5.0-18-generic #18~22.04.1-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Wed Feb  7 11:40:03 UTC 2 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
$lspci [Only relevant network information shown below]
01:00.0 Network controller: MEDIATEK Corp. Device 0616

A relevant thread I've also been reading, though I don't think the kernel route will fix this, because I don't get this problem with another network or through my phone hotspot as internet: 22.04, wifi keeps disconnecting for a few seconds frequently

My usual workaround is to just disconnect and re-connect from the Wi-Fi network manually but it's extremely inefficient.

Edit: Not a Chrome/Firefox issue. These were just re-installed.

Edit2: output of

$iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

wlp1s0    IEEE 802.11  ESSID:"MOVISTAR_0468"

          Mode:Managed  Frequency:5.24 GHz  Access Point: 26:96:82:24:04:6F

          Bit Rate=39 Mb/s   Tx-Power=3 dBm

          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=42/70  Signal level=-68 dBm

          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:2  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

When the error occurs out put of :

$ ping 8.8.8.8
[None, it freezes]

When the signal comes back after a minute or so,it starts giving:

 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=41 ttl=113 time=451 ms
 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=42 ttl=113 time=40.1 ms
 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=43 ttl=113 time=42.3 ms
 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=44 ttl=113 time=44.0 ms

...

60 packets transmitted, 20 received, 66.6667% packet loss, time 59994ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 40.077/62.836/450.809/89.075 ms

There is 0 packet loss when the wi-fi is working perfectly.

-- I just encountered a similar problem at a CAFE -- This is the output of $ sudo lshw -c network When it works:

  *-network                 
       description: Wireless interface
       product: MEDIATEK Corp.
       vendor: MEDIATEK Corp.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       logical name: wlp1s0
       version: 00
       serial: 30:03:c8:39:1a:4d
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=mt7921e driverversion=6.5.0-25-generic firmware=____000000-20221227123243 ip=192.168.1.168 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
       resources: irq:108 memory:fcd00000-fcdfffff memory:fce00000-fce07fff

When it doesn't:

  *-network                 
       description: Wireless interface
       product: MEDIATEK Corp.
       vendor: MEDIATEK Corp.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       logical name: wlp1s0
       version: 00
       serial: 30:03:c8:39:1a:4d
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=mt7921e driverversion=6.5.0-25-generic firmware=____000000-20221227123243 ip=192.168.1.168 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
       resources: irq:108 memory:fcd00000-fcdfffff memory:fce00000-fce07fff
  • Seems like they are the same.
user1282043
  • 73

1 Answers1

1

My first guess on how to solve it is to:

  1. Update your Ubuntu sudo apt update or a full update sudo apt full-upgrade (this keeps your ubuntu at 22.04, this is not a release upgrade, so don't worry)

  2. Update your Wifi driver on your ubuntu (check this URL: https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-find-wireless-driver-chipset/)

Mostafa Najafiyazdi
  • 384