Not Your Another Common Network Problem

[Lockheed]

The head-scratcher is this:

My atheros-based laptop cannot connect to wireless networks running on low channels.
The lower the channel, the worse the connection. At channel 1, I cannot even ping local routers. It starts at 400ms and after few retries reaches 50 000ms, then times out indefinitely.

On channel 11 everything works flawlessly, on 9 and 10 - moderately good.


Before you jump to obvious conclusions, let me rule out some obvious conclusions:

1. Hardware fault:
- everything works fine under Windows, live CD of Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04, BackTrack liveCD

2. Settings problem:
- it first occurred on ubuntu 9.04 (few months after installation) and after upgrading to 10.04 problem continues
- it also occurs on freshly installed Arch which has NO settings nor files imported from old linux
- occures on gnome (Ubuntu) and pure xfce4 (arch)

3. Location, router, overloaded band:
- it occurs in various countries, various cities, various networks
- it occurs even if all wifis are running on 11 and only one on channel 1

4. Drivers:
- tried ath5x and madwifi

5. Kernel:
- it keeps happening with every kernel since Oct 2009. Before, I did not test it.
- it works on kernel supplied on livecds of Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.04
- it is happening at least since 2.6.31 onwards (2.6.34 included)

6. Network Manager and WICD:
- happens using either of them

So, give it your best shot. I have been trying to find an answer to it on various forums since October last year and yet came up with a solution.

[kpbotbot]

The only part I can relate to is:

- Works fine in Windows, and a few Linux distros.
- Times-out indefinitely.
- The same stuff on WICD and Network manager.

Try disabling ipv6, and then try setting the hosts line on the nsswitch.conf to "hosts: files dns". I don't know how I can relate it to this, but it did work for me when I was on Sabayon, but didn't *sigh* on Mint. We might have a different problem here.

By the way, mine used to start with these kinds of wireless problems after a few updates.

[Lockheed]

Was worth a try but did not work

[kpbotbot]

Out of ideas. Sorry. I'm still learning Linux... the hard way. WIFI seems to be our greatest problems.

[Lockheed]

Out of ideas. Sorry. I'm still learning Linux... the hard way. WIFI seems to be our greatest problems.

Closely followed by undervolting capabilities.