Odd WiFi Issue

English Network/Internet
1

Hi
I’ve just installed openSUSE for the first time.
At work (Video Networking) we have started using a new product from CISCO based on SuSE linux servers; to try and get up to speed fast I’ve installed openSUSE on my home machine (HP nx7400 laptop).
I’m impressed so far especially with the no hassle instalation. Though I have found an odd problem with my Wireless connection. The wireless chipset is an intel 3945ABG. It works fine in Windows, but in SuSE when I go to Network connections - New connection - Wlan0
and look at the availible connections, it lists several access-points (variably) but not all the networks in my area and it never finds mine which is all of six feet away!
I’m guessing this is going to be a driver issue as I know the hardware is fine.

Can anyone get me started on how to track down this problem.

Cheers
J

2

jammybstard wrote:
> Hi
> I’ve just installed openSUSE for the first time.
> At work (Video Networking) we have started using a new product from
> CISCO based on SuSE linux servers; to try and get up to speed fast I’ve
> installed openSUSE on my home machine (HP nx7400 laptop).
> I’m impressed so far especially with the no hassle instalation. Though
> I have found an odd problem with my Wireless connection. The wireless
> chipset is an intel 3945ABG. It works fine in Windows, but in SuSE when
> I go to Network connections - New connection - Wlan0
> and look at the availible connections, it lists several access-points
> (variably) but not all the networks in my area and it never finds mine
> which is all of six feet away!
> I’m guessing this is going to be a driver issue as I know the hardware
> is fine.
>
> Can anyone get me started on how to track down this problem.

Please post the output of the following:

/sbin/iwconfig
sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan
dmesg | grep 3945

3

its been one of those days! when I paste text from the terminal into this forum it kicks it back with:

The following errors occurred with your submission:

  1. You have included 5 images in your message. You are limited to using 4 images so please go back and correct the problem and then continue again.

    Images include use of smilies, the BB code tag and HTML <img> tags. The use of these is all subject to them being enabled by the administrator.

What gives? there’s no img tags or smilies

4

[quote=“jammybstard”]

its been one of those days! when I paste text from the terminal into
this forum it kicks it back with:

The following errors occurred with your submission:

  1. You have included 5 images in your message. You are limited to
    using 4 images so please go back and correct the problem and then
    continue again.

Images include use of smilies, the BB code

Hi
You need to use code tags


Your text

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.29-0.1-default
up 19 days 7:04, 3 users, load average: 0.38, 0.21, 0.18
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.18

5

Cheers Mal’

As Requested: (What do you see in the tea-leafs)

**
/sbin/iwconfig**

lo        no wireless extensions.

wmaster0  no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11abg  ESSID:"BTOpenzone"
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.462 GHz  Access Point: 02:24:17:64:A3:88
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s   Tx-Power=15 dBm
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr=2352 B
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=84/100  Signal level:-50 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

eth0      no wireless extensions.

pan0      no wireless extensions.

sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan

lo        Interface doesn't support scanning.

wmaster0  Interface doesn't support scanning.

wlan0     Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:1A:4D:3D:16:73
                    ESSID:"secure_cloud@quantum"
                    Mode:Master                 
                    Channel:4                   
                    Frequency:2.427 GHz (Channel 4)
                    Quality=59/100  Signal level:-72 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm
                    Encryption key:on                                         
                    IE: WPA Version 1                                         
                        Group Cipher : TKIP                                   
                        Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP                           
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK                       
                    IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1                           
                        Group Cipher : TKIP                                   
                        Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP                           
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK                       
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s       
                              12 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s      
                              48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s                                
                    Extra:tsf=000000c8b2377181                                
                    Extra: Last beacon: 1796ms ago                            
          Cell 02 - Address: 00:1F:9F:EB:C0:1D                                
                    ESSID:"O2wireless990033"                                  
                    Mode:Master                                               
                    Channel:1                                                 
                    Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)                           
                    Quality=31/100  Signal level:-90 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm
                    Encryption key:on                                         
                    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; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s       
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s                                
                    Extra:tsf=0000001d96542188                                
                    Extra: Last beacon: 2692ms ago                            
          Cell 03 - Address: 00:1B:2F:90:17:82                                
                    ESSID:"SKY68734"                                          
                    Mode:Master                                               
                    Channel:1                                                 
                    Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)                           
                    Quality=48/100  Signal level:-80 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm
                    Encryption key:on                                         
                    IE: WPA Version 1                                         
                        Group Cipher : TKIP                                   
                        Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP                           
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK                       
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s       
                              9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s      
                              48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s                                
                    Extra:tsf=000000806976a581                                
                    Extra: Last beacon: 2360ms ago                            
          Cell 04 - Address: 02:24:17:64:A3:88                                
                    ESSID:"BTOpenzone"                                        
                    Mode:Master                                               
                    Channel:11                                                
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)                          
                    Quality=85/100  Signal level:-48 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm
                    Encryption key:off                                        
                    IE: Unknown: 2D1A0C181AFFFF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
                    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; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s                  
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s                                           
                    Extra:tsf=0000000aa5f87188                                           
                    Extra: Last beacon: 12ms ago                                         
          Cell 05 - Address: 02:24:17:64:A3:89                                           
                    ESSID:"BTFON"                                                        
                    Mode:Master                                                          
                    Channel:11                                                           
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)                                     
                    Quality=85/100  Signal level:-48 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm           
                    Encryption key:off                                                   
                    IE: Unknown: 2D1A0C181AFFFF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
                    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; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s                  
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s                                           
                    Extra:tsf=0000000aa5e74998                                           
                    Extra: Last beacon: 1136ms ago                                       
          Cell 06 - Address: 00:24:17:64:A3:87
                    ESSID:"BTHomeHub2-5PG8"
                    Mode:Master
                    Channel:11
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                    Quality=85/100  Signal level:-48 dBm  Noise level=-127 dBm
                    Encryption key:on
                    IE: WPA Version 1
                        Group Cipher : TKIP
                        Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
                    IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
                        Group Cipher : TKIP
                        Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
                    IE: Unknown: 2D1A0C181AFFFF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
                    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; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
                    Extra:tsf=0000000aa5e75183
                    Extra: Last beacon: 1136ms ago

eth0      Interface doesn't support scanning.

pan0      Interface doesn't support scanning.

dmesg | grep 3945

iwl3945: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG/BG Network Connection driver for Linux, 1.2.26ks
iwl3945: Copyright(c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation
iwl3945 0000:10:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
iwl3945 0000:10:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
iwl3945: Detected Intel Wireless WiFi Link 3945ABG
iwl3945: Tunable channels: 13 802.11bg, 23 802.11a channels
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'iwl-3945-rs'
iwl3945 0000:10:00.0: PCI INT A disabled
iwl3945 0000:10:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
iwl3945 0000:10:00.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0x100002, writing 0x100006)
firmware: requesting iwlwifi-3945-1.ucode
6

Also, my access point info:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/JammyBStard/Untitled-2.jpg

7

Wireless channel 13 - openSUSE Forums

8

Sorted thank you very much guys:

echo "options cfg80211 ieee80211_regdom=EU" > /etc/modprobe.d/cfg80211

saved the day!

9

Glad its working.

A note of caution, that probably will NOT work on 11.2 as the file naming convention inside the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory is changing between 11.1 and 11.2.

10

OK cheers, I’ll probably change the channel if it’s just going to cause problems.
It’s very crowded in the airwaves around here, so 13 seemed like a good idea at the time, unlucky for some I guess.

Thanks again
J

11

Yes and no.

Yes, it will not work on 11.2 because the file will be ignored as it does not end with “.conf”.

No, one should not use that method at all on 11.2 (i.e. by renaming that file to cfg80211.conf) because this will not work on 11.2 and even prevent the module cfg80211 from loading.

The newer kernels will use crda/iw/wireless-regdb for setting regulatory domains instead of a module option.

12

Akoellh wrote:
> oldcpu;2057357 Wrote:
>> A note of caution, that probably will NOT work on 11.2 as the file
>> naming convention inside the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory is changing
>> between 11.1 and 11.2.
>
> Yes and no.
>
> Yes, it will not work on 11.2 because the file will be ignored as it
> does not end with “.conf”.
>
> No, one should not use that method at all on 11.2 (i.e. by renaming
> that file to cfg80211.conf) because this will not work on 11.2 and even
> prevent the module cfg80211 from loading.
>
> The newer kernels will use crda/iw/wireless-regdb for setting
> regulatory domains instead of a module option.

The recommended way is to put the line
“options cfg80211 ieee80211_regdom=XX”, where XX is your country code,
into the file /etc/modprobe.conf.local. That information will be used
by cfg80211 when it interrogates the wireless-regdb database. If crda
is not implemented, then the pseudo-country “EU” can be used, but
please change it to your real country if/when you go to 11.2. The
regdb contains a lot more than allowed channels. It also has maximum
power, etc.

As to choosing a channel to avoid interference, please remember that
wireless is not like TV. The channels are spaced 5 MHz apart, but the
channel width for 802.11g is 40 MHz and there is overlap. You can do
the math, but the conclusion is that only channels 1, 6, and 11 do not
overlap. Your best choice is to find which of these has the least
interference and choose it.