Unable to connect to wifi

[blindomusu]

Hi All, I'm new to linux but I'm already impressed with the speed of Peppermint... absolutely delighted...

I have a problem with my wifi though. I'm unable to connect no matter what. There is this circle spinning and I receive constantly a message that I'm disconnected (I'm sending this post as I'm connected via ethernet cable).

It is not the password as I checked it multiple times and all my other devices are connected without issues.

I also read the following thread in this forum :

https://sourceforge.net/p/peppermintos/pepos/net/thread/b3d502f094/

and I update my router to bng mixed mode as well but still no luck.

Can you help me please? Please find below results of the inxi command:

antonio@antonio-aspire5920g:~$ sudo inxi -Frmxxx
[sudo] password for antonio: 
System:
  Host: antonio-aspire5920g Kernel: 6.1.0-10-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0 Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36
    info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0
    Distro: PeppermintOS bookworm
Machine:
  Type: Kvm System: Acer product: Aspire 5920G v: N/A
    serial: LXAGW0X1287250B0BB2500 Chassis: Acer, Inc. type: 1 serial: N/A
  Mobo: Acer model: Chapala serial: LXAGW0X1287250B0BB2500 BIOS: Acer
    v: 1.3811 date: 03/14/2008
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 30.8 Wh (74.0%) condition: 41.6/47.5 Wh (87.6%)
    volts: 12.4 min: 10.8 model: SANYO Chapala type: Li-ion serial: 7975
    status: charging
Memory:
  RAM: total: 3.82 GiB used: 1.42 GiB (37.1%)
  Array-1: capacity: 4 GiB slots: 2 EC: None max-module-size: 2 GiB
    note: est.
  Device-1: M1 type: DDR2 detail: synchronous size: 2 GiB speed: 667 MT/s
    volts: N/A width (bits): data: 64 total: 64 manufacturer: Mfg 0
    part-no: SODIMM000 serial: 1234-B0
  Device-2: M2 type: DDR2 detail: synchronous size: 2 GiB speed: 667 MT/s
    volts: N/A width (bits): data: 64 total: 64 manufacturer: Mfg 1
    part-no: SODIMM001 serial: 1234-B1
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core2 Duo T7300 bits: 64 type: MCP
    smt: <unsupported> arch: Core2 Merom rev: A cache: L1: 128 KiB L2: 4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 800 min/max: 800/2001 boost: enabled volts: 3.3 V
    ext-clock: 200 MHz cores: 1: 800 2: 800 bogomips: 8000
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA G96CM [GeForce 9650M GT] vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI
    driver: nouveau v: kernel arch: Tesla pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
    active: LVDS-1 empty: HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:064c
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 61.0 C
  Device-2: Suyin Acer CrystalEye Webcam type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 1-2:2 chip-ID: 064e:a101 class-ID: 0e02
    serial: CN0314-OV03-VA-R02.00.00
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver:
    X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau
    display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1280x800 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 338x211mm (13.31x8.31")
    s-diag: 398mm (15.69")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: AU Optronics 0x2774 res: 1280x800 hz: 60 dpi: 98
    size: 331x207mm (13.03x8.15") diag: 390mm (15.4") modes: max: 1280x800
    min: 640x350
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: NV96 direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801H HD Audio vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI Aspire 5920G
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:284b
    class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-10-amd64 status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PulseAudio v: 16.1 status: active (root, process)
Network:
  Device-1: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network driver: iwl4965
    v: in-tree: pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 06:00.0
    chip-ID: 8086:4229 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp6s0 state: down mac: 86:32:f2:31:49:2b
  Device-2: Broadcom NetLink BCM5787M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
    vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI Aspire 5920G driver: tg3 v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 08:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:1693
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp8s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: 00:1b:24:57:94:1c
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 298.09 GiB used: 5.85 GiB (2.0%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD3200BJKT-00F4T0
    size: 298.09 GiB speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: WD-WXE908A21887
    rev: 1A11 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 292.35 GiB used: 5.85 GiB (2.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 61.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 1703
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free
    3: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free
    4: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-backports main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/multimedia.list
    1: deb http://www.deb-multimedia.org bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/peppermint.list
    1: deb http://repo.peppermintos.com/packages bookworm main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list
    1: deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/
Info:
  Processes: 168 Uptime: 5m wakeups: 1 Init: systemd v: 252
  target: graphical (5) default: graphical Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Shell: Sudo (sudo) v: 1.9.13p3 default: Bash v: 5.2.15
  running-in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.3.26

Thanks in advance for your help or any suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Hi blindomusu , welcome to Planet Peppermint.

The driver:iwl4965 for your system is included in the firmware-iwlwifi package and pre-packed in the OS.

Check Synaptic and also check your wifi is turned on by right-clicking on the wifi or Ethenet icon, see the included photo and screenshot.

[blindomusu]

Thanks very much for your prompt response @cavy

I checked both and I can confirm wifi is enabled and firmware installed.

Now, after I switched my laptop off and on again, for some reason, it connected to the wifi.

I'll monitor and let you know if it get back to the previous behaviour.

Apologies, I didn't mean to waste your time.

[blindomusu]

and.... back to square one... :)

I reboot the laptop and it started again not connecting. I shut it down and then reboot it, same behaviour.

As you can see the wheel keep spinning and I receive that message again.

Any idea?

Thanks for your help

[OldTon]

Hi
Every now and then I get same or similar behavior.
I pull out my USB-Wifi-connector and plug in again.
Then all is OK for a few days.

Note: I do not want a solution. I live with it :-)

[blindomusu]

Hi OldTon,

unfortunately I don't have a USB connector. The wifi card is integrated hence for me it is like playing lotto... :D

I kind of need a solution if any.

Otherwise I will keep going with the ethernet cable.

[Anonymous]

Due to the age of your laptop and its internal wifi card, modern 4G and 5G networks, you can not expect to obtain a similar reception you can obtain when connected via your Ethernet cable.

For example I own two ageing Dell Latitude e5430 models, the better of the two I replaced its wifi card a few years back. Both machine's original wifi card couldn't the skin off a rice pudding, and both machines would experience a signal loose by dropping in and out. Frustrating!

The slightly older of the two, by a few months, has other issues, but with its original wifi card I can install an OS in its wifi mode, if I'm next to my router. The signal will range from 45Mb/s to its maximum best of 72Mb/s. Still experience a signal drop out. Cue hard-wired connection for best results.

There are several routes you can go; research to find an upgraded wifi card (meaning buy) a card that can offer a stronger wifi signal. Ideally nothing less than a 300Mb/s strength card, it will still vary, but it offers more grunt over your existing card, and less lightly to loose its signal.

This route improved my younger 5430 when I swapped out its wifi card that gave 60ish Mb/s at best for card that offers 866Mb/s. I purchased this from Amazon for £25.00, transformed it from a wannabe to being a useful tool to me again. Being your optimum course of action. Check with the Acer forums they will be able to direct you for the best alternative wifi card for your laptop.

Avoid the aerial and firmware route, i.e an AC600 USB aerial and install firmware from github such as rtl8812AU_8821AU_linux even with it installed, it is unsatisfactory.

Thirdly an USB wifi dongle that is loaded with the necessary firmware and is Linux compatible. Not perfect but better than the aerial and firmware route. Again ensure its 300Mb/s rated for optimum functioning wifi signal.

[blindomusu]

Thanks very much cavy.

I'll research for a card to upgrade the old one.

I'll keep you posted with the news as soon as I got something.

Thanks all for the help.