Small network problem with atheros ar5005g and madwifi driver.

syntych · 10-12-2007, 06:14 PM

I have an Atheros AR5005G wireless chip on my Acer Aspire 5612z norebook and i'm using the madwifi driver on Debian gnu/linux kernelfor several months without any notable problem. But about 2 weeks from now i have noticed that sometimes the signal strength decreases and for some minutes i have no access to the net while i'm right next to my wireless router. I tested the card on windows xp and everything was fine. I'm using a custom 2.6.23 linux kernel and i may have configured something wrong.

Here are some info about my system:

ifconfig -a:

Code:

ath0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:19:7D:6E:6F:7F
          inet addr:192.168.1.70  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::219:7dff:fe6e:6f7f/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:1922 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:1929 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:1764032 (1.6 MiB)  TX bytes:413823 (404.1 KiB)

eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:16:D4:B1:ED:E1
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
          Interrupt:21

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:14 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:14 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:700 (700.0 b)  TX bytes:700 (700.0 b)

wifi0     Link encap:UNSPEC  HWaddr 00-19-7D-6E-6F-7F-30-3A-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:21396 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:84
          TX packets:2454 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:199
          RX bytes:3361049 (3.2 MiB)  TX bytes:497051 (485.4 KiB)
          Interrupt:22

iwconfig:

Code:

lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wifi0     no wireless extensions.

ath0      IEEE 802.11g  ESSID:"cd_hakis"  Nickname:""
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.472 GHz  Access Point: 00:18:39:4B:D9:85
          Bit Rate:54 Mb/s   Tx-Power:9 dBm   Sensitivity=1/1
          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:F47E-1D3B-DF   Security mode:restricted
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=57/70  Signal level=-39 dBm  Noise level=-96 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:106  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

lsmod:

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
ipv6                  207100  10
wlan_wep                5760  1
i915                   20224  2
drm                    64660  3 i915
loop                   12548  0
wlan_scan_sta          10624  1
snd_hda_intel         246556  1
ath_rate_sample        11776  1
joydev                  7616  0
pcmcia                 29428  0
firmware_class          6912  1 pcmcia
snd_pcm_oss            34080  0
snd_mixer_oss          12800  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                60932  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
ath_pci                94504  0
sdhci                  13708  0
snd_timer              16772  1 snd_pcm
wlan                  173484  5 wlan_wep,wlan_scan_sta,ath_rate_sample,ath_pci
ath_hal               230752  3 ath_rate_sample,ath_pci
yenta_socket           21132  1
mmc_core               23044  1 sdhci
rsrc_nonstatic          9728  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            29332  3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
battery                 9992  2
container               3712  0
ac                      4100  0
video                  15632  0
output                  2944  1 video
button                  6288  0
iTCO_wdt                9764  0
iTCO_vendor_support     3204  1 iTCO_wdt
i2c_i801                7952  0
psmouse                32528  0
snd                    38292  7 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
serio_raw               5124  0
soundcore               5572  1 snd
snd_page_alloc          7304  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
evdev                   7168  8
usbhid                 22116  0
reiserfs              206132  2
usb_storage            72072  0
ide_core               97220  1 usb_storage
b44                    21004  0
mii                     4480  1 b44
ehci_hcd               27148  0
uhci_hcd               19600  0
usbcore               110064  5 usbhid,usb_storage,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
sg                     27164  0
sr_mod                 13348  0
cdrom                  30108  1 sr_mod
sd_mod                 23168  4
thermal                12700  0
processor              27840  1 thermal
fan                     3844  0

route -n:

Code:

Kernel IP routing table
Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface
192.168.1.0     0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U     0      0        0 ath0
0.0.0.0         192.168.1.1     0.0.0.0         UG    0      0        0 ath0

I hope you notice something. Thank you in advance.

syntych · 10-12-2007, 06:21 PM

and parts of my kernel conf:

Code:

#
# Networking
#
CONFIG_NET=y

#
# Networking options
#
CONFIG_PACKET=y
CONFIG_PACKET_MMAP=y
CONFIG_UNIX=y
CONFIG_XFRM=y
CONFIG_XFRM_USER=m
# CONFIG_XFRM_SUB_POLICY is not set
# CONFIG_XFRM_MIGRATE is not set
CONFIG_NET_KEY=m
# CONFIG_NET_KEY_MIGRATE is not set
CONFIG_INET=y
CONFIG_IP_MULTICAST=y
CONFIG_IP_ADVANCED_ROUTER=y
CONFIG_ASK_IP_FIB_HASH=y
# CONFIG_IP_FIB_TRIE is not set
CONFIG_IP_FIB_HASH=y
CONFIG_IP_MULTIPLE_TABLES=y
CONFIG_IP_ROUTE_MULTIPATH=y
CONFIG_IP_ROUTE_VERBOSE=y
# CONFIG_IP_PNP is not set
CONFIG_NET_IPIP=m
CONFIG_NET_IPGRE=m
CONFIG_NET_IPGRE_BROADCAST=y
CONFIG_IP_MROUTE=y
CONFIG_IP_PIMSM_V1=y
CONFIG_IP_PIMSM_V2=y
# CONFIG_ARPD is not set
CONFIG_SYN_COOKIES=y
CONFIG_INET_AH=m
CONFIG_INET_ESP=m
CONFIG_INET_IPCOMP=m
CONFIG_INET_XFRM_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_INET_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_INET_XFRM_MODE_TRANSPORT=m
CONFIG_INET_XFRM_MODE_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_INET_XFRM_MODE_BEET=y
CONFIG_INET_DIAG=m
CONFIG_INET_TCP_DIAG=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_ADVANCED=y
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_BIC=y
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_CUBIC=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_WESTWOOD=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_HTCP=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_HSTCP=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_HYBLA=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_VEGAS=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_SCALABLE=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_LP=m
CONFIG_TCP_CONG_VENO=m
# CONFIG_TCP_CONG_YEAH is not set
# CONFIG_TCP_CONG_ILLINOIS is not set
CONFIG_DEFAULT_BIC=y
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_CUBIC is not set
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_HTCP is not set
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_VEGAS is not set
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_WESTWOOD is not set
# CONFIG_DEFAULT_RENO is not set
CONFIG_DEFAULT_TCP_CONG="bic"
# CONFIG_TCP_MD5SIG is not set
CONFIG_IP_VS=m
# CONFIG_IP_VS_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_IP_VS_TAB_BITS=12

#
# IPVS transport protocol load balancing support
#
CONFIG_IP_VS_PROTO_TCP=y
CONFIG_IP_VS_PROTO_UDP=y
CONFIG_IP_VS_PROTO_ESP=y
CONFIG_IP_VS_PROTO_AH=y

#
# IPVS scheduler
#
CONFIG_IP_VS_RR=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_WRR=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_LC=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_WLC=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_LBLC=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_LBLCR=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_DH=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_SH=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_SED=m
CONFIG_IP_VS_NQ=m

#
# IPVS application helper
#
CONFIG_IP_VS_FTP=m
CONFIG_IPV6=m
CONFIG_IPV6_PRIVACY=y
# CONFIG_IPV6_ROUTER_PREF is not set
# CONFIG_IPV6_OPTIMISTIC_DAD is not set
CONFIG_INET6_AH=m
CONFIG_INET6_ESP=m
CONFIG_INET6_IPCOMP=m
# CONFIG_IPV6_MIP6 is not set
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_INET6_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_TRANSPORT=m
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_BEET=m
# CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_ROUTEOPTIMIZATION is not set
CONFIG_IPV6_SIT=m
CONFIG_IPV6_TUNNEL=m
# CONFIG_IPV6_MULTIPLE_TABLES is not set
# CONFIG_NETLABEL is not set
CONFIG_NETWORK_SECMARK=y
CONFIG_NETFILTER=y
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_BRIDGE_NETFILTER=y

#
# Core Netfilter Configuration
#
CONFIG_NETFILTER_NETLINK=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_NETLINK_QUEUE=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_NETLINK_LOG=m
# CONFIG_NF_CONNTRACK_ENABLED is not set
# CONFIG_NF_CONNTRACK is not set
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XTABLES=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_CLASSIFY=m
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_DSCP is not set
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_MARK=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_NFQUEUE=m
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_NFLOG is not set
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_TRACE is not set
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_SECMARK=m
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_TCPMSS is not set
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_COMMENT=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_DCCP=m
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_DSCP is not set
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_ESP=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_LENGTH=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_LIMIT=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_MAC=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_MARK=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_POLICY=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_MULTIPORT=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_PHYSDEV=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_PKTTYPE=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_QUOTA=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_REALM=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_SCTP=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_STATISTIC=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_STRING=m
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_TCPMSS=m
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_U32 is not set
# CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_MATCH_HASHLIMIT is not set

#
# IP: Netfilter Configuration
#
CONFIG_IP_NF_QUEUE=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_IPTABLES=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_IPRANGE=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_TOS=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_RECENT=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_ECN=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_AH=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_TTL=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_OWNER=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_ADDRTYPE=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_FILTER=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_REJECT=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_LOG=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_ULOG=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MANGLE=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_TOS=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_ECN=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_TTL=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_RAW=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_ARPTABLES=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_ARPFILTER=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_ARP_MANGLE=m

#
# IPv6: Netfilter Configuration (EXPERIMENTAL)
#
CONFIG_IP6_NF_QUEUE=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_IPTABLES=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_RT=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_OPTS=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_FRAG=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_HL=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_OWNER=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_IPV6HEADER=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_AH=m
# CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_MH is not set
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MATCH_EUI64=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_FILTER=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_TARGET_LOG=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_TARGET_REJECT=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_MANGLE=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_TARGET_HL=m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_RAW=m

#
# DECnet: Netfilter Configuration
#
CONFIG_DECNET_NF_GRABULATOR=m

#
# Bridge: Netfilter Configuration
#
CONFIG_BRIDGE_NF_EBTABLES=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_BROUTE=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_T_FILTER=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_T_NAT=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_802_3=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_AMONG=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_ARP=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_IP=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_LIMIT=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_MARK=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_PKTTYPE=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_STP=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_VLAN=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_ARPREPLY=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_DNAT=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_MARK_T=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_REDIRECT=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_SNAT=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_LOG=m
CONFIG_BRIDGE_EBT_ULOG=m
CONFIG_IP_DCCP=m
CONFIG_INET_DCCP_DIAG=m
CONFIG_IP_DCCP_ACKVEC=y

#
# DCCP CCIDs Configuration (EXPERIMENTAL)
#
CONFIG_IP_DCCP_CCID2=m
# CONFIG_IP_DCCP_CCID2_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_IP_DCCP_CCID3=m
CONFIG_IP_DCCP_TFRC_LIB=m
# CONFIG_IP_DCCP_CCID3_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_IP_DCCP_CCID3_RTO=100

#
# DCCP Kernel Hacking
#
# CONFIG_IP_DCCP_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_IP_SCTP=m
# CONFIG_SCTP_DBG_MSG is not set
# CONFIG_SCTP_DBG_OBJCNT is not set
# CONFIG_SCTP_HMAC_NONE is not set
# CONFIG_SCTP_HMAC_SHA1 is not set
CONFIG_SCTP_HMAC_MD5=y
CONFIG_TIPC=m
CONFIG_TIPC_ADVANCED=y
CONFIG_TIPC_ZONES=3
CONFIG_TIPC_CLUSTERS=1
CONFIG_TIPC_NODES=255
CONFIG_TIPC_SLAVE_NODES=0
CONFIG_TIPC_PORTS=8191
CONFIG_TIPC_LOG=0
# CONFIG_TIPC_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_ATM=y
CONFIG_ATM_CLIP=y
# CONFIG_ATM_CLIP_NO_ICMP is not set
CONFIG_ATM_LANE=m
CONFIG_ATM_MPOA=m
CONFIG_ATM_BR2684=m
# CONFIG_ATM_BR2684_IPFILTER is not set
CONFIG_BRIDGE=m
CONFIG_VLAN_8021Q=m
CONFIG_DECNET=m
# CONFIG_DECNET_ROUTER is not set
CONFIG_LLC=y
CONFIG_LLC2=m
CONFIG_IPX=m
# CONFIG_IPX_INTERN is not set
CONFIG_ATALK=m
CONFIG_DEV_APPLETALK=m
CONFIG_LTPC=m
# CONFIG_COPS is not set
CONFIG_IPDDP=m
CONFIG_IPDDP_ENCAP=y
CONFIG_IPDDP_DECAP=y
CONFIG_X25=m
CONFIG_LAPB=m
CONFIG_ECONET=m
CONFIG_ECONET_AUNUDP=y
CONFIG_ECONET_NATIVE=y
CONFIG_WAN_ROUTER=m

#
# QoS and/or fair queueing
#
CONFIG_NET_SCHED=y
CONFIG_NET_SCH_FIFO=y

#
# Queueing/Scheduling
#
CONFIG_NET_SCH_CBQ=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_HTB=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_HFSC=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_ATM=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_PRIO=m
# CONFIG_NET_SCH_RR is not set
CONFIG_NET_SCH_RED=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_SFQ=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_TEQL=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_TBF=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_GRED=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_DSMARK=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_NETEM=m
CONFIG_NET_SCH_INGRESS=m

#
# Classification
#
CONFIG_NET_CLS=y
CONFIG_NET_CLS_BASIC=m
CONFIG_NET_CLS_TCINDEX=m
CONFIG_NET_CLS_ROUTE4=m
CONFIG_NET_CLS_ROUTE=y
CONFIG_NET_CLS_FW=m
CONFIG_NET_CLS_U32=m
CONFIG_CLS_U32_PERF=y
CONFIG_CLS_U32_MARK=y
CONFIG_NET_CLS_RSVP=m
CONFIG_NET_CLS_RSVP6=m
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH=y
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH_STACK=32
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH_CMP=m
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH_NBYTE=m
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH_U32=m
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH_META=m
CONFIG_NET_EMATCH_TEXT=m
CONFIG_NET_CLS_ACT=y
CONFIG_NET_ACT_POLICE=m
CONFIG_NET_ACT_GACT=m
CONFIG_GACT_PROB=y
CONFIG_NET_ACT_MIRRED=m
CONFIG_NET_ACT_IPT=m
CONFIG_NET_ACT_PEDIT=m
CONFIG_NET_ACT_SIMP=m
# CONFIG_NET_CLS_POLICE is not set
CONFIG_NET_CLS_IND=y

#
# Network testing
#
CONFIG_NET_PKTGEN=m
CONFIG_HAMRADIO=y

#
# Packet Radio protocols
#
CONFIG_AX25=m
# CONFIG_AX25_DAMA_SLAVE is not set
CONFIG_NETROM=m
CONFIG_ROSE=m

#
# AX.25 network device drivers
#
CONFIG_MKISS=m
CONFIG_6PACK=m
CONFIG_BPQETHER=m
CONFIG_SCC=m
# CONFIG_SCC_DELAY is not set
# CONFIG_SCC_TRXECHO is not set
CONFIG_BAYCOM_SER_FDX=m
CONFIG_BAYCOM_SER_HDX=m
CONFIG_BAYCOM_PAR=m
CONFIG_BAYCOM_EPP=m
CONFIG_YAM=m
CONFIG_IRDA=m

Code:

#
# Wireless
#
CONFIG_CFG80211=y
CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT=y
# CONFIG_MAC80211 is not set
# CONFIG_IEEE80211 is not set
# CONFIG_RFKILL is not set
# CONFIG_NET_9P is not set

Brian1 · 10-12-2007, 07:50 PM

What version of madwifi are you running?
I had issues with the latest release but i think it was more beta than static.

Brian

syntych · 10-13-2007, 07:18 AM

i've used both 0.9.3.2 version and svn but does the same.what do you suggest? using an older one?

Brian1 · 10-13-2007, 08:59 AM

its hard to say what it can be. Since you seem to be using bleeding edge stuff then my guess it is something new. The kernel has done many changes to the 2.6.23 series. The 2.6.23.1 is out maybe reading the changelog wil mention a similiar issue. I would at least go back to 2.6.22.9 and see if it continues. I myself have no problems with either the svn or the version you have on 2.6.22.9 kernel. Have not moved onto the 2.6.23 series yet. I like to wait for 2.6.23.2 to come out.

Brian