[SOLVED] My wireless dongle (TP-Link TL-WN725N) is very slow

linustalman · 02-19-2017, 10:39 AM

Hi.

My wireless dongle (TP-Link TL-WN725N) is very slow – is it setup properly?

I'm on Debian Jessie and installed the file, 'firmware-realtek_0.43_all.deb'.

The signal is great but it can take a while more often than not to just load a fairly basic webpage.

TB0ne · 02-19-2017, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linustalman

Hi.
My wireless dongle (TP-Link TL-WN725N) is very slow – is it setup properly? I'm on Debian Jessie and installed the file, 'firmware-realtek_0.43_all.deb'. The signal is great but it can take a while more often than not to just load a fairly basic webpage.

Well, we can't tell if it's set up properly, since we don't know how you set it up.

From what I've seen, though, it uses the 8188eu module...can you run "lsmod | grep -i wi" and see which one is loaded? There's a page that walks through setting up on Ubuntu that may warrant a look:
http://brilliantlyeasy.com/ubuntu-li...river-install/

..since Ubuntu is Debian-based. And are you (don't THINK you are) using ndiswrapper by any chance?

linustalman · 02-19-2017, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB0ne

Well, we can't tell if it's set up properly, since we don't know how you set it up.

From what I've seen, though, it uses the 8188eu module...can you run "lsmod | grep -i wi" and see which one is loaded? There's a page that walks through setting up on Ubuntu that may warrant a look:
http://brilliantlyeasy.com/ubuntu-li...river-install/

..since Ubuntu is Debian-based. And are you (don't THINK you are) using ndiswrapper by any chance?

Hi TB0ne.

I already said how I set it up. I just installed that deb file (I had loads of those unfree firmware files at hand in case they were ever needed). :-)

"lsmod | grep -i wi" gave no out put.

I saw that webpage alright before but was wondering if there's a method without resorting to non-repo sources?

No ndiswrapper being used here.

linustalman · 02-19-2017, 10:56 AM

If the dongle works albeit often slowly -- what does that mean? Surely the drivers are already there for it to work?

TB0ne · 02-19-2017, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linustalman

Hi TB0ne.
I already said how I set it up. I just installed that deb file (I had loads of those unfree firmware files at hand in case they were ever needed). :-)

Just installing a file isn't setting up wifi. We don't know what kind of hotspot you're connecting to, what speed it is, etc.

Quote:

"lsmod | grep -i wi" gave no output.

Really?? Because it should give some indication of which module your wifi is using...odd.

Quote:

I saw that webpage alright before but was wondering if there's a method without resorting to non-repo sources? No ndiswrapper being used here.

While I tend to agree, and try to stick to the 'official' repos/FOSS whenever possible, there are times when using the non-free sources work out better. Philosophical differences aside, I've found the proprietary nVidia drivers work better than the freeware ones in some instances. This may be the same thing.

At the very least its worth a try. You can easily un-install that driver package, and try the method/driver mentioned in the other page, and see what your performance is. It will at least give you a benchmark, and more diagnostic information to look at, and rule out driver problems as well. If it DOES work better...then you have your answer.

linustalman · 02-20-2017, 02:06 PM

I've taken no extra steps but my wireless dongle is performing fairly decently at the moment. I will wait and see.

petelq · 02-21-2017, 03:00 AM

Whenever I've had realtek or ralink wifi I've googled "github" and the chipset. I've always found a solution that works well.

linustalman · 02-21-2017, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petelq

Whenever I've had realtek or ralink wifi I've googled "github" and the chipset. I've always found a solution that works well.

Hi Pete. Thanks for the tip.

This gives me no output for some reason.

Code:

lspci | grep -i wireless

petelq · 02-21-2017, 12:24 PM

It looks as though it's rtl8188eu. There's a few on github including larry finger who I've found pretty reliable on these.

linustalman · 02-21-2017, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petelq

It looks as though it's rtl8188eu. There's a few on github including larry finger who I've found pretty reliable on these.

I see in 'Connection Information' when I right click NetworkManager, it says 'Driver: r8188eu'. Is that the same as 'rtl8188eu'?

Would this be what you mean with 'larry finger'? -- https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu

petelq · 02-21-2017, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linustalman

I see in 'Connection Information' when I right click NetworkManager, it says 'Driver: r8188eu'. Is that the same as 'rtl8188eu'?

Would this be what you mean with 'larry finger'? -- https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu

If you want to double check you should be able to use either "lshw" and/or "hwinfo" in a terminal. I checked the chipset by googling your dongle model - that's what I got.
And yes, lwfinger is what I meant.

Good luck.

linustalman · 02-21-2017, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petelq

If you want to double check you should be able to use either "lshw" and/or "hwinfo" in a terminal. I checked the chipset by googling your dongle model - that's what I got.
And yes, lwfinger is what I meant.

Good luck.

Excerpt from lshw (I put in XX for the serial num):

Code:

  *-network
       description: Wireless interface
       physical id: 1
       bus info: usb@1:1.5
       logical name: wlan1
       serial: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
       capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=r8188eu ip=192.168.1.68 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn

petelq · 02-21-2017, 03:48 PM

I've not come across realtek driver without the tl in. But online info for your hardware says rtl8188eu.
Try the lwfinger version. If it's the wrong one it won't do any harm because it won't match your dongle. It'll just lie there unused.
You can always uninstall it if that's the case.
But I'm prepared to bet that it'll be OK.

linustalman · 02-21-2017, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petelq

I've not come across realtek driver without the tl in. But online info for your hardware says rtl8188eu.
Try the lwfinger version. If it's the wrong one it won't do any harm because it won't match your dongle. It'll just lie there unused.
You can always uninstall it if that's the case.
But I'm prepared to bet that it'll be OK.

Ok Pete, I will follow this method: http://brilliantlyeasy.com/ubuntu-li...river-install/ -- I'm currently stuck on the 'git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu' line as I get this:

Code:

# git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu
Cloning into 'rtl8188eu'...
remote: Counting objects: 10055, done.
error: RPC failed; result=56, HTTP code = 200B | 9.00 KiB/s      
fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly
fatal: early EOF
fatal: index-pack failed

It could be my flaky internet connection -- I'll try again tomorrow morn.

If I successfully install the above -- should I then uninstall the 'firmware-realtek' package that I installed from 'firmware-realtek_0.43_all.deb'?

stanvan · 02-21-2017, 08:14 PM

I don't know which would be easier, or more reliable, but so far no one has mentioned the factory Linux driver that is available from TP-Link for this device. It is specific to kernel versions from 2.6.18 ~ 3.19.3.

I overlooked something... the above driver is also only for Version 2 (V2) of the product. There is a V1 model with no Linux driver. Sorry for the mixup.