[SOLVED] The never ending story of TP Link

Hi Everybody, another newbie with an old question, I have looked through loads of answers on this board and others but I still don't understand, (the problem of old age no doubt!)
I have Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon Sylvia on an external USB HDD, (80GB). I have an old but working (on Win 7 anyway!) TP Link TE7WN823N V1 USB WiFi adaptor, it is recognised by LM and tells me it is connected, but when I try to use it to access the internet I get the message "no internet connection".
The Network Manager shows the connection is at C 40-50% which is pretty poor.

mog@mogsbox ~ $ inxi -iFxz
System: Host: mogsbox Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine: Mobo: ASRock model: N68C-S
Bios: American Megatrends v: P1.10 date: 12/03/2009
CPU: Dual core AMD Athlon II X2 235e (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4a svm) bmips: 10849
clock speeds: max: 2712 MHz 1: 2712 MHz 2: 2712 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA GF119 [GeForce GT 610] bus-ID: 02:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
GLX Renderer: GeForce GT 610/PCIe/SSE2
GLX Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.111 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card-1 NVIDIA MCP61 High Definition Audio
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:05.0
Card-2 NVIDIA GF119 HDMI Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 02:00.1
Card-3 Plantronics driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 004-002
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network: Card-1: NVIDIA MCP61 Ethernet
driver: forcedeth port: d480 bus-ID: 00:07.0
IF: enp0s7 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Card-2: Realtek RTL8192CU 802.11n WLAN Adapter
driver: rtl8192cu usb-ID: 003-004
IF: wlxf4f26d1493c0 state: N/A mac: N/A
WAN IP: <filter>
IF: wlxf4f26d1493c0 ip-v4: <filter> ip-v6: <filter>
IF: enp0s7 ip-v4: <filter> ip-v6: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 2080.4GB (0.8% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD10EZEX size: 1000.2GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST1000DM010 size: 1000.2GB
ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: A size: 80.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 19G used: 7.3G (42%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc2
ID-2: /boot size: 922M used: 66M (8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc1
ID-3: /home size: 51G used: 4.7G (10%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc4
ID-4: swap-1 size: 4.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdc5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 26.5C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:46C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 198 Uptime: 28 min Memory: 1068.6/3949.5MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35
mog@mogsbox ~ $
Does the above help?

mogthe1st

Installing usb_modswitch may fix the problem.

apt-get install usb_modeswitch

Hi mogthe1st,

Welcome to LQ.

Support for Realtek chipsets in linux is usually good. I would check to see that the required driver is loaded, to begin with :

lsmod | grep rtl8192cu

... let us know what comes up as a result ..

If it outputs the name of the driver, you know that it is loaded. You could next see if the card is active :

sudo ip link

... again let us know what comes up ...

Let's start with that ...

Cheers.

Cheers !

Hi Rickkkk, here are the responses....


mog@mogsbox ~ $ sudo su
mogsbox mog # lsmod | grep rtl8192cu
rtl8192cu 65536 0
rtl_usb 20480 1 rtl8192cu
rtl8192c_common 53248 1 rtl8192cu
rtlwifi 73728 3 rtl_usb,rtl8192c_common,rtl8192cu
mac80211 782336 4 rtl_usb,rtlwifi,rtl8192cu,rtl8xxxu


mogsbox mog # mogsbox mog # sudo ip link
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN mode DEFAULT group default qlen 1000
link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
2: enp0s7: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state UP mode DEFAULT group default qlen 1000
link/ether 00:25:22:22:67:b4 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
3: wlxf4f26d1493c0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq state UP mode DORMANT group default qlen 1000
link/ether f4:f2:6d:14:93:c0 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

Does that tell you anything?

For colourpurple 21859, thanks for the response, I'm just trying Rickkkks test before I add anything but thanks for the response none the less.


mogthe1st

Originally Posted by mogthe1st Hi Rickkkk, here are the responses....

Hi mogthe1st,

It looks like the adapter is working and up. Yet you say you can't connect to the Internet .. might be a LAN/router/home network issue ..

Could you check a few more things .. Post the output of:

iwconfig wlxf4f26d1493c0

and ...

ip addr

# modinfo rtl8192cu

Not much there for that one, but mine has an option to choose another antennae. Which makes a huge difference, since the default is the wrong one (of two). You might try getting newer firmware (/lib/firmware/rtlwifi/). Or using the latest github version of the driver.

$ git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new

Do you get a list of access points in network-manager? You might have to connect to the access point.

OK people, a pause here I have a problem booting into Linux at the moment, I'm getting the Grub but then it's Black screen, I had this before and I modified the Grub menu withe nomodeset command but it looks like the problem has returned, this could slowly drive me nuts!! I've just checked and the nomodeset command is still there!!what can a chap do I ask.

mogthe1st

Hello again people, well I managed (eventually!) to get in!

Here are the results you asked for Rickkkk

iwconfig wlxf4f26d1493c0
wlxf4f26d1493c0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"PlusnetWireless0830F0"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.437 GHz Access Point: 9C:97:26:08:30:F0
Bit Rate=1 Mb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm
Retry short limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thrff
Power Managementff
Link Quality=42/70 Signal level=-68 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:70 Missed beacon:0

ip addr
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
inet6 ::1/128 scope host
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: enp0s7: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state UP group default qlen 1000
link/ether 00:25:22:22:67:b4 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
inet 192.168.1.66/24 brd 192.168.1.255 scope global dynamic enp0s7
valid_lft 73757sec preferred_lft 73757sec
inet6 fe80::6ea5:c78f:dcb7:ab1/64 scope link
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
3: wlxf4f26d1493c0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq state UP group default qlen 1000
link/ether f4:f2:6d:14:93:c0 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
inet 192.168.1.222/24 brd 192.168.1.255 scope global dynamic wlxf4f26d1493c0
valid_lft 73761sec preferred_lft 73761sec
inet6 fe80::b2ea:e35e:207f:ef9e/64 scope link
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

Does that tell you something?I just checked Network Manager again and, yes, according to that I am connected, but only at 48%, and the light on the usb adaptor is solid not flashing as it does when it works with Win 7.

With regards to actually getting this thing to boot into Linux, I had a look at My Computer in Win 7 when it was switched on and it wasn't showing, I also looked at the disconnect usb thingy on the taskbar and it listed it as ATA/IDE bridge, ???most odd!

mogthe1st

Interesting. Do you have both the wired and wireless connected? The wireless should work.

Hi mogthe1st,

From your outputs, you seem to have both the wired (cabled) interface *AND* the wireless connected simultaneously. Although theoretically, this could function, it is an unusual way to set up a computer. Could you unplug the ethernet cable and try again ? ... Paste the output of the same 2 commands.

Hi again people,

Here are the results for just the wifi Rickkkk,

mog@mogsbox ~ $ iwconfig wlxf4f26d1493c0
wlxf4f26d1493c0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"PlusnetWireless0830F0"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.437 GHz Access Point: 9C:97:26:08:30:F0
Bit Rate=65 Mb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm
Retry short limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thrff
Power Managementff
Link Quality=46/70 Signal level=-64 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:1 Missed beacon:0

mog@mogsbox ~ $ ip addr
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
inet6 ::1/128 scope host
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: enp0s7: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state DOWN group default qlen 1000
link/ether 00:25:22:22:67:b4 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
3: wlxf4f26d1493c0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq state UP group default qlen 1000
link/ether f4:f2:6d:14:93:c0 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
inet 192.168.1.222/24 brd 192.168.1.255 scope global dynamic wlxf4f26d1493c0
valid_lft 85901sec preferred_lft 85901sec
inet6 fe80::b2ea:e35e:207f:ef9e/64 scope link
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
mog@mogsbox ~ $

There you go, I switched off the Ethernet Connection and did the two tests and then I had to switch it back on again so that I could paste these results, Opera, my search engine, came up with the message "your internet connection was interrupted" when the Ethernet was switched off, although the network manager was saying I had a 52% connection on wifi!

mogthe1st

i thought TP LINK website has the sourcecode online for you to download

(they do not support their staff making kernel submissions: you have to compile your kernel with their driver yourself)

i could be wrong, but i think that's tplink wireless usb that does that. (realtek used to do the same, ship source code with device and people just put it in their kernel)

Hi again All,

I had another look on TP Link's website and found instructions how to install a driver, sadly I don't understand them! But this talks about installing the driver from the Kernel, here is the link https://www.tp-link.com/us/download/TL-WN823N.html If you scroll down to the installation of the driver in Linux,( this is in the installation instructions by the way ), item 2.1 is satisfied, i.e. the GCC version is correct, the next bit I don't understand, how do I do paras 2.2 and 3.0?

mogthe1st

OK All, success at last. I found the solution on this website and this thread...https://askubuntu.com/questions/9892...n-ubuntu-17-10 the fix was in the last entry by the OP, I had to modify the forth entry where it says "sudo dkms install 8192cu/1.10" I had to change that to reflect the more up to date dkms entry of 8192cu/1,11 and that was it! If anyone else tries this fix one word of caution, the last entry is reboot, make sure you close all other apps before you hit enter because the reboot is immediate!

Anyway my thanks to all those who tried to help.

mogthe1st