Wifi USB Adapter stops working intermittently

[Colin23erk]

My internal Wifi  failed to see my Router soon after I started with Linux  so I installed a USB dongle I had

The dongle works OK for a while and then I loose my Internet but not the wifi  connection . If I disconnect/connect wifi it works ok for a while . There does not appear to be a pattern to when it fails.

It is a Realtek RTL8188CUS 802.11n using  WLAN Adaptor driver : rtl8192cu which is also installed in WinXP

I am hoping someone can give me a solution that I can understand preferably using GUI as other than trying to sort the problems I have had I have no need to learn CLI . I just want to do everyday tasks on my computer.

I have searched the Internet and there could be an issue with the Linux Drivers rtl 8192cu for the Realtek Adapter . Unfortunately for me the solutions mostly involve using  Command Line . I have tried some but get confused when they are not recognized.
With the many flavors of Linux I am not sure if they all should work in  Lite 2 . Also having  only a very limited knowledge of CLI its difficult to know if the commands given require me to be in the correct command structure before they will work .
Also the outputs are in such an abbreviated  form that needs converted to normal language to know what they mean !!!!

Colin

[Valtam]

Your Forum profile says you use 1.0.8. Can you please confirm for us what version of Linux Lite you are using? Also, just for the record there won't be a GUI way to install this wifi adapter, if it is not playing ball, the command line is the way to get it going properly.

[AndyOpie150]

Could you open up the terminal and type in:

Code:

lsusb
lspci -nn | grep Network
lsmod

These are three different commands. Hit the enter key after typing in each line.
Then post the output by copying then pasting here.
Put the word code before the output, wrapped in [ ], then at the end put the same thing but with a / between the [ and c.
This is called code wrappers.

[Colin23erk]

Thanks
I have updated my Profile to Lite2 and run the commands -I hope this helps

Thanks for the instructions . I hope I understood them and got it right . An example would have helped me understand

Code:

cath@cath-Advent-4211:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:0158 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. USB 2.0 multicard reader
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8176 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188CUS 802.11n WLAN Adapter
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
cath@cath-Advent-4211:~$ lspci -nn | grep Network
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8187SE Wireless LAN Controller [10ec:8199] (rev 22)
cath@cath-Advent-4211:~$ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
ctr                    12905  1
ccm                    17496  1
arc4                   12536  2
rtl8192cu              66675  0
rtl_usb                18072  1 rtl8192cu
rtlwifi                52835  2 rtl_usb,rtl8192cu
rtl8192c_common        47340  1 rtl8192cu
msi_wmi                13130  0
mac80211              545990  3 rtl_usb,rtlwifi,rtl8192cu
sparse_keymap          13708  1 msi_wmi
gpio_ich               13229  0
cfg80211              409394  2 mac80211,rtlwifi
dm_multipath           22402  0
snd_hda_codec_realtek    51029  1
scsi_dh                14458  1 dm_multipath
snd_hda_intel          42730  3
r8187se               155125  0
joydev                 17101  0
coretemp               13195  0
snd_hda_codec         164067  2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
serio_raw              13230  0
snd_hwdep              13272  1 snd_hda_codec
lpc_ich                16864  0
eeprom_93cx6           13168  1 r8187se
snd_pcm                85501  2 snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
snd_page_alloc         14230  2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
snd_seq_midi           13132  0
snd_seq_midi_event     14475  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            25135  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                55383  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_device         14137  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer              28584  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd                    60871  16 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
soundcore              12600  1 snd
bnep                   18895  2
rfcomm                 53664  4
mac_hid                13037  0
bluetooth             342263  10 bnep,rfcomm
parport_pc             31981  0
ppdev                  17391  0
lp                     13299  0
parport                40836  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
binfmt_misc            13140  1
dm_mirror              21756  0
dm_region_hash         20121  1 dm_mirror
dm_log                 18072  2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
ums_realtek            17733  0
usb_storage            48417  1 ums_realtek
i915                  705396  3
psmouse                91033  0
r8169                  61562  0
mii                    13654  1 r8169
i2c_algo_bit           13197  1 i915
drm_kms_helper         46907  1 i915
wmi                    18673  1 msi_wmi
drm                   243792  4 i915,drm_kms_helper
video                  18903  1 i915
cath@cath-Advent-4211:~$

[AndyOpie150]

Question.
Have you already typed in a terminal:

Code:

sudo su
apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade

?
If not, plug computer into the back of the router and do this first. After it's done reboot and see if it will connect properly.

EDIT: You did good!
Could you post the Manufacturer, model number, and year of computer?

[Colin23erk]

Hi Thanks for that
I assume you meant me to connect using an Ethernet cable  so I could connect to the Internet to download the update .
Am I correct in thinking that the commands are the same as using the upgrade from the Menu .
If so I had done it again yesterday .

Just to say that the WiFi Dongle does connect through the Wifi Router and I can use the internet OK for a while . Then later when I try to go to a different page I get a message saying I am unable to connect .
Network Manager still says I am connected to my WiFi . If I disconnect and reconnect using Network Manager everything works normally immediately until it fails yet again .

I have a different computer that uses the same Router . It has no problems using the Router as did this one before I needed to use the dongle .

Colin

[AndyOpie150]

Let me do a little bit more research.
I think I might have found a solution/path to a solution.
I'm like a blood hound following a scent.
Please post manufacturer, model number, and year of computer.

[AndyOpie150]

The doggle is a TP-LINK 150bps wireless N usb adapter, right?
Model number TL-WN72?N. Could you fill in the question mark please.

EDIT: Just to be on the safe side, could you type in a terminal;

Code:

sudo su
apt-get install firmware-realtek

[Colin23erk]

The  Netbook which I had the problem first is an Advent 4211 bought August  2008 is in pieces to repair a broken hinge

This is the output from my Samsung NC110 Netbook which experienced a failure with the USB WiFi dongle this session . The dongle consists of  usb connector with a 1/4 inch of black plastic has no name on it . All that is written on it is 802.11n

Code:

colin@colin-NC110:~$ sudo su
[sudo] password for colin:
root@colin-NC110:/home/colin# apt-get install firmware-realtek
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package firmware-realtek
root@colin-NC110:/home/colin#

Hope it helps

[AndyOpie150]

I'm back. Got to dig some more.

EDIT: Might have to compile the module from the driver found here: http://www.realtek.com/downloads/downloa...=true#2292

Will read up on it more so I can walk you thru it if absolutely necessary (really don't think it is though). Will look for more alternatives.
I'm really starting to think by the output of the lsmod command that a firmware update is needed. Will look into this as well.