Trying to understand intermittent degraded WIFI connection

Kitsab · 15 November 2024 01:21

Hello,

I’m using 6.10.13-3-MANJARO #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Tue Oct 8 03:24:49 UTC 2024 x86_64 GNU/Linux

I experience intermittend connection issues, I tried to find the issue maybe it is related to my router but any kind of trying to find a workaround or configure it correctly is not solving my issue.

I got a AX6100 Asus router mesh system (2x Asus RTAX92U) I’m sitting 3m away from my mesh router using my notbook and I do not move during the isses occurs.
I checked out dmesg and found those entries:

[19309.076266] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 20 (20 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:76:48:f0
[19344.086782] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 23 (23 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:34
[19454.514207] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 20 (20 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:31
[20291.495907] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:38
[22087.518955] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 20 (20 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:31
[22194.378939] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 20 (20 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:76:48:f0
[22210.776172] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:38

These MAC-Adresses belong to Mesh-Head and Mesh client
I’m not sure why my router sends those advertisements, for me it sounds like the router is commanding the client to go to power safe mode.
I tried to have a workaround by:
entering those config commands in /etc/NetworkManaher/conf.d/default-powersafe.conf:
[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no
Addtionaly I tried to add this to my stored network:
sudo nmcli connection modify mySSID wifi.powersave 2
The entries in dmesg are still there, and the WIFI connection is still dropping intermittendly.
Addtiionally I’ve taken a look at:
journalctl --unti=nmcli:

 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.6883] device (wlp5s0): Activation: starting connection 'Bastiknet3 Auto' (12a854d0-ca66-4ae1-b7a3-cf62459f846f)
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.6884] device (wlp5s0): state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.6884] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTING
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.7239] device (wlp5s0): set-hw-addr: reset MAC address to 10:68:38:AA:F8:5A (preserve)
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8464] device (wlp5s0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8466] device (wlp5s0): Activation: (wifi) access point 'Bastiknet3 Auto' has security, but secrets are required.
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8466] device (wlp5s0): state change: config -> need-auth (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8467] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> interface_disabled
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8467] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: inactive -> interface_disabled
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8505] device (wlp5s0): state change: need-auth -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8506] device (wlp5s0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8507] device (wlp5s0): Activation: (wifi) connection 'Bastiknet3 Auto' has security, and secrets exist.  No new secre>
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8508] Config: added 'ssid' value 'Bastiknet3'
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8509] Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8509] Config: added 'bgscan' value 'simple:30:-65:300'
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8509] Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'SAE FT-SAE'
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8509] Config: added 'psk' value '<hidden>'
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8509] Config: added 'ieee80211w' value '2'
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8637] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: interface_disabled -> inactive
Nov 15 01:54:38 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632078.8637] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: interface_disabled -> inactive
Nov 15 01:54:39 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632079.0637] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: inactive -> authenticating
Nov 15 01:54:39 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632079.0637] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: inactive -> authenticating
Nov 15 01:54:39 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632079.1088] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
Nov 15 01:54:39 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632079.1089] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: authenticating -> associating
Nov 15 01:54:39 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632079.2481] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: associating -> disconnected
Nov 15 01:54:39 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632079.2481] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: associating -> disconnected
Nov 15 01:54:40 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632080.3619] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning
Nov 15 01:54:40 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632080.3620] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.1326] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: scanning -> authenticating
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.1326] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> authenticating
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.1565] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.1565] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: authenticating -> associating
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.2805] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: associating -> 4way_handshake
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.2805] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: associating -> 4way_handshake
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.4145] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: 4way_handshake -> completed
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.4145] device (wlp5s0): Activation: (wifi) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful. Connected to wireless network ">
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.4145] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: 4way_handshake -> completed
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.4146] device (wlp5s0): state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:44 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632084.4149] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.2575] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): state changed new lease, address=192.168.111.235, acd pending
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.4646] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): state changed new lease, address=192.168.111.235
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.4650] policy: set 'Bastiknet3 Auto' (wlp5s0) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.4741] device (wlp5s0): state change: ip-config -> ip-check (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.5285] device (wlp5s0): state change: ip-check -> secondaries (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.5286] device (wlp5s0): state change: secondaries -> activated (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.5287] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_SITE
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.5289] device (wlp5s0): Activation: successful, device activated.
Nov 15 01:54:53 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632093.5291] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_GLOBAL
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.6380] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: completed -> authenticating
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.6381] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: completed -> authenticating
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.6542] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: authenticating -> associating
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.6542] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: authenticating -> associating
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.7810] device (wlp5s0): supplicant interface state: associating -> completed
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.7811] device (wlp5s0): ip:dhcp4: restarting
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.8234] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): canceled DHCP transaction
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.8235] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.8235] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): state changed no lease
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.8235] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
Nov 15 01:55:00 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632100.8236] device (p2p-dev-wlp5s0): supplicant management interface state: associating -> completed
Nov 15 01:55:01 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632101.4791] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): state changed new lease, address=192.168.111.235, acd pending
Nov 15 01:55:01 ASUSFA627XS NetworkManager[418683]: <info>  [1731632101.4793] dhcp4 (wlp5s0): state changed new lease, address=192.168.111.235

I tried different settings on router site, setting TX power to 100% (performance). I’m really not sure what’s the cause of the issue.

I use something like ping www.google.de for longer durations, and my ping somtimes went up to 2 seconds, intermittend there is no connection. Usually the pings have 20-50ms responce. This issues occur every 5-20 mins.

Thanks for any advice.

Best regards

Keruskerfuerst · 15 November 2024 08:43

Is there any other WIFI sending station around you ?

Kitsab · 15 November 2024 09:41

Hello,

after your suggestion I was using Wifi network analyzer tool on my smartphone to check for networks signal distortion. I detected a pretty strong signal on 2.4Ghz band. I’m living in my own house, neighbors are more then 10m away from my router. In 5GHz band the signal seems to be better.
I now configured my notebook to use 5GHZ band only.

But I see again dmesg:

[   14.485290] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:38
[  540.852689] wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:38

I also use my mesh router to deploy a guest network, but the same router should be able to handle different networks SSIDs I expect.

Thanks and best regards

Keruskerfuerst · 15 November 2024 09:45

Someone tried to hack my WIFI connection and then the router was defective.

Kitsab · 15 November 2024 09:46

Hello,

how did you find out someone’s trying to hack you, are there suspisions activities in router log?

Edit:
Actually it looks like limiting my notebook to use 5GHz band only resolved the issue.

Arrababiski · 15 November 2024 10:33

Theres a typo in your config, better try this way:

[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2
[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

Keruskerfuerst · 15 November 2024 11:46

I had data transfer problems with my WIFI connection.

Kitsab · 16 November 2024 21:19

Hello,

thanks for the tip to correct the configuration.

But anyway, my problem is not solved, acutally it reapppears pretty often even if WIFI is limited to use 5GHz and no other 5GHz signals from different networks are nearby.

journalctl -k |grep Limiting:

Nov 16 20:27:39 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 23 (23 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:34
Nov 16 20:33:07 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 23 (23 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:34
Nov 16 20:38:23 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:76:48:f8
Nov 16 20:38:36 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 23 (23 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:34
Nov 16 21:33:42 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 23 (23 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:34
Nov 16 21:44:00 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 30 (30 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:76:48:f8
Nov 16 21:44:36 ASUSFA627XS kernel: wlp5s0: Limiting TX power to 23 (23 - 0) dBm as advertised by fc:34:97:91:65:3

Arrababiski · 16 November 2024 21:40

Please be sure you have the last firmware for your router, usually they come with an older version and it is not uncommon that later versions fix many stability and connection issues.

Take a look at the support page of the router… 22 firmware updates!!!