Hi,
I’m on Linux Mint 22.1 (kernel 6.8.0-60-generic, BIOS version 3.05) and the Wifi connection is unstable. It often disconnects and when I reconnect it asks for authentication multiple times. Other devices can connect to the Wifi just fine so I assume the issue is really with the Framework laptop.
Is there a way to diagnose this problem? I found some other posts but they all point to replacing the Wi-Fi card.
I have a 12th gen Intel FW 13 running the same kernel, DE and BIOS as you. I was afflicted by similar symptoms when the laptop was connected to a particular AP in my workplace. Other devices, mine and colleagues, had no issue with that AP. I’ve not experienced a similar problem in the myriad other places that I use the FW.
I experimented with laptop position and screen angle and became convinced that the combination of my desk’s location, the FW wifi antenna and the AP location conspired to deliver sub-optimal RF.
Fortunately I was able to have the AP moved and the issue no longer occurred.
I understand that such a solution might not be possible in your circumstances.
Hi. Thanks for your reply. Now that I think about it, it is only my home network that shows this issues. My notebook stands on a metallic stand. Maybe that interferes with the signal. I try to test this but I don’t have much to move my notebook around.
I’ve had some success with disabling the power management on the network adapter:
sudo iwconfig wlp1s0 power off
It seems like it’s pretty flaky even on the most recent kernels. Someone from Framework posted a way to make that permanent (persistent between boots), but I can’t find the topic right now for some reason.
So I disabled power management and tried out different locations. The behavior is the same. I think the Wi-Fi card has some troubles with my access point. Whenever the connection breaks the network manager widget says “authentication required”. Why is the authentication lost at all? Very strange behavior.
I eventually gave up on the Mediatek card that came with the machine and switched to an AX210. That one also had some issues, depending on kernel version, but overall it behaved acceptably, where the other one was dropping connection and requiring manual reconnects kind of similar to what you’re describing.
I’ve heard rumors that the Linux Mediatek drivers are known to be pretty low quality. It sort of looked like maybe the driver itself was, more or less, crashing, and so the network interface from the network manager’s point of view was just disappearing completely for a moment, and so then presumably when it came back, it wanted to start over the whole process of getting connected to it. I’m not super-sure, but I and some others eventually had success with giving up completely on the OEM card and ordering a separate higher quality one.
Yes, I’ve heard the AX210 is overall a better choice to which I’m going to switch at some point