Wifi issues with Intel AX200 adapter

Issues & Assistance
1

Hello, I am complete novice in Linux ecosystem. Although I consider myself computer savvy person.

I tried Zorin OS for a month and switched to CachyOS just yesterday. Wifi experience wasnt easy, first of all KDE Wallet issues, which I managed to disable/solve.

Current issues:

  • Wifi on 2.4G works ok, but sometimes disconnects (hence, very short trial period. It also feels like the speeds are lower than they could be.

  • Wifi on 5G won’t work at all, unable to connect.

My router is Technicolor or similar name, something what my ISP provided. I set custom SSID names, which are different for both bands.

I haven’t tried to manipulate NetworkManager and iwd services (I dont have confidence, nor want to make it worse).

This is my bug “report” log:
My wifi adapter info:

Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200 [8086:2723] (rev 1a)
         Subsystem: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200NGW [8086:0084]
         Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi

Running KDE Plasma 6.4.5
Kernel 6.17.1-2-cachyos (64-bit) (I think this is the LTS)
i7-10700F with some cheap motherboard (MEDION pre-built PC)

Note, I had zero wifi issues with Zorin or Windows 10 on the same machine.

2

Hello and welcome,

I might say try a different kernel.
But I also know this specific card has problems reported across different forums etc.

This is actually latest and not an LTS.
The LTS in the repos right now is 6.12.
See also: kernel.org

You might also want to try and make sure to disable powersaving.
See the Archwiki sections here (including the following intel entry):
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Power_management#Network_interfaces


In case any of the linked steps need further explanation;

  • Make sure you are up to date and have iw installed;
sudo pacman -Syu iw
  • Create udev rule to disable powersaving;
printf 'ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="net", KERNEL=="wl*", RUN+="/usr/bin/iw dev $name set power_save off"' | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/81-wifi-powersave.rules
  • Create/edit iwlwifi.conf to disable powersaving;
printf 'options iwlwifi power_save=0' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf
  • Then you could reload the various modules and services.
    Or just reboot.

PS.

I almost forgot. intel actually has a whole second module that can control powersaving.
So you might try this additional step;

    • Create/edit iwlmvm.conf to disable powersaving;
printf 'options iwlmvm power_scheme=1' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/iwlmvm.conf
3

Thanks for rapid response, I’ve ran all commands you listed.
The iw was already up to date - nevertheless I’ve reinstalled it.

Restarted my machine after all commands and managed (!) to connect to 5G wifi. However wifi speed is super slow, like <56kbps slow. I had to switch back to 2.4G to post here again.

I used nano to open this file and sharing its content here:
/etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf

options iwlwifi power_save=0
options iwlmvm power_scheme=1

and
/etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="net", KERNEL=="wl*", RUN+="/usr/bin/iw dev $name set power_save off"

I will look more in Arch forums, meanwhile any help is appreciated.
Thanks a ton!

4

Progress of sorts I suppose.

Another common option for intel cards might be the swcrypto option;

options iwlwifi swcrypto=1

( So that encryption is done in software rather than hardware - less desirable but sometimes more reliable/performant because reasons. )

But as it worked flawlessly with another Distro I am tending towards thinking it is probably not some esoteric combination of options.

Did you try other kernels?

5

yes, I used Cachyos Kernel Manager, and unchecked 6.17, the other one left checked on was 6.12.5. After machine reboot, About System window shows 6.12.5 kernel version. This change didn’t help with wifi problem.

I will continue my journey maybe tomorrow EU time.

p.s. the 2.4G wifi keeps dropping ;-/

6

A far field suggestion is to make super double triple sure that other OSs are properly shut down all the way.

Specifically Windoze and its “Fast Startup” needing disabling as it ensures the system hibernates instead of shutting down.

Normally failing to do this would result in the device being totally inaccessible, but might be worth a look.

See you on the morrow. Cheers.

7

Good point! However, I have disabled nvm drive with Windows in BIOS boot order settings, I will make sure I completly power off my computer. I am not giving up yet, will check it tomorrow again.

8

Hello, I am back :slight_smile:

I cannot believe, but I think I found a solution:

edit /etc/NetworkManager.conf and put

[device] 
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=yes 
wifi.backend=iwd 
wifi.iwd.autoconnect=yes

as per Reddit - The heart of the internet

However I did so many other things in between, that I am not sure what actually helped… here is my chaotic list of all actions I’ve taken:

  • moved from Cachyos to Nobara
  • ran into similiar Wifi issues
  • booted into Windows10 - wifi issues again!
  • figured out to move my workstation back to the floors (I’ve put it on a desk, because of short 2.1 hdmi cable I had, and new LG Oled TV for monitor…)
  • wifi is much better on Windows… when workstation is put down from the desk underneath… (crazy!!!)
  • Wiped out Nobara (mainly coz very slow restart/shutting down times)
  • Installed Cachyos again with Hyprland (!) - wifi issues again, despite workstation being in the old place (on the floor)
  • Tried Kernel 6.12.5, bootloader added “Linux” option as default one, next to Cachy and Cachy LTS… (I am going crazy again)
  • Made changes to /etc/NetworkManager.conf
  • Reboot, wifi works much better!
  • Used Cachy utils to clean unused Kernels, and installed Games pack

Things looking brighter, not sure if I can have enough energy to learn Hyprland. As a software engineer, it’s tempting :smiley:

I want to edit my original post and put a short solution… just not sure what was the solution :smiley:

9

This would seem a really odd solution.

I think cachy uses iwd by default - and certainly setting these options alone would not be enough to enable iwd (you would need other packages).
The other options of random MAC and autoconnect would not seem relevant to network perfomance. Maybe random MAC - but turning it on should not increase performance, rather if enabled disabling it may be required to get connectivity.


Since this seems ‘random’ and its dual-boot…

Is the other OS properly shut down all the way?

Are we sure?

Is “Fast Startup” disabled in windoze? Otherwise it will hibernate instead of shutting down.

( Maybe all this huffing around got some things fully de-powered, but by happenstance. )

10

I have had disabled Fast Boot in Bios for a long time before.
And I select to Restart option on Windows when I plan to boot into Linux.
Not sure if I miss something on Windows side.

11

Not a BIOS option (the bios one is “Fastboot”).

A windoze option (“Fast Startup”).

It pretends to start fast by never actually powering off (hibernation).

Hence when you think it is shut down .. some hardware is not released … meaning performance problems in other OS.

See all of the things here;

12

Thank you, I will try to boot into Windows, do a regular" restart and see if Wifi issues re-appear. At this point, I restarted my system so many times and at some point powered it off from the AC to move it under my desk.
Btw, I also disabled Network Boot mode in BIOS, just in the last few hrs. Maybe not related, but sharing.

13

Yes, I know.

Thats why I said..

In another case where a user was unaware and did not even have windoze installed anymore .. the same root problem was to blame .. and they had to remove all power connections for ~5min in order to get things working normal again.


I am not sure how to interpret this statement.

It is true that even with “Fast Startup” enabled you can use cmd to force windoze into a proper shutdown. But it is not clear if this is what you mean.

And regardless of any of that .. if you intend to dualboot on this machine .. with anything (even not cachy) next to your existing windoze .. you really really should disable “Fast Startup”.

Link again and more direct;

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dual_boot_with_Windows#Fast_Startup_and_hibernation

14

Yes, I can confirm I still have Fast Boot enabled on Windows. I just did a couple of restarts, and ran internet speed tests. First impression - it’s still fine on Linux.

Anyways, I will disable Fast Boot on Windows. THANKS A LOT.

p.s. I don’t have Windows Boot Manager option on Systemd (default) boot loader, it makes dual boot awkward… (time to join your discord and stop to limit communication here).