Slow speed on Hotspot created from Ubuntu 16.04 with RTL8723BE Wireless Network Adapter
History
I ran into a weird problem yesterday(on 13 Jan 2018). My Ubuntu was not able to get strong signals of Wifi. I once encountered this problem before and was able to fix it using this post. The solution was to make a config file as follows -
sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be ant_sel=1"But this time it was not working. I found this article and was able to resolve the "weak Wifi signal" issue successfully. It asked to download drivers from this repo and install it using
sudo make installFollowed by executing these commands and then making a config file to make the setting permanent
sudo modprobe -rv rtl8723be
sudo modprobe -v rtl8723be ant_sel=2
sudo ip link set wlp13s0 up
echo "options rtl8723be ant_sel=2" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/50-rtl8723be.confThe Problem
But soon I discovered that the hotspot I used to enjoy created from my laptop was giving terrible speed(of only around 0.5Mbps). The speed I get on my LAN is around 80Mbps. I switched to Windows and found that the Hotspot created there gives Wifi speed of around 30 Mbps. I would also like to add that I am using Speedtest by Ookla and the Ping in each speedtest is normal(in range of 8 to 10), which I used to get before. So there is no change in ping. I tried searching for this issue but was not able to find anything related. Your help will be appreciated.
Related Information
My wireless driver is rtl8723be
Output of iwconfig
enp2s0 no wireless extensions.
lo no wireless extensions.
wlo1 IEEE 802.11 Mode:Master Tx-Power=20 dBm Retry short limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thr:off Power Management:onOutput of ifconfig
enp2s0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr a0:8c:fd:4d:1b:0d inet addr:172.25.30.203 Bcast:172.25.30.255 Mask:255.255.255.0 inet6 addr: fe80::90b5:2747:93a9:f969/64 Scope:Link UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1 RX packets:39347 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:22188 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 RX bytes:9004186 (9.0 MB) TX bytes:14741038 (14.7 MB)
lo Link encap:Local Loopback inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0 inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:65536 Metric:1 RX packets:1608 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:1608 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 RX bytes:141049 (141.0 KB) TX bytes:141049 (141.0 KB)
wlo1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 74:df:bf:8b:11:17 inet addr:10.42.0.1 Bcast:10.42.0.255 Mask:255.255.255.0 inet6 addr: fe80::76df:bfff:fe8b:1117/64 Scope:Link UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1 RX packets:12069 errors:0 dropped:1 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:8846 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 RX bytes:13285506 (13.2 MB) TX bytes:2959250 (2.9 MB)Output of lspci | grep Wireless
03:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network AdapterOutput of route
Here 10.42.0.47 is my device connected to the hotspot.
Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
default 172.25.30.1 0.0.0.0 UG 100 0 0 enp2s0
10.42.0.0 * 255.255.255.0 U 600 0 0 wlo1
link-local * 255.255.0.0 U 1000 0 0 enp2s0
172.25.30.0 * 255.255.255.0 U 100 0 0 enp2s0Recent Software Update Log
I think there is a high probability that the problem is due to auto-update of some software. I am sure that this problem started between 8-11 Jan and it was definitely discovered on 13 Jan.
EDIT #1- I see that the kernel was updated to v4.13 on 11 Jan. I suspect that the problem occurred because of this update.
EDIT #2- I tried reverting back to previous kernel (v4.10) through grub and followed this post which explains what to do when kernel is upgraded(or perhaps even downgraded). It didn't work.
Start-Date: 2018-01-05 10:31:01
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Upgrade: ruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2, 2.3.1-2~16.04.4), apport:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2,
2.3.1-2~16.04.4), python3-apport:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15),
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64 (2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1),
apport-gtk:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), python3-problem-report:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37-gtk2:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
End-Date: 2018-01-05 10:31:01
Start-Date: 2018-01-07 08:51:55
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Upgrade: ruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2, 2.3.1-2~16.04.4), apport:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2,
2.3.1-2~16.04.4), python3-apport:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15),
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64 (2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1),
apport-gtk:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), python3-problem-report:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37-gtk2:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
End-Date: 2018-01-07 08:51:55
Start-Date: 2018-01-08 16:34:54
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Upgrade: ruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2, 2.3.1-2~16.04.4), apport:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2,
2.3.1-2~16.04.4), python3-apport:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15),
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64 (2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1),
apport-gtk:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), python3-problem-report:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37-gtk2:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
End-Date: 2018-01-08 16:34:54
Start-Date: 2018-01-09 16:32:45
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Upgrade: ruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2, 2.3.1-2~16.04.4), apport:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libruby2.3:amd64 (2.3.1-2~16.04.2,
2.3.1-2~16.04.4), python3-apport:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15),
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64 (2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1),
apport-gtk:amd64 (2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), python3-problem-report:amd64
(2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15), libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37-gtk2:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64
(2.18.3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1)
End-Date: 2018-01-09 16:34:23
Start-Date: 2018-01-10 16:55:32
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Upgrade: poppler-utils:amd64 (0.41.0-0ubuntu1.5, 0.41.0-0ubuntu1.6), linux-libc-dev:amd64
(4.4.0-104.127, 4.4.0-108.131), firefox-locale-en:amd64 (57.0.3+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1,
57.0.4+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), firefox:amd64 (57.0.3+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1,
57.0.4+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), libpoppler-glib8:amd64 (0.41.0-0ubuntu1.5,
0.41.0-0ubuntu1.6), libpoppler58:amd64 (0.41.0-0ubuntu1.5, 0.41.0-0ubuntu1.6)
End-Date: 2018-01-10 16:56:08
=====================================================================
Start-Date: 2018-01-11 14:39:00
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Install: linux-image-4.13.0-26-generic:amd64 (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2, automatic),
linux-headers-4.13.0-26:amd64 (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2, automatic),
linux-signed-image-4.13.0-26-generic:amd64 (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2, automatic),
linux-image-extra-4.13.0-26-generic:amd64 (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2, automatic),
linux-headers-4.13.0-26-generic:amd64 (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2, automatic)
Upgrade: linux-libc-dev:amd64 (4.4.0-108.131, 4.4.0-109.132), ruby2.3:amd64
(2.3.1-2~16.04.4, 2.3.1-2~16.04.5), linux-image-generic-hwe-16.04:amd64 (4.10.0.42.44,
4.13.0.26.46), linux-signed-generic-hwe-16.04:amd64 (4.10.0.42.44, 4.13.0.26.46),
linux-generic-hwe-16.04:amd64 (4.10.0.42.44, 4.13.0.26.46),
linux-signed-image-generic-hwe-16.04:amd64 (4.10.0.42.44, 4.13.0.26.46), libruby2.3:amd64
(2.3.1-2~16.04.4, 2.3.1-2~16.04.5), linux-headers-generic-hwe-16.04:amd64 (4.10.0.42.44,
4.13.0.26.46)
End-Date: 2018-01-11 14:42:54
=====================================================================
Start-Date: 2018-01-13 15:57:28
Commandline: apt upgrade
Requested-By: rohan (1000)
Install: libllvm5.0:amd64 (1:5.0-3~16.04.1, automatic), libdrm-common:amd64
(2.4.83-1~16.04.1, automatic)
Upgrade: suru-icon-theme:amd64 (14.04+16.04.20161024-0ubuntu1,
14.04+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1), libgles2-mesa:amd64 (17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2,
17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), libseccomp2:amd64 (2.2.3-3ubuntu3, 2.3.1-2.1ubuntu2~16.04.1),
intel-microcode:amd64 (3.20170707.1~ubuntu16.04.0, 3.20180108.0~ubuntu16.04.2),
libdrm-nouveau2:amd64 (2.4.76-1~ubuntu16.04.1, 2.4.83-1~16.04.1), libgweather-3-6:amd64
(3.18.2-0ubuntu0.1, 3.18.2-0ubuntu0.2), grub-common:amd64 (2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.14,
2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.15), libglapi-mesa:amd64 (17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2,
17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), snapd:amd64 (2.28.5, 2.29.4.2), squashfs-tools:amd64
(1:4.3-3ubuntu2, 1:4.3-3ubuntu2.16.04.1), google-chrome-stable:amd64 (63.0.3239.108-1,
63.0.3239.132-1), libxatracker2:amd64 (17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2, 17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2),
grub2-common:amd64 (2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.14, 2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.15), libegl1-mesa:amd64
(17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2, 17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), initramfs-tools-bin:amd64
(0.122ubuntu8.9, 0.122ubuntu8.10), libgbm1:amd64 (17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2,
17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), adapta-gtk-theme:amd64 (3.92.2.57-0ubuntu1~xenial1,
3.93.0.38-0ubuntu1~xenial1), libdrm-amdgpu1:amd64 (2.4.76-1~ubuntu16.04.1,
2.4.83-1~16.04.1), grub-efi-amd64-bin:amd64 (2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.14,
2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.15), libwayland-egl1-mesa:amd64 (17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2,
17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), ubuntu-core-launcher:amd64 (2.28.5, 2.29.4.2), libdrm2:amd64
(2.4.76-1~ubuntu16.04.1, 2.4.83-1~16.04.1), libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64
(2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.5-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), ubuntu-mobile-icons:amd64
(14.04+16.04.20161024-0ubuntu1, 14.04+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1), libgl1-mesa-dri:amd64
(17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2, 17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), grub-efi-amd64:amd64
(2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.14, 2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.15), xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04:amd64
(2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.4, 2:1.19.5-0ubuntu2~16.04.1), light-themes:amd64
(14.04+16.04.20161024-0ubuntu1, 14.04+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1), ubuntu-artwork:amd64
(1:14.04+16.04.20161024-0ubuntu1, 1:14.04+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1), libgl1-mesa-glx:amd64
(17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2, 17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), grub-efi-amd64-signed:amd64
(1.66.14+2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.14, 1.66.15+2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.15),
gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64 (2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.5-0ubuntu0.16.04.1),
unattended-upgrades:amd64 (0.90ubuntu0.8, 0.90ubuntu0.9), libdrm-intel1:amd64
(2.4.76-1~ubuntu16.04.1, 2.4.83-1~16.04.1), libdrm-radeon1:amd64 (2.4.76-1~ubuntu16.04.1,
2.4.83-1~16.04.1), xserver-xorg-legacy-hwe-16.04:amd64 (2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.4,
2:1.19.5-0ubuntu2~16.04.1), mesa-vdpau-drivers:amd64 (17.0.7-0ubuntu0.16.04.2,
17.2.4-0ubuntu1~16.04.2), libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64 (2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1,
2.18.5-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), ubuntu-mono:amd64 (14.04+16.04.20161024-0ubuntu1,
14.04+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1), libgweather-common:amd64 (3.18.2-0ubuntu0.1,
3.18.2-0ubuntu0.2), initramfs-tools-core:amd64 (0.122ubuntu8.9, 0.122ubuntu8.10),
initramfs-tools:amd64 (0.122ubuntu8.9, 0.122ubuntu8.10), libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37-gtk2:amd64
(2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.5-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64
(2.18.4-0ubuntu0.16.04.1, 2.18.5-0ubuntu0.16.04.1)
End-Date: 2018-01-13 16:00:19
Start-Date: 2018-01-13 18:09:45
Commandline: apt install papirus-icon-theme
Requested-By: rohan (1000)
Install: libreoffice-style-papirus:amd64 (20170914-44+pkg3~ubuntu16.04.1, automatic),
papirus-icon-theme:amd64 (20180113-2047+pkg17~ubuntu16.04.1)
End-Date: 2018-01-13 18:10:12
Start-Date: 2018-01-13 18:14:39
Commandline: apt-get install arc-theme
Requested-By: rohan (1000)
Install: gnome-themes-standard:amd64 (3.18.0-2ubuntu1, automatic),
gnome-themes-standard-data:amd64 (3.18.0-2ubuntu1, automatic), arc-theme:amd64
(1488477732.766ae1a-0)
End-Date: 2018-01-13 18:14:43
Start-Date: 2018-01-13 21:22:41
Commandline: apt autoremove
Requested-By: rohan (1000)
Remove: linux-image-4.10.0-40-generic:amd64 (4.10.0-40.44~16.04.1),
linux-signed-image-4.10.0-40-generic:amd64 (4.10.0-40.44~16.04.1), libllvm4.0:amd64
(1:4.0-1ubuntu1~16.04.2), linux-image-extra-4.10.0-40-generic:amd64
(4.10.0-40.44~16.04.1), linux-headers-4.10.0-40:amd64 (4.10.0-40.44~16.04.1),
linux-headers-4.10.0-40-generic:amd64 (4.10.0-40.44~16.04.1)
End-Date: 2018-01-13 21:24:20 2 4 Answers
I think that wifi power management is responsible for the slow speeds, it can be disabled with
echo "options rtl8723be ips=0" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/50-rtl8723be.conf
sudo sed -i 's/wifi.powersave = 3/wifi.powersave = 2/' /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.confReboot 5 Regarding to (German Forum) the cause might be a setting that you can check and reset.
To check use modinfo -F parm rtl8723be
The output should look like this:
parm: swlps:bool
parm: swenc:using hardware crypto (default 0 [hardware]) (bool)
parm: ips:using no link power save (default 1 is open) (bool)
parm: fwlps:using linked fw control power save (default 1 is open) (bool)
parm: msi:Set to 1 to use MSI interrupts mode (default 0) (bool)
parm: debug:Set debug level (0-5) (default 0) (int)
parm: disable_watchdog:Set to 1 to disable the watchdog (default 0) (bool)
parm: ant_sel:Set to 1 or 2 to force antenna number (default 0) (int)The last line is the interesting one. You can change the value of ant_sel from 0 to 1 to 2. Reboot and check. - You have to try and find out the correct value on your own.
echo "options rtl8723be swenc=1 fwlps=0 ips=0 ant_sel=1" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.confI dont know if this resolves your problem, but you could give it a try.
1Check your entropy available:
cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/entropy_availfrom an arch wiki on haveged and entropy:
If [entropy] is rather low (<1000), you should probably install haveged. Otherwise cryptographic applications will block until there is enough entropy available, which eg. could result in slow wlan speed, if your server is a Software access point.
Install haveged:
sudo apt install havegedCheck your wifi speed then start haveged:
sudo service haveged startNow start your AP and check the speed again. Hopefully your issue should be resolved
1Antennae #2 used to be the solution
Looking back through github bug reports, setting your Wifi to use Antennae #2 used to be the solution on kernels >= to 4.12. One person found success switching it back to Antennae #1 under kernel 4.13:
Ah yes, after finding that my kernel loads a firmware that it didn't before (
rtl8723befw_36.bininstead of the regular one) i found this issue, very glad!As far as i see it, 4.13.7 already includes the patch so no action to be made there. in
/etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.confi used to haveoptions rtl8723be fwlps=0 options rtl8723be ant_sel=2But now i need to
ant_sel=1for a good signal. took me quite a long time figuring this out.
Lots of reports when Ubuntu HWE (Hardware Enablement Stack) took users from Kernel 4.10 branch to kernel 4.13 branch around January 11, 2018. As far as your attempts to downgrade to kernel 4.10 some have had success. Others report success manually installing kernel 4.14 for RTL non-WiFi problems. Still others stayed on 4.13 kernel branch and used rmmod and modprobe as temporary fixes.
Turn off Network Manager WiFi Power saving
Network Manager Power Saving may be enabled by default. Someone reports disabling it improves speed. Look into the file /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf:
[connection]
#wifi.powersave = 3
# Slow speed fix:
wifi.powersave = 2Commenting out powersave = 3 and using powersave = 2 disables power saving.
All the available options are:
- NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_DEFAULT (0): use the default value
- NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_IGNORE (1): don't touch existing setting
- NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_DISABLE (2): disable powersave
- NM_SETTING_WIRELESS_POWERSAVE_ENABLE (3): enable powersave
Turn off ALL WiFi Power Saving
There are three areas of power saving. To turn off all three use:
cat > /etc/modprobe.d/options-rtl8723be.conf <<EOF
options rtl8723be ips=0 swlps=0 fwlps=0
EOFDon't download and make old drivers
At one time you had to download source code and make the drivers yourself. This is no longer necessary:
The rtl8723ae and rtl8723be modules are included in the mainline Linux kernel.
If you are using DKMS make sure it's not recompiling an old driver with every kernel update.
11