Return-path: Received: from mail-iy0-f174.google.com ([209.85.210.174]:48880 "EHLO mail-iy0-f174.google.com" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1751452Ab1KEUEn (ORCPT ); Sat, 5 Nov 2011 16:04:43 -0400 Received: by iage36 with SMTP id e36so4045274iag.19 for ; Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:04:43 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <4EB596D8.7030600@lwfinger.net> (sfid-20111105_210501_372255_5AEE584F) Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:04:40 -0500 From: Larry Finger MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Andres Cimmarusti CC: wireless Subject: Re: realtek driver version in kernel References: In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Sender: linux-wireless-owner@vger.kernel.org List-ID: On 11/05/2011 11:43 AM, Andres Cimmarusti wrote: > Dear Mr. Finger, > > I apologize for the audacity of contacting you directly. I saw your > name and email on one of the source files for the realtek wireless > drivers. > I have a question about the Realtek wireless driver (specifically > rtl8192se) version included in kernels 3.0.x and 3.1.x. > > If I go to Realtek's website they mention a driver version: > rtl_92ce_92se_92de_linux_mac80211_0004.0816.2011 > > Is this included in kernel 3.0.x? or should I upgrade to 3.1? > > I've been having a lot of disconnection and reconnection issues with > certain networks using a RTL8191SEvB (which loads the rtl8192se driver > module). I don't know for sure what the problem is, but I've noticed > that in areas (like university campuses) where there might be repeated > access points for the same network with varying signal strengths, my > connection is rather unstable and it keeps disconnecting and > reconnecting (I suspect there is a problem reporting the signal > strength to NetworkManager, which causes NM to get confused as to > which network has stronger signal...I mean in NM 0.8.4 all networks > listed show the same number of "bars"!). Since the rtl8192se is a > relatively new driver in the kernel, I was hoping getting the newest > version would help solve this issue. > > If you have any info regarding this issue I would appreciate it very > much. I've seen some posts online that blame it on NM...I will try to > peruse through their bugs and see... Note that I only do private consulting for a fee. You should send everything through the wireless ML, which I have added to this reply. The newest version, i.e. 3.1, will have an improved driver. One with even more improvements will be in the bleeding-edge compat-wireless package. It is essentially the one for 3.2. Yes, rtl8192se is being improved regularly. All the improvements in the 08/16/2011 driver are in compat-wireless. The number of "bars" in the NM applet are hardly a good measure of signal strength, but the driver does report a better value. I do not have an environment where I can test roaming. Larry