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I am having troubles with setting up a Hama wireless USB Stick 54 connected to my aged computer. This is what happens:

  • After booting, the network connection is established and works nicely
  • About five minutes later, the connection is lost, even while using the network connection (e.g. surfing the internet or accessing LAN)
  • I only can re-establish the connection by disconnecting the stick from the usb port and reconnecting it physically. But even then, the connection gets lost after only about one minute.

I did use the Hama wireless stick without any problems on the same computer with Win XP before.

This is what I have tried to fix or diagnose the problem:

echo "blacklist rt2500usb" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-Hama.conf
    • second attempt: 
echo "blacklist rt2500usb" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

sudo sed -i "s/wifi.powersave = 3/wifi.powersave = 2/g" /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf
    • I moved the usb devices around:
      1. I got an old powered usb hub out and connected the Hama stick through this one
      2. I connected the Hama stick directly as the only device to a double usb
    • There is a diagnostic script mentioned, but I couldn’t fully figure it out. This is the output I got (with the connection lost):
wpa_supplicant v2.4
random: Trying to read entropy from /dev/random
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
Initializing interface 'wlx000e2efc752f' conf 'wpa_supplicant.tmp' driver 'wext' ctrl_interface 'N/A' bridge 'N/A'
ctrl_interface='/var/run/wpa_supplicant'
eapol_version=1
ap_scan=1
Priority group 0
   id=0 ssid='XXX-20-15'
WEXT: cfg80211-based driver detected
wext: interface wlx000e2efc752f phy: phy0
rfkill: initial event: idx=0 type=1 op=0 soft=0 hard=0
Could not set interface wlx000e2efc752f flags (UP): Operation not permitted
WEXT: Could not set interface 'wlx000e2efc752f' UP
wlx000e2efc752f: Failed to initialize driver interface
Failed to add interface wlx000e2efc752f
wlx000e2efc752f: Cancelling scan request
wlx000e2efc752f: Cancelling authentication timeout

wlx<IF from MAC [IF2]>  IEEE 802.11  ESSID:"XXX-20-15"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.437 GHz  Access Point: <MAC 'XXX-20-15' [AC1]>   
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Link Quality=36/70  Signal level=-74 dBm
      1. After loss of connection:
wlx<IF from MAC [IF2]>  IEEE 802.11  ESSID:"XXX-20-15"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.437 GHz  Access Point: <MAC 'XXX-20-15' [AN1]>   
          Bit Rate=36 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Link Quality=40/70  Signal level=-70 dBm  
...
wlx<IF from MAC [IF2]>  Interface doesn't support scanning : Device or resource busy

This all said, I’d appreciate some help in getting the Hama wireless stick working.

simplemind
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1 Answers1

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I am almost embarressed to answer my own question. However, the issue has been solved by accident.

The accident was that the computer didn't want to start anymore at all. Eventually, I got it up and running again, but pausing right at BIOS loading time. It complained about overclocking. Since I got this computer second hand, I actually never looked into the BIOS.

Nevertheless, I had two options - either F1 for entering BIOS setup or F2 for resetting the BIOS to standard. So, I took the easy way (F2), since I didn't need any special BIOS settings.

To my joy, the computer started nicely. I re-attached all the devices and ... suprise ... the wireless network kept running and running and running. No more disconnections so far. I am a happy camper.

I have to assume that some BIOS setting actually caused the USB ports to safe power and shut down or something. I don't know, I don't understand and currently I don't care. I just enjoy.

simplemind
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