Bluetooth causes wifi to drop

[tmclaugh]

Bluetooth driver loads and I can successfully pair a device. However using Bluetooth comes at the expense of WIFI connectivity.

Performing an hcitool scan while pinging and downloading a large file I received WIFI errors in /var/log messages. Ping displayed slow responses during this time and my download stopped. I also found that while my iPhone was performing device discovery, even if it wasn't paired with my laptop, WIFI would drop.

hcitool scan
/var/log messages:
May 16 12:35:49 tomcat kernel: [ 5210.809934] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:50 tomcat kernel: [ 5211.810515] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:51 tomcat kernel: [ 5212.811316] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.312163] RTL8723AU: ERROR issue_nulldata, FAIL!, try_cnt =3, wait_ms =500
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.312363] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.318658] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.319317] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.169193] RTL8723AU: OnAction_back
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.169232] RTL8723AU: OnAction_back, action =0
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.169241] RTL8723AU: issue_action_BA, category =3, action =1, status =0
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.218514] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:54 tomcat kernel: [ 5216.219251] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:55 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.219951] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.720657] RTL8723AU: ERROR issue_nulldata, FAIL!, try_cnt =3, wait_ms =500
MayMay 16 12:35:49 tomcat kernel: [ 5210.809934] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:50 tomcat kernel: [ 5211.810515] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:51 tomcat kernel: [ 5212.811316] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.312163] RTL8723AU: ERROR issue_nulldata, FAIL!, try_cnt =3, wait_ms =500
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.312363] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.318658] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:52 tomcat kernel: [ 5213.319317] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.169193] RTL8723AU: OnAction_back
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.169232] RTL8723AU: OnAction_back, action =0
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.169241] RTL8723AU: issue_action_BA, category =3, action =1, status =0
May 16 12:35:53 tomcat kernel: [ 5215.218514] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:54 tomcat kernel: [ 5216.219251] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:55 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.219951] RTL8723AU: rtw_sctx_wait timeout
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.720657] RTL8723AU: ERROR issue_nulldata, FAIL!, try_cnt =3, wait_ms =500
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.721353] RTL8723AU: survey done event(3)
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.721461] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.734394] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.735460] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:36:34 tomcat kernel: [ 5255.722141] UpdateHalRAMask8192CUsb => mac_id:0, networkType:0x0b, mask:0x000fffff
May 16 12:36:34 tomcat kernel: [ 5255.722141] ==> rssi_level:3, rate_bitmap:0x000ff005
May 16 12:37:04 tomcat avahi-daemon[492]: Registering new address record for fe80::2216:d8ff:febe:2ef on enp0s26u1u4i2..
May 16 12:37:06 tomcat kernel: [ 5287.775484] UpdateHalRAMask8192CUsb => mac_id:0, networkType:0x0b, mask:0x000fffff
May 16 12:37:06 tomcat kernel: [ 5287.775484] ==> rssi_level:2, rate_bitmap:0x000ff000
May 16 12:37:08 tomcat avahi-daemon[492]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::2216:d8ff:febe:2ef on enp0s26u1u4i2. 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.721353] RTL8723AU: survey done event(3)
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.721461] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.734394] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:35:56 tomcat kernel: [ 5217.735460] RTL8723AU: rtw_ack_tx_done ack_tx not set
May 16 12:36:34 tomcat kernel: [ 5255.722141] UpdateHalRAMask8192CUsb => mac_id:0, networkType:0x0b, mask:0x000fffff
May 16 12:36:34 tomcat kernel: [ 5255.722141] ==> rssi_level:3, rate_bitmap:0x000ff005
May 16 12:37:04 tomcat avahi-daemon[492]: Registering new address record for fe80::2216:d8ff:febe:2ef on enp0s26u1u4i2..
May 16 12:37:06 tomcat kernel: [ 5287.775484] UpdateHalRAMask8192CUsb => mac_id:0, networkType:0x0b, mask:0x000fffff
May 16 12:37:06 tomcat kernel: [ 5287.775484] ==> rssi_level:2, rate_bitmap:0x000ff000
May 16 12:37:08 tomcat avahi-daemon[492]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::2216:d8ff:febe:2ef on enp0s26u1u4i2.

[lwfinger]

Thanks for the report. I will compare the BT coexistence code in the PCI version with that in the USB driver; however, I have no BT devices for testing even the PCI device, and no RTL8723AU device at all. In addition, I will pass the problem with BT to Realtek. I will let you know what I learn.

[lwfinger]

I discovered that the BT coexistence flag was not set in the driver. I changed that, fixed the resulting build errors, and pushed the resulting code.

These changes might help when BT is enabled, they might completely destroy wifi, or there might be some other result. Please test.

[tmclaugh]

Okay, wifi no longer drops when my iPhone starts scanning or when I perform an hcitool scan. There was a brief moment where I noticed ping times jumped considerably but wifi quickly recovered.

Having problems keeping the iphone paired to my laptop but I'll open up a new issue after I figure out what's going on with that better.

[lwfinger]

Good to hear. I really hate posting code that I have no possibility of testing.

If the wireless chip soldered to the motherboard on the Yoga 13, or is it a plugable device?

[tmclaugh]

No problem and I can test anytime.

It's a plugable device. There's also three different WIFI chips available based on region and selected options. Device 14 starting on page 61.

http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles_pub/ideapad_yoga13_hmm_1st_edition_oct_2012_english.pdf

Here's also a link to the board layout for the hell of it. It's right below the left fan.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/F/9/366021/original/sample_yoga_inside_1600.png

[lwfinger]

As I expected, it is in a proprietary package. From what I can tell, no vendor is yet putting the 8723AU in a standard USB package. Given that it combines Wifi and BT, that should not take too long. Perhaps that will be my opportunity to get a sample.

[lwfinger]

I just committed the update to v4.1.6_7336.20130426. The commit message is as follows:

commit 3d01661
Author: Larry Finger Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net
Date: Mon May 27 15:24:29 2013 -0500

rtl8723au: Upgrade to driver version v4.1.6_7336.20130426

This update replaces the entire source and should be tested. If it fails,
report it and do a "git checkout 4682dce" to return to the previous
version.

Signed-off-by: Larry Finger Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net

This version has BT coexistence enabled.

Larry

[tmclaugh]

Updated to latest commit and WIFI and BT both work well together.

[lwfinger]

FYI, there is a new 'kernel' branch that has code that will be in kernel 3.21. It handles the Realtek devices just like any other kernel device. Thus far, no changes for older kernels have been included. As problems are reported, I will fix them.

[chzw517]

When will kernel version 3.21 release?

[lwfinger]

In about 6 months - 3 months for 3.21-rc1. The lead time for major kernel changes is quite long.

[dkniffin]

I'm having this issue. Was it ever resolved?