Tweaking Settings To Improve Realtek Wi-Fi Adapter Performance On Linux
Locating Your Realtek Wi-Fi Adapter
Finding the hardware IDs and driver details for your Realtek Wi-Fi adapter is the first step toward improving its performance. Commands like lspci and checking dmesg outputs can reveal useful information.
Finding Hardware IDs and Driver Details
Use lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 net to list all network controllers and their kernel drivers. The IDs contained here can help match the device to specific drivers.
Checking dmesg and lspci Output
dmesg may show kernel errors or warnings related to a misbehaving Wi-Fi adapter. Information in lspci -v helps pinpoint the Realtek chipset generation.
Common Realtek Driver Issues
Realtek Wi-Fi adapters in Linux frequently suffer from connection stability problems, slow transfer speeds, limited range, and wireless interference. But software optimizations can help.
Connection Stability Problems
Frequent dropped connections plagued by RTL88XX and RTL87XX chips are partly fixable by adjusting power saving settings and enabling Wi-Fi multipath options.
Slow Transfer Speeds
For progressively slower speeds during a wireless session with these chips, Wi-Fi power management tweaks can help sustain peak throughput for longer. Updating drivers also improves speed.
Limited Range
Short Wi-Fi range limits are largely dependent on antenna and channel limitations in Realtek chips. Software solutions like increasing TX power can help overcome such challenges.
Optimizing Driver Settings
Digging into the configuration options for your Realtek driver can unlock significant performance and reliability improvements you won’t get out-of-the-box.
Adjusting Power Saving Options
Disable unnecessary power saving features like U-APSD, suspend/resume, and MimoPowerSave. Keep options like PSPoll enabled for better stability without wasting power.
Increasing TX Power
Bumping up transmission (TX) power even by 1 or 2 dBm can enhance Wi-Fi range. But stay within local regulatory limits to avoid errors or radio interference.
Setting Higher Beacon Intervals
A beacon interval of 100ms or higher reduces overhead without compromising performance. Together with other tweaks, a higher beacon interval can significantly transform your Realtek Wi-Fi experience.
Using Better Drivers
When optimizing default driver settings still leaves your Realtek Wi-Fi performing below par, installing alternate drivers may help resolve issues.
Installing Backported Drivers
Many Linux distro package repositories contain stabilized out-of-tree Realtek Wi-Fi drivers. These updated drivers provide better compatibility over the often unreliable default ones.
Building Drivers from Realtek Source
Bleeding edge Wi-Fi drivers directly from Realtek promise the newest standards support and bug fixes. But their downside lies in stability and build complexity.
Consider Changing to Atheros or Intel
If your Linux hardware permits, swapping problematic Realtek cards for well-supported Atheros or Intel Wi-Fi solutions can offer an easier and more robust wireless experience long-term.
Verifying and Benchmarking Improvements
Quantifying Wi-Fi performance changes requires rigorous benchmarking using tools purpose-built for the task. Measure and record metrics diligently before and after tweaks.
Tools like iperf3 and wavemon
Iperf3 actively measures max speed and stability by generating TCP/UDP data streams. Wavemon monitors signal levels, noise, frequency use, and other RF metrics.
Comparing Speeds Before and After
Internet speed tests and file transfer timings should be taken at set locations under fixed conditions before tweaking, in order to reliably gauge improvements from any changes afterward.
Troubleshooting Remaining Issues
For those still afflicted by patchy connections, slow hotspotting, or erratic ping after trying everything else – changing channels, frequencies, and locations can alleviate associated problems.
Changing Channels and Frequencies
Switch channels to pick cleaner 11n/11ac frequencies free from interference. Avoid overlapping networks and noisy DFS channels. Use apps like Wi-Fi Analyzer to guide optimal channel choice.
Checking for Interference
Nearby baby monitors, garage remotes, Bluetooth devices – 2.4Ghz electrical gadgets all contribute noise disrupting Wi-Fi signals. Track them down with an RF scanner and eliminate or mitigate their impact.
Switching to 5GHz Band
If your Realtek adapter supports dual-band 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac, enabling this band instead of default 2.4GHz can skirt many of the latter’s inherent limitations and deliver vastly better user experience.
