WiFi Ralink RT3592 2T/2R not working properly

[kjellinux]

I have an hp ProBook 4330s running Debian 12 stable with Gnome desktop environment. It is equipped with a Ralink RT3592 2T/2R for WiFi connection. When I open WiFi settings, it says Wireless Connected, but when I run speedtest I only get 0.56 Mbit/s Downlink and 1.75 Mbit/s Uplink. I searched the forum and found this thread about Wlan problem.

The thread refers to the Debian WiKi on WiFi. Here I found the Ralink RT3592 2T/2R and the help page for it, the Debian WiKi for rt2800pci.

Here, under Installation, step 1 is to "Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:

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# Debian 8 "Jessie"
deb http://httpredir.debian.org/debian/ jessie main contrib non-free

When I try to run this, I get an error message:

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bash: deb: command does not exist.

What am I doing wrong?

System information:

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inxi -zrv7

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-25-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    Desktop: GNOME v: 43.9 tk: GTK v: 3.24.38 wm: gnome-shell dm: GDM3 v: 43.0
    Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP ProBook 4330s v: A0001D02
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 167E v: KBC Version 22.26
    serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Hewlett-Packard v: 68SRR Ver. F.65
    date: 02/13/2018
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 40.2 Wh (93.7%) condition: 42.9/42.9 Wh (100.0%)
    volts: 12.5 min: 10.8 model: Hewlett-Packard Primary type: Li-ion
    serial: <filter> status: charging
Memory:
  RAM: total: 7.69 GiB used: 2.71 GiB (35.2%)
  RAM Report: permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges
    required.
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core i3-2350M bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    smt: enabled arch: Sandy Bridge rev: 7 cache: L1: 128 KiB L2: 512 KiB
    L3: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 799 high: 800 min/max: 800/2300 cores: 1: 800 2: 800
    3: 800 4: 798 bogomips: 18359
  Flags: acpi aperfmperf apic arat arch_perfmon avx bts clflush cmov
    constant_tsc cpuid cx16 cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64 dtherm dts epb est flush_l1d
    fpu fxsr ht ibpb ibrs lahf_lm lm mca mce md_clear mmx monitor msr mtrr
    nonstop_tsc nopl nx pae pat pbe pcid pclmulqdq pdcm pebs pge pln pni
    popcnt pse pse36 pti pts rdtscp rep_good sep ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1 sse4_2
    ssse3 stibp syscall tm tm2 tsc tsc_deadline_timer vme x2apic xsave
    xsaveopt xtopology xtpr
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
    vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-6 ports:
    active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:0116 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Sunplus Innovation HP HD Webcam [Fixed] type: USB
    driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 2-1.4:3 chip-ID: 1bcf:2805 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.9
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: gpu: i915 display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: Chi Mei Opto 0x1330 res: 1366x768 dpi: 118
    size: 293x164mm (11.54x6.46") diag: 336mm (13.2") modes: 1366x768
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 3000 (SNB
    GT2) direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio
    vendor: Hewlett-Packard 6 driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
    chip-ID: 8086:1c20 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-25-amd64 status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Ralink RT3592 Wireless 802.11abgn 2T/2R PCIe
    vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: rt2800pci v: 2.3.0 pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 bus-ID: 24:00.0 chip-ID: 1814:3592 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Hewlett-Packard RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000 bus-ID: 25:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp37s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  WAN IP: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Ralink CSR BS8510 type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 2-1.6:6
    chip-ID: 148f:2000 class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 14 state: up address: <filter>
    bt-v: 2.0 lmp-v: 3.0 sub-v: 1aa1 hci-v: 3.0 rev: 1aa1
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Message: No RAID data found.
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 111.79 GiB used: 10.54 GiB (9.4%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Intel model: SSDSC2CW120A3 size: 111.79 GiB
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 400i scheme: MBR
  Optical-1: /dev/sr0 vendor: hp model: DVD A DS8A8SH rev: KH61
    dev-links: cdrom
  Features: speed: 24 multisession: yes audio: yes dvd: yes
    rw: cd-r,cd-rw,dvd-r,dvd-ram state: running
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 100.81 GiB used: 10.54 GiB (10.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
    label: N/A uuid: 29cdfdd4-0843-48c9-9d34-da725527e28e
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 8.8 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    dev: /dev/sda2 label: swap uuid: aba2406f-d1fb-4f7c-a932-4eb116bab901
Unmounted:
  Message: No unmounted partitions found.
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-2: 1-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 6 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 8087:0024 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 2-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 6 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 8087:0024 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 2-1.4:3 info: Sunplus Innovation HP HD Webcam [Fixed]
    type: Video driver: uvcvideo interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    power: 500mA chip-ID: 1bcf:2805 class-ID: 0e02
  Device-2: 2-1.6:6 info: Ralink CSR BS8510 type: Bluetooth driver: btusb
    interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 148f:2000 class-ID: e001
  Hub-5: 3-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 2 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-6: 4-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0003 class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 41.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2353
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main non-free-firmware
    2: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main non-free-firmware
    3: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main non-free-firmware
    4: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main non-free-firmware
    5: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main non-free-firmware
    6: deb-src http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main non-free-firmware
    7: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main non-free-firmware
    8: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main non-free-firmware
Info:
  Processes: 225 Uptime: 7h 13m wakeups: 15 Init: systemd v: 252
  target: graphical (5) default: graphical Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Shell: Bash v: 5.2.15 running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.26

[sunrat]

The deb line is not a command, it is a line you edit in your sources file /etc/apt/sources.list . It has changed for Debian 12.
The safe way to do it is run the command (as root or sudo)

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apt edit-sources

and change the "main" line to

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deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

I believe it can be done instead with Synaptic if you wish.
Then run the command

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apt update && apt install firmware-ralink

[kjellinux]

After editing, /etc/apt/sources.list looks like this:

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cat /etc/apt/sources.list

# See https://wiki.debian.org/SourcesList for more information.
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main non-free-firmware

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main non-free-firmware

deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main non-free-firmware

# Backports allow you to install newer versions of software made available for this release
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main non-free-firmware

After updating I ran

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sudo apt install firmware-ralink

Reading package list… Done
Building dependancy tree… Done
Reading status information… Done
Observe, choosing "firmware-misc-nonfree" instead of "firmware-ralink"
firmware-misc-nonfree is already the newest version (20230210-5).
0 to upgrade, 0 to install, 0 to remove and 0 not to upgrade.

The WiFi performance has not improved. What else can I do?

[sunrat]

Looks like you have the correct driver and firmware. Need someone more expert in wifi to help from here.

[arzgi]

I have not a RT3592 device, so I'll give some general hints.

Check first your wlan is not blocked using rfkill, you might have to install it first. Must be run as root or with sudo.

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arto@dell:~$ sudo rfkill
[sudo] arto-käyttäjän salasana: 
ID TYPE      DEVICE      SOFT      HARD
29 wlan      phy5   unblocked unblocked
38 bluetooth hci0   unblocked unblocked
arto@dell:~$ sudo rfkill unblock all
arto@dell:~$ 

Also wifi's sleep mode has caused some trouble, search the forum, as I don't recall other that it has been discussed here.

[kjellinux]

Check first your wlan is not blocked using rfkill,

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sudo rfkill

ID TYPE      DEVICE       SOFT       HARD
 0 wlan      phy0     unblocked unblocked
17 bluetooth hci0     unblocked unblocked

Not blocked.

[arzgi]

Do you use wpa-supplicant or iwd?

[kjellinux]

Do you use wpa-supplicant or iwd?

I have no idea. How do I find out?

[arzgi]

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arto@dell:~$ apt search iwd
Sorting... Valmis
Full Text Search... Valmis
gnome-network-displays/stable 0.90.5-3 amd64
  miracast application for the GNOME desktop

iwd/stable,stable-security,now 2.3-1+deb12u1 amd64 [installed]
  wireless daemon for Linux

arto@dell:~$ apt search wpasupplicant
Sorting... Valmis
Full Text Search... Valmis
connman/stable 1.41-3 amd64
  Intel Connection Manager daemon

connman-dev/stable 1.41-3 amd64
  Development files for connman

connman-vpn/stable 1.41-3 amd64
  Intel Connection Manager daemon - VPN daemon

gnome-network-displays/stable 0.90.5-3 amd64
  miracast application for the GNOME desktop

wpasupplicant/stable,stable-security 2:2.10-12+deb12u2 amd64
  client support for WPA and WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i)

arto@dell:~

For example.

[kjellinux]

This is the result I get:

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kjellinux@4330s:~$ apt search iwd
Sorterar… Färdig
Fulltextsökning… Färdig
gnome-network-displays/stable 0.90.5-3 amd64
  miracast application for the GNOME desktop

iwd/stable,stable-security 2.3-1+deb12u1 amd64
  wireless daemon for Linux

iwgtk/stable-backports 0.9-1~bpo12+1 amd64
  lightweight graphical frontend to iwd

kjellinux@4330s:~$ apt search wpasupplicant
Sorterar… Färdig
Fulltextsökning… Färdig
connman/stable 1.41-3 amd64
  Intel Connection Manager daemon

connman-dev/stable 1.41-3 amd64
  Development files for connman

connman-vpn/stable 1.41-3 amd64
  Intel Connection Manager daemon - VPN daemon

gnome-network-displays/stable 0.90.5-3 amd64
  miracast application for the GNOME desktop

wpasupplicant/stable,stable-security,now 2:2.10-12+deb12u2 amd64 [installerat]
  client support for WPA and WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i)

[arzgi]

So you have wpasupplicant. It has been around fore years, easy to find answers from the net.

Post the content of /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf here. Remember to use code tags. The file is root owned. And hide your wifi's password.

[kjellinux]

Post the content of /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf here.

I can't find any file with that name. Can it be one of the others?

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kjellinux@4330s:/etc/wpa_supplicant$ ls
action_wpa.sh  functions.sh  ifupdown.sh

[arzgi]

Sorry, been while since used wpasupplicant.

Try as root;

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find / -name "wpasupplicant.conf"

and again as root:

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find / -name "wpa_supplicant.conf"

Then if you find it, then do as I instructed in my previous post.

[kjellinux]

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cat /etc/dbus-1/system.d/wpa_supplicant.conf

<!DOCTYPE busconfig PUBLIC
 "-//freedesktop//DTD D-BUS Bus Configuration 1.0//EN"
 "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/dbus/1.0/busconfig.dtd">
<busconfig>
        <policy user="root">
                <allow own="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>

                <allow send_destination="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>
                <allow send_interface="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>
                <allow receive_sender="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1" receive_type="signal"/>
        </policy>
        <policy group="netdev">
                <allow send_destination="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>
                <allow send_interface="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>
                <allow receive_sender="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1" receive_type="signal"/>
        </policy>
        <policy context="default">
                <deny own="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>
                <deny send_destination="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1"/>
                <deny receive_sender="fi.w1.wpa_supplicant1" receive_type="signal"/>
        </policy>
</busconfig>

[stevepusser]

Why is nobody pointing out they want to mix Jessie repos with Bookworm, or that the instructions they link to are over 12 years old, which is 1200 years old in Linux time?

The driver is loaded from the Bookworm kernel, but the speed is slow.

Try another speedtest provider to see if it's still slow using that.

Hook your phone up to your wifi, get next to your computer, and check the speed on the phone.

Try to see if you can get the router closer to the computer to see if that helps.

[kjellinux]

Try another speedtest provider to see if it's still slow using that.

Yes it is.

Hook your phone up to your wifi, get next to your computer, and check the speed on the phone.

The phone was on top of the touchpad of the computer.

Try to see if you can get the router closer to the computer to see if that helps.

The computer is about 5 cm/2 inches away from the router. Any closer and it will be INSIDE the router.

[sunrat]

Why is nobody pointing out they want to mix Jessie repos with Bookworm, or that the instructions they link to are over 12 years old, which is 1200 years old in Linux time?

It's Debian 12 and the sources are OK. It's just that the wiki page for that device hasn't been updated since 2015 - https://wiki.debian.org/rt2800pci
Device is reported as working for Debian 12 in HW database - https://linux-hardware.org/?id=pci:1814-3592-103c-1638

[kjellinux]

Device is reported as working for Debian 12 in HW database - https://linux-hardware.org/?id=pci:1814-3592-103c-1638

Does this mean I need to update the driver?

[stevepusser]

The driver is inside the kernel, but you can try a newer kernel from bookworm-backports or a Liquorix kernel.

A non-invasive of testing this is to try a Debian variant's Live session, booting the machine from either a pendrive or DVD, that already is using a backported kernel on Bookworm. This will not affect the installed OS.

I'm kinda partial to MX Linux's AHS edition, since I'm doing the backport kernels for it.