Comments on: Lenovo ThinkPad T460 Yoga with Intel AC 8260 Wireless Issues

By: Jeet Kulkarni

Jeet Kulkarni — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 03:05:41 +0000

We have similar issues with Lenovo X1 Yoga Gen1/2 running intel 8260/65 chipsets. We upgraded the driver version to latest Version: 20.10.2 but problems continue. Client drops wireless connection, sometimes SSIDs do not show up. Clients connect but show no internet connectivity.

Cisco 5508, AP 2800s
Currently running 8.2.166.0

MPDU is enabled in our case. Would it be good to upgrade 8.3.x version. Have a TAC case open for this.

By: Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 16:35:06 +0000

In reply to Steven. 8.0.135.0

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 16:01:37 +0000

In reply to Michael McNamara. Michael, what version of AireIOS are on your controllers? Thanks

By: Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 14:37:13 +0000

In reply to Azar.

I’m still running 19.20.3 and haven’t had many issues at all… with a very large (global) user base. I’m split between Cisco and Aruba Instants across my network.

Good Luck!

By: Azar

Azar — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:04:52 +0000

I am also now facing with the same issue. Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260. My laptop Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 460. Random ping lost. Testes with several wireless access point (cisco, dlink, zyxel, ubiquiti, hp aruba) A few days ago Intel released 19.40.0 (Latest) version driver. Windows 10 automatically download and install latest version and laptop cant detect wireless signals. I last we discover that wireless adapter can detect signals in short distance, we made hotspot and connect. We also tried to change several parameters of wireless adapter (channel width, HT mode, wireless mode and all other) We rollback to 18.40.0.12 version. Still not effective.

By: Oriol

Oriol — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 11:03:30 +0000

We used to have serious problems with Intel AC 8260 and the AP Cisco Aironet 1130 AG Series. Random lost pings (30%), drop connection, etc…

Since driver 19.1.0.4 from 28/12/2016, the problem was solved. No lost pings, no drop connections…

By: miksu

miksu — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 16:19:42 +0000

Some more testing done with AC 8260 in Lenovo P50 and different APs.
AC 8260 with newest driver (19.20.3.4) in use:
– works with Ubiquiti AP AC PRO, didn’t check AP firmware version, default settings on radio interface, just addes two SSIDs. Lot of variation on connection speeds.
– works reasonably with Cisco SRP-527 at n-speeds (latest firmware 1.01.29 from year 2013, EOL, non-IOS AP)
– works better with Cisco 1262 (12-series IOS) when CCX-extensions are enabled on Intel-driver. Using AMPDU + lower Fragmentation threshold (1024). Somewhat low connection speeds, less than 150Mbps, no matter whether 2.4Ghz or 5GHz band.

In order to enable CCX-extensions on Intel driver one must download ITC / Pro-version that enables customizations. CCX is enabled by altering setup.xml with editor and then running setup. For some reason CCX is disabled by default.

Still not as as reliable as old Centrino Advanced-N 6205 in my old W530. 6205 used to have predictable speeds with precisely same environment and same APs in use, except Ubiquiti that I didn’t have before.

By: miksu

miksu — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 19:37:29 +0000

Did some tinkering, downgraded my (independent) Cisco AP 1262 from IOS 15.2.4.something to 12.4.25d.JA2 (last version of 12-series IOS). No more problems. Still using Intel 18.40.0.12 driver, because newer didn’t work at all with IOS 15. Tried my P50 at my parents place, they have Cisco AP 1252 with IOS 12.4., no problems. Now having solid connection and no delays.

Have to try newer drivers with 12-series IOS. I ordered Ubiquiti WLAN AP (ac), it will arrive soon, will be interesting to try. So far I have read that certain versions of Ubiquitis firmware work, most doesn’t work. I’ll report results here.

By: Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:43:00 +0000

In reply to miksu.

Intel has released a new driver set that is intended to resolve this issue;
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26465/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windows-10
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26469/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-IT-Admins

By: miksu

miksu — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 07:17:21 +0000

This article helped me to solve issues with Thinkpad P50 with AC8260 and Cisco 1262 autonomous accesspoint. It would be nice, if Intel would bother to fix their drivers. Disabling HT or VHT mode on Intel driver limits performance seriously (max 54mbps) and what’s the point of having n- or ac-adapter, if you can only use 802.11g-class transfer rate?!

My solution was also to issue ampdu-command for access point. For autonomous accespoints, command is given on radio interface:
interface dot11radio n (n being number of radio)
ampdu transmit priority 0 (0, zero being best effort, there are other classes)

By: Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 17:17:22 +0000

Here’s an additional update from Intel;

We’ve reproduced the problem in our lab. Interesting note – the problem only occurs on Cisco FW 8.0.X and below. It does not occur with version 8.3.X. This is due to Cisco changing the maximum A-MSDU size. We tested 8.3.X and found that the AP would not send a A-MSDU frame larger than 4 kB. We then tested 8.0.X and found the AP would send a 7.5 kB frame. We know our adapter chokes on frames larger than 4 kB. I’m not sure why Cisco made a change on their side.

By: Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 12:28:49 +0000

In reply to Manon Lessard.

Hi Manon,

I’m not 100% sure but I believe we tested v18.30 and found the same issues, actually I believe the factory imaged we had shipped with 18.30… will need to look at my notes.

I haven’t heard of any negative feedback yet but it can sometimes take time to work it’s way back to me if the problem only impacts a small number of clients…. I have about 4,000 clients connecting on a daily basis we usually hear pretty quickly if there is a large scale issue. At this point I’d say that we haven’t run into any issues enabling A-MPDU.

Cheers!

By: Manon Lessard

Manon Lessard — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 12:21:41 +0000

Hi,

Our experience shows that driver v18.30 was doing its job but later versions were problematic. This is confirmed by Intel/Cisco.

A-Msdu is the default aggregation method because controllers do it in hardware. So maybe it’s not someone who deactivated it.

By the way, going from a-msdu to a-mpdu, did you see any issues with other clients?

Thanks,

@Mae149

By: Episode 11 – Infrastructure Lifecycle | Network Broadcast Storm

Episode 11 – Infrastructure Lifecycle | Network Broadcast Storm — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 03:43:22 +0000

[…] Update: August 30, 2016 – workaround is to enable A-MPDU for 802.11n – Lenovo ThinkPad T460 Yoga with Intel AC 8260 Wireless Issues […]