Wifi slows down when Bluetooth headset is connected in Ubuntu 20.04
Olivia Zamora 
My wifi works perfectly until I connect my system to a Bluetooth headset. After connecting to the Bluetooth headset my wifi slows down a lot. I tried solution from this and thisquestions but nothing worked.
The output of lspci -knn | grep Net -A2
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [10ec:b723] DeviceName: Sanji2 Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [103c:81c1] Kernel driver in use: rtl8723be Kernel modules: rtl8723bethanks in advance :)
Edit 1
Output of sudo iwlist freq
lo no frequency information.
enp1s0 no frequency information.
wlo1 13 channels in total; available frequencies : Channel 01 : 2.412 GHz Channel 02 : 2.417 GHz Channel 03 : 2.422 GHz Channel 04 : 2.427 GHz Channel 05 : 2.432 GHz Channel 06 : 2.437 GHz Channel 07 : 2.442 GHz Channel 08 : 2.447 GHz Channel 09 : 2.452 GHz Channel 10 : 2.457 GHz Channel 11 : 2.462 GHz Channel 12 : 2.467 GHz Channel 13 : 2.472 GHz Current Frequency:2.447 GHz (Channel 8)Edit 2
ant_sel=1 doesn't gives any noticeable change
ant_sel=2 results in 'no network found` (Ubuntu unable to find any wifi network)
parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be ant_sel=2 swlps=0
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|level'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning.also Output of modeinfo rtl8723be
filename: /lib/modules/5.11.0-25-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/rtl8723be/rtl8723be.ko
firmware: rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin
firmware: rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
description: Realtek 8723BE 802.11n PCI wireless
license: GPL
author: Realtek WlanFAE <>
author: PageHe <>
srcversion: 17AE822AE3E2EAA1A500831
alias: pci:v000010ECd0000B723sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: rtlwifi,rtl8723-common,rtl_pci,btcoexist,mac80211
retpoline: Y
intree: Y
name: rtl8723be
vermagic: 5.11.0-25-generic SMP mod_unload modversions
sig_id: PKCS#7
signer: Build time autogenerated kernel key
sig_key: 0D:27:87:4B:73:30:80:92:F7:26:14:3F:FE:83:1E:48:91:08:F2:86
sig_hashalgo: sha512
signature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
parm: swenc:Set to 1 for software crypto (default 0) (bool)
parm: ips:Set to 0 to not use link power save (default 1) (bool)
parm: swlps:Set to 1 to use SW control power save (default 0) (bool)
parm: fwlps:Set to 1 to use FW control power save (default 1) (bool)
parm: msi:Set to 1 to use MSI interrupts mode (default 0) (bool)
parm: aspm:Set to 1 to enable ASPM (default 1) (int)
parm: debug_level:Set debug level (0-5) (default 0) (int)
parm: debug_mask:Set debug mask (default 0) (ullong)
parm: disable_watchdog:Set to 1 to disable the watchdog (default 0) (bool)
parm: ant_sel:Set to 1 or 2 to force antenna number (default 0) (int)Edit 3
- Output of commands
parag@Notebook:~$ uname -a
Linux Notebook 5.11.0-25-generic #27~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jul 13 17:41:23 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
parag@Notebook:~$ sudo lshw -class network *-network description: Ethernet interface product: RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. physical id: 0 bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0 logical name: enp1s0 version: 07 serial: 30:e1:71:73:d8:3f capacity: 100Mbit/s width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=5.11.0-25-generic firmware=rtl8106e-1_0.0.1 06/29/12 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair resources: irq:16 ioport:4000(size=256) memory:b1200000-b1200fff memory:b1000000-b1003fff *-network description: Wireless interface product: RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. physical id: 0 bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0 logical name: wlo1 version: 00 serial: 58:00:e3:88:1f:93 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rtl8723be driverversion=5.11.0-25-generic firmware=N/A ip=192.168.1.11 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11 resources: irq:17 ioport:3000(size=256) memory:b1100000-b1103fff
parag@Notebook:~$ ls -al /etc/pm/config.d/
ls: cannot access '/etc/pm/config.d/': No such file or directory
parag@Notebook:~$ ls -al /etc/modprobe.d/
total 60
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Aug 13 13:24 .
drwxr-xr-x 137 root root 12288 Aug 12 15:51 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2507 Jul 31 2015 alsa-base.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 154 Feb 16 2020 amd64-microcode-blacklist.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 325 Mar 12 2020 blacklist-ath_pci.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1518 Mar 12 2020 blacklist.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 210 Mar 12 2020 blacklist-firewire.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 677 Mar 12 2020 blacklist-framebuffer.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 156 Jul 31 2015 blacklist-modem.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 41 Jul 17 22:15 blacklist-oss.conf -> /lib/linux-sound-base/noOSS.modprobe.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 583 Mar 12 2020 blacklist-rare-network.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 154 Nov 12 2020 intel-microcode-blacklist.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 347 Mar 12 2020 iwlwifi.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 28 Aug 14 08:18 rtl8723be.conf
parag@Notebook:~$ sudo lsmod | grep rtl8723be
rtl8723be 98304 0
btcoexist 155648 1 rtl8723be
rtl8723_common 24576 1 rtl8723be
rtl_pci 28672 1 rtl8723be
rtlwifi 94208 4 rtl_pci,rtl8723be,btcoexist,rtl8723_common
mac80211 1024000 3 rtl_pci,rtl8723be,rtlwifi
parag@Notebook:~$ sudo iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
enp1s0 no wireless extensions.
wlo1 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"FTTH-5731" Mode:Managed Frequency:2.452 GHz Access Point: 00:6D:61:D8:57:31 Bit Rate=72.2 Mb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm Retry short limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thr:off Encryption key:off Power Management:on Link Quality=54/70 Signal level=-56 dBm Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0 Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:857 Missed beacon:0
parag@Notebook:~$ inxi -Fxz
System: Kernel: 5.11.0-25-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A Desktop: Gnome 3.36.9 Distro: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa)
Machine: Type: Laptop System: HP product: HP Notebook v: Type1ProductConfigId serial: <filter> Mobo: HP model: 81EB v: 61.38 serial: <filter> UEFI: Insyde v: F.21 date: 10/27/2016
Battery: ID-1: BAT1 charge: 28.6 Wh condition: 32.6/32.1 Wh (101%) model: Hewlett-Packard PABAS0241231 status: Discharging
CPU: Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i3-6006U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Skylake rev: 3 L2 cache: 3072 KiB flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 15999 Speed: 1800 MHz min/max: 400/2000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1803 2: 1926 3: 1802 4: 1816
Graphics: Device-1: Intel Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520] vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: i915 resolution: 1366x768~60Hz OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 520 (SKL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 21.0.3 direct render: Yes
Audio: Device-1: Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.11.0-25-generic
Network: Device-1: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 4000 bus ID: 01:00.0 IF: enp1s0 state: down mac: <filter> Device-2: Realtek RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: rtl8723be v: kernel port: 3000 bus ID: 02:00.0 IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives: Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 26.69 GiB (2.9%) ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10JPVX-60JC3T0 size: 931.51 GiB temp: 37 C
Partition: ID-1: / size: 48.97 GiB used: 26.66 GiB (54.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda7
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 45.5 C mobo: 29.8 C Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info: Processes: 295 Uptime: 29m Memory: 7.67 GiB used: 3.59 GiB (46.8%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: N/A Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38 Brand/Model of computer: HP 15-ay542tu- Stay's like this
Also
- setting swlps=0
parag@Notebook:~$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be swlps=0 fwlps=0"
options rtl8723be swlps=0 fwlps=0
parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be swlps=0 fwlps=0
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning. Quality=58/70 Signal level=-52 dBm ESSID:"FTTH-5731"Outputs
Internet Speed difference (average of 3 readings from fast.com)
12.3Mbps (without bluetooth headset)
1.8Mbps (with buletooth headset)parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be swlps=0 fwlps=0
parag@Notebook:~$ grep [[:alnum:]] /sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/*
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/ant_sel:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/aspm:1
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/debug_level:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/debug_mask:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/disable_watchdog:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/fwlps:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/ips:Y
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/msi:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/swenc:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/swlps:N
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning. Quality=60/70 Signal level=-50 dBm ESSID:"FTTH-5731"- ant_sel=1
parag@Notebook:~$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be ant_sel=1"
options rtl8723be ant_sel=1
parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be ant_sel=1
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning. Quality=62/70 Signal level=-48 dBm ESSID:"FTTH-5731"Outputs
speed: no major difference
parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be ant_sel=1
parag@Notebook:~$ grep [[:alnum:]] /sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/*
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/ant_sel:1
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/aspm:1
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/debug_level:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/debug_mask:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/disable_watchdog:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/fwlps:Y
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/ips:Y
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/msi:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/swenc:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/swlps:N
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning. Quality=64/70 Signal level=-46 dBm ESSID:"FTTH-5731"- ant_sel=2
parag@Notebook:~$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be ant_sel=2"
options rtl8723be ant_sel=2
parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be ant_sel=2
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning. Quality=64/70 Signal level=-46 dBm ESSID:"FTTH-5731"Outputs:
No wifi network was found in setting -> wifi
parag@Notebook:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf
options rtl8723be ant_sel=2
parag@Notebook:~$ grep [[:alnum:]] /sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/*
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/ant_sel:2
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/aspm:1
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/debug_level:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/debug_mask:0
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/disable_watchdog:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/fwlps:Y
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/ips:Y
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/msi:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/swenc:N
/sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/swlps:N
parag@Notebook:~$ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp1s0 Interface doesn't support scanning.- No difference
2 Answers
I faced the same issue some months back and get it solved by using Wi-Fi on 5 GHz band. Basically, bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz band. If Wi-Fi also uses the same band, there will be some interference between those. So, changing the Wi-Fi to 5GHz band and using bluetooth on 2.4 GHz solves the problem.
In my case, when Wi-Fi is connected, bluetooth headset's latency was increased. And after doing some research online, I found the solution. Switching bands greatly improved things.
Hope this helps! :)
5EDIT:
Info to post
Please post the following info
Output of commands
$ uname -a $ sudo lshw -class network $ modinfo rtl8723be <-- DONE $ ls -al /etc/pm/config.d/ $ ls -al /etc/modprobe.d/ $ sudo iwlist freq <-- DONE $ lspci -knn | grep Net -A2 <-- DONE $ sudo lsmod | grep rtl8723be $ sudo iwconfig $ inxi -FxzBrand/model of your computer
Where did you see "'no network found' (Ubuntu unable to find any wifi network)" after using
ant_sel=2?
Things to try
Setting option
swlps=0(somehow it is not set at that default as of now). Run these commands and post the output and resulting behavior.$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be swlps=0 fwlps=0" $ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf $ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'Reboot
$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf $ grep [[:alnum:]] /sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/* $ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'Setting option
ant_sel=1. Run these commands and post the output and resulting behavior.$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be ant_sel=1" $ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf $ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'Reboot
$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf $ grep [[:alnum:]] /sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/* $ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'Setting option
ant_sel=2. Run these commands and post the output and resulting behavior.$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be ant_sel=2" $ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf $ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'Reboot
$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf $ grep [[:alnum:]] /sys/module/rtl8723be/parameters/* $ iwlist scan | egrep -i 'ssid|quality'Disabling the 5GHz band in the router. Post the resulting behavior.
Notes
Compiling a new driver (often using a driver from Larry Finger) solved the problem for many people, but all those posts are old, so I guess it is not a problem-solver as of now. See e.g., this, this, this.
It seems some HP models do not have both antennas cabled, see this, this, this.
I would also try removing the option for coexistence, but there seems to be no option at the driver level for this. There is a dependence on
btcoexist, but I wouldn't know how to use that, perhaps someone else knows.
Did it work well at any time?If so, you could try booting to an older kernel, at least to test further alternatives below.
Interference between bluetooth and wifi is well known, I am listing below a few sources, which include general methods of avoiding it.
In Ubuntu, the way to implement those methods are by setting options for the driver. Run in a terminal
$ sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8723be.conf <<< "options rtl8723be ant_sel=1"and reboot. You might need/try
$ sudo modprobe -rv rtl8723be
$ sudo modprobe -v rtl8723be ant_sel=1If that doesn't work, try with ant_sel=2.
If that doesn't work either, other options may help.
I don't have an rtl8723be to test, but you could post the output of
$ modinfo rtl8723beto get a list.
Note that solutions like this (distancing bluetooth and wifi adapters), or changing the band, do not work for you, since Realtek RTL873BE is a "802.11bgn PCIe WLAN with Bluetooth 4.0 Single-Chip Controller" (single band, 2.4GHz).
Ubuntu sources:
- Bluetooth Audio interfering with WiFi?
- Wi-Fi connectivity issue - Ubuntu 18.04
- Realtek RTL8723BE Wi-Fi incredibly weak
- Realtek RTL8723be doesn't have good reception
- Wi-Fi connectivity issue - Ubuntu 18.04
General sources:
- How to Stop Bluetooth Interference From Messing With Your Other Devices
- WiFi and Bluetooth interference – diagnosing and fixing
- How to Avoid Bluetooth Interference in Headphones
