Wi-Fi 6 on Linux Mint anyone?

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I have just purchased a new router known as the ‘eero6’  – it is  802.11ax.

This is what I have researched so far …

Ubuntu kernel 4.19  supports WiFi 6, but it looks as though kernel 5.1 is the advise that I see more often.  For dual boot, W10 is not supported, must be W11.  I have been rummaging through the Linux Mint forum to find WiFi 6 user experience(s) – some users have expressed frustration with drivers not working  (no surprise there), but not much that is really useful.

Anyone here have any experience with wifi 6 on dual boot Windows/Linux Mint 19 up?

My systems: I plan to  dual boot on a new W11 system (specs show W6 support) with LTR Mint 21 Vanessa. I currently use Mint 19 Tricia on a Lenovo laptop (vintage 2010), dual boot W7.   I am expecting driver issues with the latter. I came across one user who had problems with an Ethernet connection from an older system to a WiFi 6 router – it is not solved!

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You are unlikely to see any speed improvement using wifi 6 over your current wifi, so you have plenty of time to wait for kernel and driver support.

cheers, Paul

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The speed I get on WiFi 5 is pretty good at the moment.  I should be able to connect more devices on WiFi 6 and maintain good performance/speed.   The other improvement is security, WPA3.

I have cancelled my internet account with the carrier and signed up for a new one. The new eero6 router now has 5 devices working on it – 4 are  802.11ac and one is a desktop (Ethernet connected). My new system (W11) will be the only 802.11ax connection I will have – will install Mint and test it out when it arrives (great sales on now!).

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I experienced a big improvement in 6e vs 5.  Speed/ping faster but also so few users on 6e band very little chance of interference.

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How did you get your devices on Wifi6? Were they all 6 compatible and you bought a new router?

cheers, Paul

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NoLoki wrote:

Ubuntu kernel 4.19 supports WiFi 6, but it looks as though kernel 5.1 is the advise that I see more often.

You’re fine there. Mint 21 is based on Ubuntu 22.04, which comes with at least 5.15 (that’s what I was using with it when I moved to OpenSUSE Tumbleweed).

NoLoki wrote:

For dual boot, W10 is not supported, must be W11.

Windows 10 is not supported by what? Dual boot with Windows 10 works fine.

If you mean Wifi 6 support… According to this publication from Microsoft, Windows 10 2004 supports Wifi 6.

NoLoki wrote:

I have been rummaging through the Linux Mint forum to find WiFi 6 user experience(s) – some users have expressed frustration with drivers not working (no surprise there),

Wifi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is a standard, not a device. The drivers would be for each wireless device (the wireless network card) that supports the 802.11ax standard. The one in each of my laptops, the Intel AX201, supports Wifi-6, and the driver is the Intel iwlwifi driver (the Intel wireless driver that is included with the Linux kernel). It is the same driver as the other Intel wireless cards that do not have Wifi-6 capability. They all work well, though I have never had the opportunity to try to connect to a Wifi-6 router. My router uses 802.11ac, now with the retronym “Wifi-5.”

One manufacturer’s Wifi-6 card may have problems with its driver while another manufacturer’s card has drivers that work flawlessly. If you can find out which specific card people are having trouble with, perhaps that is one you should avoid!

NoLoki wrote:

I am expecting driver issues with the latter. I came across one user who had problems with an Ethernet connection from an older system to a WiFi 6 router – it is not solved!

Ethernet has nothing to do with the wireless access point bit (the part that does, or does not do, Wifi 6). Whatever the problem is, in that case, not a function of Wifi 6.

 

 

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/16GB & GTX1660ti, OpenSUSE Tumbleweed

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The original statement I read from Windows central was that WiFi 6 is not supported on W10.  It may have been in response to W10 21H2  in 2021.   However, after reading your response, it looks as thought  it is 6E that will not be supported on W10  …  “Dec 2021 Microsoft announced that they are not backporting WiFi 6E support to Windows 10. Even if you have a WiFi 6E-capable network adapter, if your PC uses Windows 10, you can’t use WiFi 6E until you upgrade to Windows 11”.

“Wifi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is a standard, not a device” – 

I did not refer to it as a device.  The eero6 is an ax1800 router.  My 2010 Lenovo laptop’s chip and driver is all good with the new router – my concern was not warranted, this time.

“Ethernet has nothing to do with the wireless access point bit (the part that does, or does not do, Wifi 6). Whatever the problem is, in that case, not a function of Wifi 6.”  

Why so condescending!  As I said in my first post, there is not much experience out there with wifi 6  – very few posts on Linux forums. I came across this one (intriguing at best)  –  his WiFi 6router can not see his Ethernet card. Seems like a hardware issue to me.

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