I have two Wi-Fi networks, N1 and N2. Both my Android phone and my PC running Debian 13 and Windows 10 can see N1, but initially N1 worked only on my phone and web pages would not load on either operating system on the PC. N2 is visible only on the PC; it works inconsistently on Windows 10, while Debian remains stuck at "configuring interface" until the connection fails. My PC connects normally to Wi-Fi at university and at my parents' house, so I'm unsure whether this is a router compatibility problem or a Linux driver issue. After using it more, N1 eventually started working correctly on Windows 10 as well. What should I check, and would diagnostic output such as dmesg help identify the cause?
2 Answers
This may be caused by compatibility settings on the router. Some access points can be configured to allow only newer Wi-Fi standards, force 5 GHz, or prevent clients from falling back to 2.4 GHz. A computer may still see the network name but fail to authenticate or pass traffic if those settings do not match its adapter. Check that legacy clients are allowed, both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are enabled, and the wireless mode is set to a broadly compatible option. If you do not control the router, you may need the network owner to change those settings.
A wireless driver problem is another strong possibility, especially if the adapter uses a Realtek chipset. The fact that it works with some networks but behaves differently across operating systems can point to differences in driver support, security negotiation, or frequency handling. Check the kernel log immediately after a failed connection with `dmesg` and look for firmware, authentication, timeout, or interface-reset errors. Identifying the exact Wi-Fi chipset and installed driver would also help narrow this down.
I can connect the PC through phone tethering to collect diagnostic information. I’m not sure whether that changes anything, but I can provide the relevant dmesg output.
Unfortunately, I’m renting and don’t have access to the router, so changing its settings may not be possible.