Ralink RT3290 adapter issues

[Bad_Cyborg]

I got an Envy 4 Ultrabook (Windows 😎 here fluctuating between 3-4 signal bars, at a mere 5 feet away from the router.

Last night I popped open the set and found this:

I hooked up the pin, booted the machine and it's showing full signal strength now.

[hanspoo]

Hi,

I expect HP give some solution for Linux Users with this rt3290 driver, i've fighting for a week with this HP sleekbook and can't make the wi fi to work, can HP give the Distro or Kernel Version in wich the rt3290 wifi works ?

Actually just ubuntu 13.04 appears to support the card but with poor quality signal, the driver from ralink after compilation works for a while and then dies with kernel panic.

Trying to boot the Notebook with an external hard USB drive don't work either.

01:00.0 Network controller: Ralink corp. Device 3290
    Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 18ec
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
    Memory at c2510000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
    Capabilities: <access denied>
    Kernel driver in use: rt2800pci
    Kernel modules: rt2800pci

[Cloud_Strider]

I am afraid that Linux is not officially supported on consumer model notebooks.  See this FAQ for more information.  

You did mention a few items that you have already tried.  I would recommend posting in the respective Linux forum for your distribution.  I'm certain others have experienced this and may have an answer there.

The following thread may be of assistance.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2137576

[nicofld]

OK HP, this has been going on for months and you guys still don't have an answer to fix our problems. And telling people to use an ethernet cable (like I saw on some other HP support threads) should get the poster to be fired if he's an HP support engineer.

I've got the same issue with a dv7 purchased last month (June 2013). I see messages dating back to late last year, come on ...

I bought an HP notebook because I thought HP was making quality products. Well I was wrong I guess. First of all, when you make a 800 Eur notebook, you don't put a cheap Wifi Ralink in there. What's wrong with spending a couple of extra bucks and putting in something that works, like a Broadcom chipset ?

I am extremly disappointed with HP, and I sincerily regret not to have purchased an ACER or ASUS notebook for 70% of the price, at least if I would have had issues, I'd have told myself it's a 500 buck notebook, not a 800 one ...

So either you tell us there is no fix for this issue, which is fine with me, we get over it and buy a USB key, or you guys tell Ralink (now Mediatek) to work on a fix.

BTW, the picture posted upper in the thread is just beautiful, the antenna was even not plugged in this guy's notebook ... if I didn't have a brand new notebook, I'd open it and check.

Anyway, that might be the first and last message I post on an HP support forum and I think that will be the last HP product I purchase. Hello Acer ...

[eliash]

adding another laptop suffer from the horrible network performance:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Wireless-Internet-Home-Networking/HP-4340s-wifi-network-keeps-disconnec...

hp 4340s, running windos 7 32bit Ultimate,
all other devices connected to the same network work perferctly except this brand new laptop.

[DarkVizier]

Wow, bought a new latop with a year old wifi adaprtor problem. I changed my wifi router thinking its the routers fault. Very poor. Its been so long, i fear there wont be a fix beside getting a new usb wifi adaptor.

[framan82]

Same problem here!

I bought last week an HP ENVY DV7-7397el and I have the same issues (Ralink RT3290 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter).

Bios and drivers updated (5.0.5.0), but the signal strenght is always leak (other 3 notebooks at home don'thave problems).

I did not have yet checked if the antenna is correctly plugged.

I am waiting for response from HP support, but for a pc paid 1200 EUR is a scandal still have this kind of problems!

[DarkVizier]

Its just been a week, Im afraid of opening up my laptop. Although, if the adaptor not being connected properly is the problem, it is easily fixable

[zipzit]

In HP's defense.. these guys seem to be trying to do a great job and treat the customer well. #1 reason is that they at least solicit feedback from the customer in multiple means. Their phone call support for new products is excellent.  And yeah, when its all said and done, its just people supporting other people, and occasionally errors occur. 

With that said, however, on the topic of the Ralink RT3290 wifi 'chip'... Here's my take.  Clearly the Ralink driver for linux (ubuntu or whatever flavor) is grossly out of date.  The driver was last updated in 5/29/2012 (Ralink/ Mediatek Driver Link)

The driver, as written is worthless for the current releases of ubuntu (13.04). The make process generates over 50 warnings and 8 to 10 errors.  Some say its because the driver wasn't written for a 64bit O/S, or whatever, but the driver just doesn't work.  When I look at that driver page, it looks to me like nobody is touching that thing at all.  My guess is that there is no support there what so ever.  I suspect that business unit is gone.  poof.

And here's the rub.  I didn't select that chip or that company for the internals of my HP laptop.  HP, and only HP made that choice.  I wasn't even aware of the choice.  My laptop says HP on the cover.  I understand that HP provides the laptops with a windows operating system and fully supports that O/S with drivers and phone support. Awesome.  But...

What HP didn't tell me was:  Well we chose a sub-supplier for our components to save a few pennies.  They don't support their products.  If HP had told me they were making these choices and that the results would be ...

"Because of choices HP made, this laptop will not now, or ever, be able to operate with the Linux operating system.  If you are purchasing this with the intent of using an alternative O/S it will not work, will not function in wifi mode, ever. Have a nice day."

To tell me that up front would have made a difference.. I would not have purchased this laptop.  Instead I was led to believe that a reasonable expectation is alternative O/S wouldn't be a big deal.  (see HP FAQ about Linux )

You know I might understand a driver not being supported five or seven years after production, but this is a new laptop in current production for goodness sake!  As a minimum I'd expect HP (with their purchasing power to the subsupplier world) to insist that their subsuppliers fully support their components for a minimum of five years after the end of high volume production. 

At this point, my request to HP is.. please contact your supplier and have them update the driver.. in the alternative please provide the name, email address and telephone number of the persons at the subsupplier who are responsible for mainting the driver system.  We, your HP users, would be more than happy to provide real customer experience and feedback directly with them.  And yes. please provide the name of an english speaking person... the subsupplier sales person you deal with will be just fine.

thanks, zip.

[DarkVizier]

I am using Windows OS, so I dont think i can blame it on OS. A separate usb wifi adaptor does it for me. Intermittent breaks in connection are terrible when im playing online games.