## Improving Slow Wireless Performance on Star Labs Devices

If you’re experiencing **slow Wi-Fi speeds or unstable wireless transfers**, this guide can help you identify and resolve common issues.

---

### 🔍 Understanding the Issue

Star Labs devices use Intel wireless cards such as **AX200**, **AX201**, **AX210** and **AX211**.
These cards include advanced power-saving features that help reduce energy consumption, but on some networks this can reduce throughput or make the connection feel inconsistent.

>

> 💡 **Note:**
> If your wireless adapter appears as **“Wireless-AC 9462”**, don’t worry — this is simply how some Linux kernels identify the **AX201** card.

By default, the wireless card may operate in **power-saving mode**. The steps below show how to identify the active wireless interface, temporarily disable power saving, test performance, and make the change permanent if it helps.

---

## 1. Find Your Wireless Interface

Open a **Terminal** window and run:

```bash
WIFI_IFACE="$(iw dev | awk '$1=="Interface"{iface=$2} $1=="type" && $2=="managed"{print iface; exit}')"
echo "$WIFI_IFACE"
```

This automatically selects the first active managed Wi-Fi interface. On many models this will be something like `wlp0s20f3`, but the exact name depends on the model and wireless card.

To confirm the current connection and link speed, run:

```bash
iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" link
```

Look for the `signal`, `rx bitrate` and `tx bitrate` lines.

---

## 2. Temporarily Disable Power Saving

Run:

```bash
sudo iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" set power_save off
iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" get power_save
```

Then test your connection speed again to see if performance improves.

This change is temporary and will usually be lost after a reboot or reconnect.

---

## 3. Installing Useful Network Tools

To better monitor your wireless connection, install **wavemon** — a simple, live Wi-Fi monitoring tool.

### 📡 Install Wavemon

**Debian / Ubuntu-based:**

```bash
sudo apt install wavemon
```

**Arch / Manjaro-based:**

```bash
sudo pacman -S wavemon
```

**Fedora-based:**

```bash
sudo dnf install wavemon
```

To start live monitoring:

```bash
wavemon
```

---

## 4. Checking Wireless Signal and Connection Quality

Use these commands to view available networks and monitor your connection:

**List all visible networks:**

```bash
nmcli device wifi list
```

**Monitor your current connection status:**

```bash
watch -n1 iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" link
```

These tools will help you detect weak signals, interference, or unstable links.

---

## 5. Make the Fix Permanent

If disabling power saving improves performance, you can make the change permanent with NetworkManager:

```bash
sudo mkdir -p /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d
printf '[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2
' | sudo tee /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/99-disable-wifi-powersave.conf
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
```

Then reconnect to Wi-Fi and check the setting:

```bash
iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" get power_save
```

To revert this change:

```bash
sudo rm /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/99-disable-wifi-powersave.conf
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
```

---

## 6. Advanced Intel Driver Parameters (Use with Caution)

>

> ⚠️ **Warning:** The following settings are for advanced users only.
> Incorrect changes may cause reduced performance or compatibility issues.

For Intel wireless cards using the `iwlwifi` driver, you can create `/etc/modprobe.d/starlabs.conf` with additional driver options.

For example:

```bash
echo "options iwlwifi 11n_disable=8 power_save=off" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/starlabs.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u
```

Then reboot your laptop.

To revert to default settings:

```bash
sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/starlabs.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u
```

Then reboot again.

---

## 7. Optional Driver Parameters

You can test additional parameters to fine-tune wireless performance:

| Parameter | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `options iwlwifi bt_coex_active=0` | Disables Bluetooth coexistence. May improve Wi-Fi throughput, but can affect Bluetooth devices. |
| `options iwlwifi bt_coex_active=1` | Enables Bluetooth coexistence. Recommended if using Bluetooth devices. |
| `options iwlwifi 11n_disable=8` | Enables antenna aggregation for improved performance. |
| `options iwlwifi swcrypto=1` | Uses software encryption. Can improve stability on some systems. |
| `options iwlwifi power_save=off` | Disables Intel wireless driver power saving. |
| `options iwlwifi d0i3_disable=1` | Disables low-power idle state. |
| `options iwlwifi uapsd_disable=1` | Disables U-APSD; may fix low throughput on some access points. |

---

## ✅ Summary

1. Identify your active wireless interface with `iw dev`.
2. Test disabling power saving with `sudo iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" set power_save off`.
3. Use **wavemon**, **nmcli** and `iw dev "$WIFI_IFACE" link` to monitor signal and link speed.
4. If speeds improve, make the power-saving change permanent with NetworkManager.
5. Only use driver parameters if the basic power-saving change is not enough.

You should now experience faster and more consistent wireless performance.