nmcli can't see wifi networks, but iwlist does... [solved]

RayDude · Last edited by RayDude on Wed Mar 19, 2025 8:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

I'm using network manager. Its been good.

But I'm visiting my sister and bro-in-law and my laptop can't see their wifi network.

I followed a rabbit hole and ended up installing new firmware for my MT7922, but that didn't help.

Here's the thing: If I run nmcli it shows a few networks, not the one I'm looking for, but iwlist shows all the networks.

I figure network manager is misconfigured. Does anyone have any ideas?

TIA
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grknight · Retired Dev Joined: 20 Feb 2015 Posts: 2080

This is likely due to net-wireless/wpa_supplicant and its broken mixed mode handling.
By default, if any access point has a mixed WPA/WPA2 enabled, wpa_supplicant will fail to report it as available.
To fix this, either:

Set only WPA2 (or WPA2/WPA3) on an AP you control or
Enable tkip USE on wpa_supplicant so it can handle the deprecated WPA again

RayDude · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 8:18 pm Post subject:

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 8:21 pm Post subject:

RayDude,

It would be safer to fix your sisters WiFi access point to not use the old broken WPA option ... if that's possible.
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Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

grknight · Retired Dev Joined: 20 Feb 2015 Posts: 2080

It is always preferable to ditch WPA whenever possible. Hardware built since 2006 has been required to be WPA2 compliant

RayDude · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 9:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks Neddy and GRnight.

I suggested the upgrade to my Bro-In-Law. It will be up to him what he does.

Again thanks for the help.
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Some day there will only be free software.

Hu · Administrator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 23280

To me, "upgrade" suggests you are contemplating a hardware replacement. Based on grknight's comment, the existing device likely supports WPA2, and merely needs to be reconfigured in software to do the right thing.

RayDude · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 5:37 am Post subject:

Hu · Administrator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 23280

If I recall correctly, this is a known issue with wpa_supplicant that has been discussed many times on the forums. If wpa_supplicant sees an AP offer WPA as a choice, and wpa_supplicant cannot use WPA, then wpa_supplicant fails even if the AP offers better options and wpa_supplicant supports those options. To work around this, you need the AP not to offer plain WPA at all, at which point wpa_supplicant will notice that it can negotiate a better alternative. Try to change the AP to offer WPA2 only, or WPA2+WPA3.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:08 pm Post subject:

The setup is often a drop down.
None, WEP, WPA, WPA/WPA2, WPA2, WPA3.

WPA3 will be missing on older equipment but WPA2 should be good for a few years yet.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

RayDude · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 8:12 pm Post subject:

RayDude · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 8:26 pm Post subject: