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    any way to cut off wireless to increase battery life using Linux on x83vm?

    Discussion in 'Asus' started by iamjohngalt, Dec 2, 2009.

  1. iamjohngalt

    iamjohngalt Newbie

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    Using PCLinuxOS on a x83vm, I am trying to find a way to turn off the wireless (temporarily) to extend battery life when I am unplugged and just watching video. I know I can disconnect, but I does that stop the power drain? (The Fn-F2 toggle does not work, nor do the special keys.) I have searched here and on the web but if it's there I have missed the answer. Could someone please enlighten me or send me to the right link? (I have already reduced the backlight and did throttle back the CPU. The special buttons and Fn keys on the laptop have no effect under PCLOS.) My second issue is the touchpad and width of the scroll area on it. I keep scrolling when I don't want to. Anyone know of a Linux driver for this touchpad so I can adjust the width of the right side scroll area? Thanks in advance.
     
    iamjohngalt, Dec 2, 2009
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  2. thalanix

    thalanix Notebook Deity

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    if it's not connected, it's not transmitting anything. any idle power it draws is negligible. the hardware switch should work (assuming ACPI registers it), if not, "sudo rmmod iwlagn" to unload wireless.

    can't help with the touchpad.
     
    thalanix, Dec 2, 2009
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  3. iamjohngalt

    iamjohngalt Newbie

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    I tested disconnecting wireless and observed the change in power wattage used with powertop. There was little noticeable benefit; there might have been a 1-2% reduction but it was difficult to be certain.

    I also tried your suggestion using "rmmod iwlagn" to unload wireless, but I found that within a few seconds of disconnecting it automatically reconnected. Not savvy enough to know how to stop that from happening... yet. :D

    I'm wondering what software switches can actually cut the power draw of the wireless electronics significantly. Powertop says the notebook is drawing about 21.5 watts playing a full screen video with wireless disconnected, and maybe close to 22 watts with wireless connected.

    (On the touchpad issue, I tried ksynaptics and qsynaptics. Both seem to make the touchpad less usable than without them though. )
     
    iamjohngalt, Dec 2, 2009
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  4. Lanaya

    Lanaya Templar Assassin

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    Lanaya, Dec 2, 2009
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  5. thalanix

    thalanix Notebook Deity

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    im guessing after rmmod'ing it, if you try "lsmod | grep iwlagn" and "modinfo iwlagn" it would still be there, right?

    the only other way i know of is to blacklist it, which is on the other end of the spectrum and not what i think you want.
     
    thalanix, Dec 3, 2009
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