Problem Description:
When I do a fresh install, the Wi-Fi works perfectly at first (I can connect, update, browse).
But after some time or after a reboot, the Wi-Fi completely disappears:
iwconfig shows wlan0 with Tx-Power = 30 dBm, ESSID: off/any
nmcli shows no networks available
rfkill shows not blocked
dmesg shows repeating errors like:
rtw89_8852be 0000:01:00.0: xtal si not ready(W): offset=90 val=10 mask=10
rtw89_8852be 0000:01:00.0: mac init fail, ret:-110
This persists even without any upgrade or kernel change. I also tried older ISOs like Kali 2024.2 (kernel 6.6.15) and got the same behavior: Wi-Fi works initially, then fails.
What I’ve Tried:
Using KDE and GNOME (same result)
Not upgrading or touching apt at all after install
Reinstalling Kali multiple times
Switching kernel (wanted to downgrade to 6.1.0-kali9 but couldn’t locate package)
Bluetooth and USB tethering (to try fallback internet)
My Questions:
-
Is this an issue with the driver (rtw89_8852be), kernel, or something to do with suspend/power management?
-
Does installing Kali on external SSD (via USB 3.0) affect Wi-Fi driver stability