Here's a couple of possibilities. First of all, iwconfig uses wireless extensions, which is deprecated but supported through emulation. I'm honestly not sure whether changing the power save option is expected to work that way. Try using 'sudo iw wlan0 get power_save" for reading the power save state and 'sudo iw wlan0 set powersave <state>" to set it, where <state> is either on or off.
The other possibility is that the ath9k.ps_enable is set then it's going to fail exactly as you describe. Please run 'cat /sys/module/ath9k/parameters/ps_enable'. I'm not sure off the top of my head what this will output, but if it's something like "1" or "yes" or "true" or "on" that means the flag is set and any attempt to change the power save state will fail in this manner. If it outputs something like "0" or "no" or "false" or "off" then the commands should succeed, even if you aren't changing the state. ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu) Importance: Medium => Low ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu) Status: Confirmed => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1394163 Title: Unable to turn powersave for wlan0 off Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: ``` $ sudo iwconfig wlan0 power off Error for wireless request "Set Power Management" (8B2C) : SET failed on device wlan0 ; Operation not supported. ``` No idea why. It should work and I have wlan0 listed here: ``` $ sudo iwconfig [sudo] password for michael-heuberger: eth0 no wireless extensions. wlan0 IEEE 802.11bgn ESSID:off/any Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=off Retry short limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off Encryption key:off Power Management:off lo no wireless extensions. ``` Any clues? Or is this a bug? Thanks for helping! ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10 Package: linux-image-3.16.0-24-generic 3.16.0-24.32 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-24.32-generic 3.16.4 Uname: Linux 3.16.0-24-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8 Architecture: amd64 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC1: michael-heuberger 2109 F.... pulseaudio /dev/snd/controlC2: michael-heuberger 2109 F.... pulseaudio /dev/snd/controlC0: michael-heuberger 2109 F.... pulseaudio CurrentDesktop: Unity Date: Thu Nov 20 00:55:19 2014 HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=b0b47183-895a-4f27-bb25-40bd23028028 InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-10-31 (19 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1) MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name ProcFB: ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-24-generic root=UUID=b5b38333-3694-4441-8a13-50bf4dbf2f41 ro quiet RelatedPackageVersions: linux-restricted-modules-3.16.0-24-generic N/A linux-backports-modules-3.16.0-24-generic N/A linux-firmware 1.138 RfKill: 0: phy0: Wireless LAN Soft blocked: yes Hard blocked: no SourcePackage: linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 08/06/2012 dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc. dmi.bios.version: 0803 dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.board.name: P6X58D-E dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC. dmi.board.version: Rev 1.xx dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890 dmi.chassis.type: 3 dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0803:bd08/06/2012:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP6X58D-E:rvrRev1.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion: dmi.product.name: System Product Name dmi.product.version: System Version dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1394163/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp