Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

[ScottyK]

I've got two HP mini Netbooks that work great with 10.10, but once I load 11.04, the wireless will lock up.

I've been reading through threads like this

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3116496.0

and

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=950358

and even

http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/brcm80211

But I think I've made matters worse!

To start with the basics – Fresh install of Kubuntu 32-bit 11.04 on one of the HP Mini netbooks.

Both computers differ slightly in cosmetics, but both contain the exact same wireless card.

Broadcom BCM94319HMG2LP1 A209.

Step 1 – Activating the wireless completely locks the computer, so I uninstalled the Broadcom STA driver that comes up with the “additional drivers” screen. Reboot.

Step 2 – installed b43-fwcutter and firmware-b43-installer. Reboot

Step 3 – No wireless detected, and the “additional drivers” screen continued to only show the (deactivated) STA driver. Typed “lspci -vnn | grep 14e4” and got the following results.

01:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4727] (rev 01)

Step 4 – Read that I have to somehow place the new driver into the kernel, so typed this.

Sudo dpkg-reconfigure b43-fwcutter

Then rebooted.

Step 5 – Opened up Network Controller, and activated the wireless. Didn't lock up, and was able to select the SSID of the home network and connected. Loaded a few web pages to test the connection, and it worked. Then noticed that the wireless connection button on the computer reflected “off”, so when I pressed it ot turn it on, it locked up. Reboot.

Step 6- Have to go back and re enter all wireless info to connect to the wireless. Connects just fine. Decide to reboot to see if it will “write” all the info I just typed in in the case of a lockup.

Step 7 – wireless connection works after reboot, without having to reenter all the info. Wireless button still reflects the network is off, so when I press it, computer locks up.

So I guess as long as I don't press the wireless button, it works.

Update – computer locked up twice while trying to reboot. Third time finally able to get into the system.

My main question is what exactly did I do to get it to work? Did I just get lucky and stumple upon the right commands? I was reading about things like extracting drivers, ns-wrapper, firewire updates, and writing to the kernel. Huh?

Note – I was active in this thread about the possibility of buying a new card of these computers, but I don't want to take the risk of bricking my computer If I don't even understand the “simple” task of updating drivers.

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...pic=3117385.15

[oshunluvr]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

Likely has to do with a part of the wireless function called "rfkill" and a big bug in the hp-wmi package.

With your wifi up and connect, open a terminal and type rfkill list and post the results.

[GreyGeek]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

I don't know what the driver you are using is, but you can type
modinfo whatever
in a Konsole and take note of the "parameters" listed at the bottom. You can put something like:

options iwlagn swcrypto=1 11n_disable=1

in /etc/modprobe.d/options.conf


(That's my settings for my iwlagn driver. Your, if applicable, will be different).

[ScottyK]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no

[ScottyK]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

Talked to the wife this morning, and decided to move her back to 10.10 like I have on my netbook. She likes that the wireless works, but if she inadvertently hits the wireless button which is located next to the volume mute button and locks the computer, that's a show stopper.

In October I'll put my test hard drive in the machine and see how 11.10 works.

[oshunluvr]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

Yeah, sorry I searched and searched and couldn't find any answers.

I had a problem with one laptop that was similar, but it didn't lock up - just once you turned off the wifi it wouldn't turn back on.

[ScottyK]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

OS = no problem! The main problem is these Broadcom cards that they are using. I switched to an Intel card on my Notebook and it's been working like a charm.

[GreyGeek]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

Yup. Voting with your feet and/or your pocket book is still the best reply to corporate mischief.

[assettt]

Re: Broadcom wireless hardware locks up in 11.04

Talked to the wife this morning, and decided to move her back to 10.10 like I have on my netbook. She likes that the wireless works, but if she inadvertently hits the wireless button which is located next to the volume mute button and locks the computer, that's a show stopper.

In October I'll put my test hard drive in the machine and see how 11.10 works.

I also have the cursed BCM 4313 card in my laptop and after many hours wasted trying to get it working reliably in 11.04, I threw in the towel and reverted back to 10.10. Wireless works fine except I always have to reboot if it enters standby/hibernation.