Wireless on/off switch

[jaychamp]

***Newb Alert***

I finally figured out how to extract and then install my wireless driver for my notebook using ndiswrapper, and it does show driver installed and hardware present.

Now my problem is I can't turn it on.  It has a push button wlan switch above the keyboard and it won't enable.  I've searched but coming up empty for a solution.

Suggestions?

Compaq Presario R4125US
Broadcom Wireless BCM4318

[randcoop]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

Linux won't turn on your wireless using the switch. The switch typically provides electrical power to the wireless card. If the switch is in the on position and ndiswrapper is seeing the card and the driver is installed, then you should be able to get on your network using one of the softwares that you have with Kubuntu.

By default, Kubutu comes with Kwifimanager and wlassistant. Both are in the K menu under Internet. Kwifimanager is really just a sniffer: it does a good job of finding what wireless networks are available, but it doesn't do much good in connecting to those networks. Wlassistant will do a slightly better job (though there are no guarantees). If you start wlassistant (as sudo, which will be automatiac if you start from the menu), then you'll be able to simply select your network from the list and it will try to connect.

If it fails, there are other choices. One is to download and install knetworkmanger from the repositories. I've never been able to get this program to work, but others here and elsewhere swear by it. If you choose this program, you'll need to alter your /etc/network/interfaces file.

Another choice is simpy to try to connect from the command line. If you know that ndiswrapper has put your wireless card in play, then in the console run the command

sudo ifup wlan0

(assuming that wlan0 is where ndiswrapper has your card; it's usually there; if not, it's probably eth1).

I've found this last command line approach to be the best (most consistent), but others will most certainly disagree.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

Unless I misunderstood you the switch has to be in the "on" position for any of those suggestions to work.  The problem is that it's a push button not an actual flip switch.  It doesn't actually have a physical on/off position. Does that mean I'm screwed or still try what you suggested?

[randcoop]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

It means that you have to try my suggestions twice, because you can't be sure when it's on or off (unless when you push the button it feels somewhat lower).

So try the suggestions (simplest, last one first, I think). And then, if that doesn't work, push the button once and try it again.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

It means that you have to try my suggestions twice, because you can't be sure when it's on or off (unless when you push the button it feels somewhat lower).

So try the suggestions (simplest, last one first, I think). And then, if that doesn't work, push the button once and try it again.

I don't know if it makes a difference or not, and I'm going to try your suggestions regardless, but the button it supposed to light up when it's on.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

Tried all suggestions and I'm getting absolutely nothing

Thanks for trying. Getting pretty frustrated right now. It must be a software activated switch, but I don't even know where to begin. There's got to be a way. There's always a way, right?

[randcoop]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

OK, I think I gave you bad advice (sorry). I made the assumption that you had a switch similar to many laptops that permits you to turn your internal wireless on or off. Laptops from Velicity Micro, for example, have such a toggle. Some IBM Thinkpads do as well.

But it sounds like that it not the case. It may be that this is simply an indicator that tells you if you have a wireless connection functioning or not.

Try looking at the K menu and selecting System, then selecting Kinfocenter. In that window, look at the list for PCI. Your wireless should show up there. On my Thinkpad, for example, at the bottom of my PCI list it shows:

0000:04:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG (rev 05)

The obvious giveaway is that it says wireless in there. There's also one for the Ethernet card.

If you don't have such a listing, then Kubuntu isn't seeing your card. If you do, then don't give up yet; it should be possible to activate it.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

OK, I think I gave you bad advice (sorry).  I made the assumption that you had a switch similar to many laptops that permits you to turn your internal wireless on or off.  Laptops from Velicity Micro, for example, have such a toggle.  Some IBM Thinkpads do as well.

 

The assumption was right, I was just saying the push button [/i]also[/i] has a light indicator to show when the wlan is on. It's on the button itself.

It's an RF kill switch(I think that's the right term), some are hardware activated and some are software. Mine unfortunately is software.

According to ndis -l it does show hardware present/driver installed. In my Networks manager it lists my wireless as eth1. When I try to activate, it does for a second then goes right back to disabled.

[ShOcKwAvE]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

There is your problem right there. You did not disable the built in wireless feature in dapper. Have you followed these directions:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WifiDocs/Dri...672dc3fc89998e

if you are seeing eth1 it makes me believe it is still using bcm43xx built in drivers. Ndiswrapper will display your card as wlan0.

One other note. I had severe issues getting my broadcom wireless working on my presario r3000 series with ndiswrapper 1.16. I had to revert back to ndiswrapper 1.7 which I knew worked on breezy.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

There is your problem right there.  You did not disable the built in wireless feature in dapper.  Have you followed these directions:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WifiDocs/Dri...672dc3fc89998e

if you are seeing eth1 it makes me believe it is still using bcm43xx built in drivers.  Ndiswrapper will display your card as wlan0.

One other note.  I had severe issues getting my broadcom wireless working on my presario r3000 series with ndiswrapper 1.16.  I had to revert back to ndiswrapper 1.7 which I knew worked on breezy.

Thank you. I'll give that a go when I get home from work.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

There is your problem right there. You did not disable the built in wireless feature in dapper. Have you followed these directions:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WifiDocs/Dri...672dc3fc89998e

if you are seeing eth1 it makes me believe it is still using bcm43xx built in drivers. Ndiswrapper will display your card as wlan0.

One other note. I had severe issues getting my broadcom wireless working on my presario r3000 series with ndiswrapper 1.16. I had to revert back to ndiswrapper 1.7 which I knew worked on breezy.

I tried following the directions, but man, I'm a newb and I think it's just beyond me.

[randcoop]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

Try posting your /etc/network/interfaces file here...it may be that you need to manually configure it.

But given that you're a newb, I would strongly suggest getting a card that is natively supported by Linux. Using ndiswrapper is something even the best have trouble with.

[jaychamp]

Re: Wireless on/off switch

Just to let you guys know, and anyone else that has a similar notebook.

I finally got it working. Installed and used bcm43xx-fwcutter, and used the installation instructions that came with it instead of what was in the wiki.

Thanks for all the help, you guys certainly got me on the right path!!