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**Snowhog** · Dec 05, 2009, 12:30 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

Do you know if you are using the 'standard' networkmanager, or have you installed Wicd? Have your left-clicked on the connection icon? In Wicd - I'm connected by 'wire' at the moment - when I click on the 'network cable' connection icon, I'm presented with an available network list, showing my connected wired connection and all available wireless connections as well.

**tomcloyd** · Dec 05, 2009, 03:11 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

Originally posted by Snowhog

Do you know if you are using the 'standard' networkmanager, or have you installed Wicd? Have your left-clicked on the connection icon? In Wicd - I'm connected by 'wire' at the moment - when I click on the 'network cable' connection icon, I'm presented with an available network list, showing my connected wired connection and all available wireless connections as well.

My first problem is knowing almost nothing about wireless. After hours of looking, I've found only outdated material to read on the WWW, or stuff that is nonsense to me. For example, at the Ubuntu 9.10 documentation site - https://help.ubuntu.com/9.10/interne...-wireless.html, which sounds appealingly simple, I read:

1. Ensure that your wireless device is turned on.
2. Click the NetworkManager icon in the system notification area.
3. Under Wireless Networks click on the network you want to connect to.

As previously stated, my "wireless device" is fine - I connect to it effortlessly with my WinXP OS.

#2: WHAT icon. No such animal has ever been seen on my Kubuntu 9.10. I reinstall NetworkManager and its plasma interface, from Synaptic. No change.
#3: Because of #2 problem, nothing to do here.

So, I installed Wicd on my netbook.

I note that networkmanager is now gone. Hm...

A new icon is available. Progress. I first try to connect by wire. Can't do it. Do I have to configure something? Clicking the icon, the "Wicd Network Manager" modal window comes up. No link to any documentation. Man...if Windows assumes you're an idiot, Linux assumes you're a genius who has a direct line to God. I'm not and I don't, and I have no idea what to do with thie Wicd window. It's now 7 hours post power up time with this new router.

I've located the Wicd homepage.

At http://wicd.sourceforge.net/moinmoin/Wicd%20on%20Ubuntu I read "Configuration of Wicd is extremely simple, and automatic for wired clients." Right. And pigs have wings.

Then:
* See if the wireless network you're looking for shows on the list.

It isn't. Nothing's listed. In Windows, at least 3 wireless networks, plus mine, show up. Here, nada.

* If it is a hidden network, click the down arrow next to the Network button, and type in the ESSID of the network.

What's a hidden network? What's an ESSID? Why is it assumed I know these things? Argh.

# If the network you want to connect to is listed, press the "Connect" button next to it.

And if it isn't. (No information provided for that logic branch. Why have an "if" when there's only one option described

)

And that's it, for the "Wicd on Ubuntu" documentation at the Wicd website.

From your description, you and I are having very different experiences with Wicd, and I don't know why. I DID try a reboot of my Netbook, but it didn't change anything.

Any suggestions? I can provide screenshots if that would help. As always, thanks for your responses, and experience, and repeated helpfulness.

**tomcloyd** · Dec 05, 2009, 09:56 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

UPDATE: Figured out how to get wired connection via Wicd. Got on Wicd IRC channel, and was told I needed to install the drivers likely to be found in the "bcmwcl-kernal-source". New problems arise, which this forum can likely help me with:

1. I tried to download the files on my desktop - the plan being to move them to my netbook and install them there. But I couldn't figure out where the files got downloaded to. Also I had to do this weird thing where I was asked to put my Kubuntu 9.10 install disk into /cdrom. Then...
2. I mindlessly tried to do the install on my netbook, but was again asked to put that disk into /cdrom, which of course doesn't exist.

Damn. Is there any way out of this? This all looks poorly thought out somehow...or, the system hasn't caught up with the netbook revolution yet.

Any ideas as to how I can solve this?

**tomcloyd** · Dec 05, 2009, 10:30 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

OK - got past that. Unexpectedly, the IRC guys suggested something I could make sense of. Got the "bcmwl-kernel-source" (Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver source) package installed. However, it didn't appear to do anything. I'm guessing it needs some preferences set, and for that I'm going to need help. Back to the Wicd IRC...

**tomcloyd** · Dec 06, 2009, 12:46 AM

Re: how to detect wireless router

Update: #wicd says driver seems not to be installed. They cannot take me further, as it's now an Ubuntu/Kubuntu issue. The #ubuntu IRC ignored my question about checking/fixing the driver installation.

So...I'm back here. Summary: Wicd cannot detect ANY wireless networks, and installation of the "bcmwl-kernel-source" (Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver source) package, which #wicd said I needed, has had no effect.

I remain hopeful of some suggestions about what to do next.

**GilGib** · Dec 06, 2009, 07:24 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

I installed 9.10 in a dell laptop for a friend which had a brodcomm wireless card. 9.10 did not install the driver by default /To get network manager to see it I had to add cd rom to the sources list and insert the 9.10 live cd then go to Kickoff -applications-system-Hardware Drivers. I then had to remove fwcutter and install broadcom sta driver. After that Network manager recognized my wireless card. I hope this helps

**tomcloyd** · Dec 06, 2009, 10:15 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

Originally posted by GilGib

I installed 9.10 in a dell laptop for a friend which had a brodcomm wireless card. 9.10 did not install the driver by default /To get network manager to see it I had to add cd rom to the sources list and insert the 9.10 live cd then go to Kickoff -applications-system-Hardware Drivers. I then had to remove fwcutter and install broadcom sta driver. After that Network manager recognized my wireless card. I hope this helps

Some questions:

1. You speak of a "wireless card". I understand that to be something you stick in a USB port...? My netbook comes with builtin wireless receptivity. Does that make a difference?

2. I'm not using network manager. I couldn't see how to access it. No icon. No menu entry. It was baffling. Couldn't find any documentation that wasn't conspicuously out of date. How do they expect us to use this thing? So, I'm using wicd. It's icon responds to clicks, but never detects anything.

3. Trying to duplicate what you did, I did Kickoff > system settings > advanced user settings > hardware > Network management backend, and moved "Wicd" to the top of the list. After a reboot, clicked on the system tray's network icon (shows 2 computer monitors), bringing up the "Wicd Network Manager" window, which tells me"No wireless networks found". That's all I've ever seen, with Kubuntu 9.10. I'm now 9 hours into this little project.

I'm sure open to further suggestions.

**GilGib** · Dec 07, 2009, 08:06 AM

Re: how to detect wireless router

The Laptop has a built in wireless broadcom card and the driver wasn't installed correctly when i installed 9.10.
By going to Hardware drivers under Kickoff-applications-system-hardware drivers it detected the correct
hardware driver for my wireless card.
I had to deselect the incorrect broadcom driver that I manually installed and install the correct sta driver.

**tomcloyd** · Dec 07, 2009, 11:31 AM

Re: how to detect wireless router

OK, but I still don't get this "hardware driver" selection business. I see no such thing in my "system settings". When I employ the search tool it has, nothing comes up. In "Advanced user settings" > hardware, there is this panel which comes up which says "Hardware Integration Configuration with Solid" (seriously, that's what the panel is titled - does that make sense to anyone? can I also integrate with 'liquid'

jeez.). All three sections of this panel refer to various "backends". This is about as close as I can get to anything having to do with hardware drivers, and it doesn't look very close to me.

So, I really cannot seem to find the drive selection tool you're using. Can you help?

**skunk** · Dec 07, 2009, 12:15 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

K -> System -> Hardware Drivers

**GilGib** · Dec 07, 2009, 07:00 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

It is not under system settings but under applications

**tomcloyd** · Dec 08, 2009, 08:55 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

Yeah - I completely misfired on that one. Sorry. I see it now, and it says that a "Broadcom STA wireless driver - "These package contains Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver for use with Broadcom's BCM4311-, BCM4312-, BCM4321-, andBCM4322-based hardware." is "activated and currently in use".

Well, it's not leading to the detection of ANY wireless routers in my area, and I KNOW that there are at least 4 (including my own), given what I when I'm on WinXP.

I'm now thinking that is not even the right driver for my wireless card, and I need to research that a bit. Thanks for you thoughts and help to this point.

Thanks for o

**vinnywright** · Dec 09, 2009, 04:44 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

hay Mr. tomcloyd

do get eneything in a terminal if you do

Code:

iwlist scan

?

VINNY

**tomcloyd** · Dec 10, 2009, 03:58 PM

Re: how to detect wireless router

Originally posted by vinnywright

hay Mr. tomcloyd

do get eneything in a terminal if you do

Code:

iwlist scan

?

VINNY

Yes...and no:

Code:

$ iwlist scan
lo    Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth0   Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth3   Interface doesn't support scanning.

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