Wireless connection problem - solved????

[pejorg2000]

Not relly sure where to post this, but since I'm still relatively new to Linux, this seems as good a place as any. I've set up Lucid for my daughter on an HP Pavilion ze1115 laptop (AMD Duron, 1 GB RAM). It has a Netgear MA401 802.11b wireless card to connect to a Netgear WGR614 router. Here 's the problem: Network Manager sometimes fails to connect to the router. In fact, it usually takes at least two tries, sometimes more (with reboots in between) to successfully connect. When trying to connect, the status shows "Configuring interface" until a window for configuring the network connection pops up. Entering the password at this point just starts the process over again. After rebooting, it will sometimes connect and once connected, it works with no problem. A similar laptop (HP ze1210, with an AMD Athlon) running Karmic and using an identical wireless card works fine. Yes, I tried switching the wireless cards; the problem stayed with the computer, so it doesn't seem to be a defect in the card. I realize I can't completely rule out a hardware problem, but I'm starting to suspect it's a Lucid problem. Any suggestions of what else to try?

[ardvark71]

Re: Wireless connection problem

Hi...

Are you using knetworkmanager to try to connect to your wireless network? If so, you might want to try uninstalling knetworkmanger completely and installing wicd in its place. However, this has to be done carefully. Search wicd in the forums for posts by GreyGeek on this matter, this thread and this thread included.

Also, you can give Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid) a try to see if your connection works better using it.

Hope this helps.

Regards...

[pejorg2000]

Re: Wireless connection problem

I'll look into wicd; that may take some time - it sounds a little daunting. Thanks for the suggestion!

I am using Lucid on this machine - sorry I wasn't clear about that in my original post.

[GreyGeek]

Re: Wireless connection problem

Perspectoff had the easier method, which does the same thing, but I modified the order to avoid sawing off the branch you are standing on -- removing your internet connection before you installed wicd.

Open a Konsole and then enter the following commands one line at a time:

sudo apt-get install wicd
sudo apt-get install python-wicd
sudo apt-get install wicd-curses
sudo apt-get install wicd-daemon
sudo apt-get install wicd-gtk

sudo apt-get remove network-manager-kde
sudo reboot

After you log into the desktop open a Konsole again and enter:

sudo apt-get autoremove <--- this automatically removes all the orphaned files created by
removing network-manager-kde.

Find the "Wicd Network Manager" icon in the Kgear menu under "Internet" and left click on it. A dialog will appear. Use the dialog to scan for access points, locate yours, set it up by identifying its type and entering its password. Give it a name and mark it to connect automatically on boot up. Apply your changes. Close the dialog.

There is (was?) a bug in wicd in that the the wicd icon does not appear in the system tray until after you reboot, but a reboot isn't necessary. When you fire up your web browser it will connect. After your next reboot you'll see a network icon in the system tray. Hover your mouse over it and a balloon will appear telling you your connection name, IP address, and signal strength.

IF you don't get a wireless connection take a short length of ethernet cord and plug it into the back of your wireless, in one of the four ethernet ports, and the other end into your eth0 port on your PC. Wicd will give you an immediate internet connection. Report any problem you have here.

[ardvark71]

Re: Wireless connection problem

I am using Lucid on this machine - sorry I wasn't clear about that in my original post.

Correct. You are using Kubuntu Lucid, I was referring to Ubuntu Lucid in case you wished to try it instead.

Regards...

[pejorg2000]

Re: Wireless connection problem-solved?

Well, now I'm re-evaluating the situation because tonight the problem occurred with my other (Karmic) laptop. So the problem may be the router after all, in which case this really wouldn't be a Kubuntu or Linux issue at all. (Nonetheless, any suggestions for addressing a router problem would be welcome!) Thanks for the advice, folks - no doubt I will be back for more help on other issues.