bcm43xx is loaded -- but how to check if the card is detected?

vharishankar · 12-14-2006, 01:41 AM

I have a HP nx6110 laptop and here's the relevant portion of the lspci command showing the wireless card

Code:

02:04.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)

I believe it doesn't need nDisWrapper as there is a native driver for it which is bcm43xx

The module is loaded, but ifconfig -a doesn't show up any wlan0 device.

Is there any way of checking whether this card really works or not without an active wireless connection? I am at home now so don't have any hotspots/region.

vharishankar · 12-14-2006, 01:54 AM

Ok, when I run iwconfig, it shows me this:

Code:

lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      no wireless extensions.

eth2      IEEE 802.11b/g  ESSID:off/any  Nickname:"Broadcom 4318"
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Invalid
          RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

sit0      no wireless extensions.

So I guess it is detected and shown as eth2. Now if I can get to a place where they have wireless hotspot, I can test it.

cyber-worx · 12-14-2006, 04:09 AM

Hi,

The kernel has the driver but NOT the firmware for the card, which is propietary.

You can either use fwcutter on the windows driver and put the firmware into the correct hotplug directory for the kernel.

OR

Use ndiswrapper

You can't use this card "out of the box" sorry.

Cheers
-Rob

vharishankar · 12-14-2006, 04:26 AM

Thanks. What a shame to use ndiswrapper.

nx5000 · 12-14-2006, 04:51 AM

Then use the included linux driver?! BUT add the firmware.
But I think at the best, you will get WPA but not 54g (only 11g) but it evoluates so quickly in the kernel that I'm not sure.. (there are plans for a new wireless kernel stack but its a complex work)

Probably this line
Mode:Managed Access Point: Invalid

tells you something is wrong (Invalid).

On my card, the display is like this:

Quote:

eth1 unassociated ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Channel=0 Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:0 kb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm Sensitivity=8/0
Retry limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

If tx-power is not Off, then the card is working.

vharishankar · 12-14-2006, 04:54 AM

Yes, but I still need to get the firmware from the Windows driver. Anyway I found a good guide for it at Ubuntu Forums here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=185174