Trying to find the wifi adapter model for Toshiba NB205-N312BL

OstermanA · 08-19-2009, 09:43 PM

I am intended to purchase a Toshiba NB205-N31BL, and am trying to identify the wireless network adapter for compatibility purposes. Every site I've found and Toshiba's technical support number simply list it as an Atheros Wireless B/G Adapter, with no further information. My understanding is that Atheros has only recently began working with the Open Source community for drivers, and I don't know if the card in the netbook has had a driver written for it yet.

Does anyone know of a resource I could check beyond Google & Toshiba's tech support?

business_kid · 08-20-2009, 03:20 AM

The toshiba site(s) have a lot of technical stuff on them
toshiba.co.jp
toshiba.com

That said, check for your model under www.linux-laptop.net.

LNXlady · 08-20-2009, 02:58 PM

I have a Toshiba NB205 and it has an Atheros AR9285 wireless network adapter.

OstermanA · 08-20-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNXlady

I have a Toshiba NB205 and it has an Atheros AR9285 wireless network adapter.

Have you tried installing Linux on it? If so, what distribution and what was your experience like? Does it work well, or did you have to tweak things?

LNXlady · 08-21-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OstermanA

Have you tried installing Linux on it? If so, what distribution and what was your experience like? Does it work well, or did you have to tweak things?

Not yet. I checked out Ubuntu Netbook Remix from a live usb but I didn't install it. Not a big Ubuntu fan here, but it is supposed to work with this netbook with only 2 setbacks. You have to install something from backports to get the wifi working, and the sound doesn't work. There is a workaround for the sound, too, but you still only get sound from headphones and not from the speaker.

According to this page on the Atheros drivers you need a dstro that uses the 2.6.27 or greater kernel. I think I'm going to try the new Mepis, but I don't know if the speaker is going to work in any of them yet. I LOVE this little netbook, though. Absolutely love it. I haven't touched my big Toshiba laptop since I got it.

jayeola · 08-22-2009, 05:51 AM

Visit the toshiba site as said above or use a *nix live cd and run lspci. example

Code:

[jayeola@acid ~]$ lspci | grep -i net
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)

OstermanA · 08-22-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayeola

Visit the toshiba site as said above or use a *nix live cd and run lspci. example

Code:

[jayeola@acid ~]$ lspci | grep -i net
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)

Had you read the original question, you would have seen that I don't own the laptop at this time. I am well aware of lspci, but it doesn't help me at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNXlady

Not yet. I checked out Ubuntu Netbook Remix from a live usb but I didn't install it. Not a big Ubuntu fan here, but it is supposed to work with this netbook with only 2 setbacks. You have to install something from backports to get the wifi working, and the sound doesn't work. There is a workaround for the sound, too, but you still only get sound from headphones and not from the speaker.

According to this page on the Atheros drivers you need a dstro that uses the 2.6.27 or greater kernel. I think I'm going to try the new Mepis, but I don't know if the speaker is going to work in any of them yet. I LOVE this little netbook, though. Absolutely love it. I haven't touched my big Toshiba laptop since I got it.

That's really good to know. I'm working at an Office Depot looking to replace my dying laptop & it seems best for my needs (occasional word processing, PDF browsing & going online)

GrapefruiTgirl · 08-22-2009, 12:19 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114668

And according to this link, a Newegg.com user review, the onboard wireless NIC (which they do not name my make/model) does not work "by Default" with Ubuntu Netbook Remix (whatever that is) but they point out that the Ubuntu forums have instructions to get it working.

If that's the case, it should be 'made-workable' with any Linux distro.

Hope this helps.
Sasha

LNXlady · 08-23-2009, 03:07 PM

I just wanted to come back and warn you to be sure to enable the wifi in Windows before you remove Windows and install Linux. For some crazy reason, the wifi is not enabled by default I (you'd think Netbook would asssume internet use) and I've read that a few unfortunale people wiped Windows without enabling wifi first, and it is next to impossible to enable it afterwards. So hit F8 to turn it on and make sure the wifi light comes on green before removing Windows.