Here's the environment:
Dell Inspiron 1721
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-57 1.90 GHz
Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Mini-Card driver – Broadcom 10/12/2007, version 4.170.25.17
Broadcom 44x 10/100 Integrated Controller driver – Broadcom, 11/21/2006, version 4.60.0.0
Location: PCI bus 3, device 0, function 0
802.1p QOS – disable
Flow Control – disable
Speed & Duplex – auto
Wake Up Capabilities – both
Wireless signal available from cable routed thru Netgear or Sprint USB 598 thru Cradlepoint CTR350.
I installed both routers and selected WPA/WP2 on the Netgear. Not sure what Cradlepoint uses.
WindowsVista uses either signal.

I currently have Arch 32 and 64 installed which will connect only thru cable from either router.
A search for “Dell Inspiron 1721 wireless” in several forums turned up only 1 response from a Fedora user and he had a zero response question.
I have tried Mandriva, Mepis, Sabayon, Ubuntu, Fedora, PClinuxOS, Suse, Puppy, Knoppix, 32 and 64 bit, all with varying degrees of failure.
My computer is not a toy and I need Linux mobility since the road is my residence. It disturbs me how nicely Microsoft handles this mobility and Linux developers spend their time on eye candy. The only laptop that I've seen to handle this out of the box is my Asus EEE.

My hope is that someone has an answer to this dilemma.

Thanks for any support.

Bill

p.s. Notice how polite I have been in avoiding a rant?

What is the problem?

Broadcom 44x 10/100 Integrated Controller driver - it tells nothing.

If you want to get help, post output for "lspci | grep Broa"

In many instances the OS simply doesn't find a wireless extension. Arch 64 doesn't even find a cable, but that I can probably fix. I want linux to boot into a wireless connection.

post output for "lspci | grep Broa"

Thanks

[root@billbar billb]# lspci | grep Broa
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
0b:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g (rev 01)
[root@billbar billb]#

Thanks, now please, type and post output for:
lsmod | grep b43

Thanks

[root@billbar billb]# lsmod | grep b43
b43 154501 0
mac80211 147725 1 b43
cfg80211 106631 2 b43,mac80211
ssb 39958 2 b43,b44
led_class 1933 2 b43,sdhci
mmc_core 45164 3 b43,sdhci,ssb
pcmcia 27513 2 b43,ssb
pcmcia_core 25643 3 b43,ssb,pcmcia
[root@billbar billb]#

Thanks, now please do:
1. modprobe -r b43
2. modprobe b43
3. dmesg | tail -n 30

Please send here outputs

[root@billbar billb]# modprobe -r b43
WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/ndiswrapper, it will be ignored in a future release.
[root@billbar billb]#
[root@billbar billb]# modprobeb43
WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/ndiswrapper, it will be ignored in a future release.
[root@billbar billb]#
[root@billbar billb]# dmesg | tail -n 30
b44: eth0: Flow control is off for TX and off for RX.
b44: eth0: powering down PHY
b44: eth0: Link is up at 100 Mbps, full duplex.
b44: eth0: Flow control is off for TX and off for RX.
NET: Registered protocol family 10
lo: Disabled Privacy Extensions
eth0: no IPv6 routers present
rutilt[3400]: segfault at 50 ip b74109f6 sp bf819020 error 4 in libgdk-x11-2.0.so.0.1800.5[b73ab000+8f000]
cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
b43-phy0: Broadcom 4312 WLAN found (core revision 15)
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
Registered led device: b43-phy0::tx
Registered led device: b43-phy0::rx
Registered led device: b43-phy0::radio
Broadcom 43xx driver loaded [ Features: PMLS, Firmware-ID: FW13 ]
cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
b43-phy0: Broadcom 4312 WLAN found (core revision 15)
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
Registered led device: b43-phy0::tx
Registered led device: b43-phy0::rx
Registered led device: b43-phy0::radio
Broadcom 43xx driver loaded [ Features: PMLS, Firmware-ID: FW13 ]
Clocksource tsc unstable (delta = -62514378 ns)
cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
b43-phy0: Broadcom 4312 WLAN found (core revision 15)
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel'
Registered led device: b43-phy0::tx
Registered led device: b43-phy0::rx
Registered led device: b43-phy0::radio
Broadcom 43xx driver loaded [ Features: PMLS, Firmware-ID: FW13 ]
[root@billbar billb]#
Thanks much for your support.
Noticed you are running Suse 11.1. My last version tried was 10. Would my probably be simpler with a new installation?

Looks like wireless ready to be used.

Send output for: ifconfig -a

Thanks

One other thing...I may have read this wrong..but is he running a network manager or wicd or anything? If I remember right...arch doesn't have a default network manager...try installing wicd once you have the driver going

Lets check other thing first.
Install WICD is not a problem.

[root@billbar billb]# ifconfig -a
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:1D:09:C9:05:83
inet addr:192.168.1.4 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::21d:9ff:fec9:583/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:19579 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:18142 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:16700531 (15.9 Mb) TX bytes:3291209 (3.1 Mb)
Interrupt:21

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:28 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:28 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:1480 (1.4 Kb) TX bytes:1480 (1.4 Kb)

wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:16:44:C1:E47
BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)

[root@billbar billb]#


Yes, wicd is installed, but it will not load.
RutilT WLAN Manager reports: can't get frequency/channel. code:22

lets check farther.
Do please:
ifconfig wlan0 down
ifconfin wlan0 192.168.2.10
ifconfig wlan0 up
iwlist wlan0 scan

Post outputs.

Thanks

[root@billbar billb]#
[root@billbar billb]# ifconfig wlan0 down
[root@billbar billb]# ifconfig wlan0 192.168.2.10
[root@billbar billb]# ifconfig wlan0 up
[root@billbar billb]# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:26:F2:24:1C:C0
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=70/70 Signal level=-30 dBm
Encryption keyn
ESSID:"bumbles"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
Mode:Master
Extra:tsf=000000c9b8d71993
Extra: Last beacon: 886ms ago
IE: Unknown: 000762756D626C6573
IE: Unknown: 010882848B962430486C
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: Unknown: 2A0100
IE: Unknown: 2F0100
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: 32040C121860
IE: Unknown: DD090010180200F0000000
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101800003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
Cell 02 - Address: 00:23:69:33:F8:12
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=55/70 Signal level=-55 dBm
Encryption keyn
ESSID:"KidsPlayRoom"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
18 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
Mode:Master
Extra:tsf=00000027b65895fd
Extra: Last beacon: 1173ms ago
IE: Unknown: 000C4B696473506C6179526F6F6D
IE: Unknown: 010882848B961224486C
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: Unknown: 2A0104
IE: Unknown: 32040C183060
IE: Unknown: 2D1AEC0117FFFF0000000000000000000000000000000C0000000000
IE: Unknown: 3D1601000100000000000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: 3E0100
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : TKIP CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : TKIP CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101000003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
IE: Unknown: 7F0101
IE: Unknown: DD07000C4307000000
IE: Unknown: 0706555320010B10
IE: Unknown: DD1E00904C33EC0117FFFF0000000000000000000000000000000C0000000000
IE: Unknown: DD1A00904C3401000100000000000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: DD820050F204104A0001101044000102103B000103104700102880288028801880A88000236933F8121021000C4C696E6B73 797320496E632E102300095752543136304E76321024000776322E302E3032104200033031311054000800060050F2040001 101100114C696E6B737973205752543136304E763210080002008C103C000101
Cell 03 - Address: 00:22:B0:CB:4B:39
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=34/70 Signal level=-76 dBm
Encryption keyn
ESSID:"dlinkDFC"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Mode:Master
Extra:tsf=00000815fd684aad
Extra: Last beacon: 1170ms ago
IE: Unknown: 0008646C696E6B444643
IE: Unknown: 010482848B96
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: Unknown: 2A0102
IE: Unknown: 32080C1218243048606C
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : TKIP CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD070050F202000100
IE: Unknown: 2D1A4E101BFFFF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: 3D1601051B0000000F000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: DD1E00904C336E101BFFFF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: DD1A00904C340105030000000F000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: 050400010000
IE: Unknown: DD130050F204104A0001101044000102103C000102
Cell 04 - Address: 00:1B:11:5E:1E:47
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=34/70 Signal level=-76 dBm
Encryption keyn
ESSID:"VanDyke431"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
12 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
Bit Rates:9 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Mode:Master
Extra:tsf=000006b3efceeef3
Extra: Last beacon: 1183ms ago
IE: Unknown: 000A56616E44796B65343331
IE: Unknown: 010882848B960C183048
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: Unknown: DD0600032F010001
IE: Unknown: 2A0100
IE: Unknown: 32041224606C
Cell 05 - Address: 00:24:36:A7:2C:47
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=34/70 Signal level=-76 dBm
Encryption keyn
ESSID:"intarwebz"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Bit Rates:24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Mode:Master
Extra:tsf=0000000222e64180
Extra: Last beacon: 1143ms ago
IE: Unknown: 0009696E7461727765627A
IE: Unknown: 010882848B0C12961824
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: Unknown: 0706555320010B1B
IE: Unknown: 200100
IE: Unknown: 2A0102
IE: Unknown: 32043048606C
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: 2D1A0C101BFFFF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
IE: Unknown: 3D1601001900000000000000000000000000000000000000
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD180050F2020101040003A4000027A4000042435E0062322F00
IE: Unknown: DD07000393016C0120