How to check for wireless adapters?

lighter973 · 02-09-2018, 06:55 AM

Hello,

I want to check for wireless adapters on my computer.

First I checked the manual for the computer, and it does mention 'wireless', but I cant figure out what it means, here is the manual (p.13 & p.21):

https://www.dell.com/downloads/globa...idebook_en.pdf

I've tried 'iwconfig', and it returns:

Code:

lo       no wireless extensions
etho   no wireless extensions

Also, I've tried 'lspci', and I cant see an entry for wireless.

Are there any other commands I can try?

rtmistler · 02-09-2018, 07:15 AM

You do not appear to have one. One page 13 of that manual it gives the options for two wireless adapters, however it says that they are optional.

You could either purchase those add-ons from Dell or get an adapter that plugs in over USB, as some possible options.

Shadow_7 · 02-09-2018, 07:31 AM

If it has a driver and it works, it will show up as an interface that starts with w.

$ ip link show

Otherwise it's connected somewhere if it exists.

$ lspci -nnk
$ lsusb

And should say something like network adapter. With further details like ethernet or wireless. Or bluetooth, lora, and other radio based network-ish like stuff.

BW-userx · 02-09-2018, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lighter973

Hello,

I want to check for wireless adapters on my computer.

First I checked the manual for the computer, and it does mention 'wireless', but I cant figure out what it means, here is the manual (p.13 & p.21):

https://www.dell.com/downloads/globa...idebook_en.pdf

I've tried 'iwconfig', and it returns:

Code:

lo       no wireless extensions
etho   no wireless extensions

Also, I've tried 'lspci', and I cant see an entry for wireless.

Are there any other commands I can try?

page 13 of 40 on that link states

Code:

MT DT SFF  Optional via add in card 
Dell Wireless 1505 PCIe WLAN card (802.11 Draft N)

Broadcom 1510 miniPCIe WLAN card (802.11 Draft N)
USFF Optional

just do a find on 802 in your handy firefox browser to see it as it is formatted in the pdf.

its a tower, you can/should be actually quite easily opened to find your card. Then go from there, looking for drivers on your system, loading them etc...

If it is in there unplug it plug it back in to reseat it. then run the commands. if you cannot find it in there and have correctly identified all of your cards in your box, then you did not get a wifi card with that system, now you'll have to go to plan number #2. get one.

If a wifi card is in there, then we're able to warm up the stove top to do some cooking...

lighter973 · 02-09-2018, 08:31 AM

Thanks rtmistler and shadow 7,

Im actually trying to isolate my computer from the internet.

shadow 7, I tried all three of those commands and dont see anything related to wireless.

lighter973 · 02-09-2018, 08:53 AM

BW-userx,

I opened the computer but couldnt find a card.

Are they always separate cards, or can they sometimes be intigrated into the motherboard?

BW-userx · 02-09-2018, 09:38 AM

big desktop tower .. should be a card. best save up for one then, because its not showing up in your commands nor being seen by your eyes.

fatmac · 02-09-2018, 12:47 PM

Desktops/Towers don't usually come with wifi, they usually only have LAN sockets for cable networks.

BW-userx · 02-09-2018, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatmac

Desktops/Towers don't usually come with wifi, they usually only have LAN sockets for cable networks.

well it did state optional... I don't own a desktop..

beachboy2 · 02-09-2018, 02:25 PM

lighter973,

Quote:

I'm actually trying to isolate my computer from the internet.

As others have pointed out, there is no need to worry about a hidden wifi card on your desktop PC.

All the checks have come back negative. The Dell manual refers to optional wifi cards.

RandomTroll · 02-09-2018, 03:09 PM

Code:

cat /proc/net/dev

lighter973 · 02-10-2018, 11:57 AM

Thanks guys

rokytnji · 02-10-2018, 03:49 PM

Usually installing and running lshw as root in terminal spits out all computer gear wired into the mother board including mother board name and model number.

https://github.com/lyonel/lshw

Code:

$ apt-cache policy lshw
lshw:
  Installed: 02.17-1.1
  Candidate: 02.17-1.1
  Version table:
 *** 02.17-1.1 0
        500 http://ftp.gr.debian.org/debian/ jessie/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

I used it to find out the chip used on a express card < usb 3.0 adapter > I bought for my laptop.

AwesomeMachine · 02-10-2018, 04:05 PM

Some desktop mobos have integrated wireless. But if nothing appears in lspci or lsusb, you're pretty safe.