Eenable the wlan by hardware

aalv · 02-15-2005, 07:54 AM

I am getting 'Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On' in the logs, and when running cat /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rf_kill i always get 2, radio is off by hardware.
I tried enabling it in bios and pressing the wlan button, but no luck.

Is there any other way to enable the wlan by hardware?
my laptop is acer travelmate 4002, with intel centrino and intel pro wireless 2200bg

littlemidget · 02-15-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aalv
I am getting 'Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On' in the logs, and when running cat /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rf_kill i always get 2, radio is off by hardware.
I tried enabling it in bios and pressing the wlan button, but no luck.

Have you tried installing the proper modules? (whatever that might be..)

aalv · 02-16-2005, 04:51 AM

Perhaps I have not been explicit.

I bought an Acer Travelmate 4002WLMi laptop some weeks ago and install on it a Debian Sarge with 2.6.8 Kernel.

This laptop has a Intell Pro/Wireless 2200 on it.

So, I search on the net and found that I have two choices, use the ndiswrapper with the windows driver or use the ipw2200 linux driver.

First, I try the ipw2200 but don't work. I search in the logs and found this:

ipw2200: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:
Kill switch must be turned off for wireless networking to work.

I search more an find that the Kill Switch value is 2 and must be 0 to work.

#cat /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rf_kill
#2

----
0 = RF kill not enabled (radio on)
1 = SW based RF kill active (radio off)
2 = HW based RF kill active (radio off)
3 = Both HW and SW RF kill active (radio off)

SW = Software
HW = Hardware

Hardware is usually changed in either the BIOS or a key on your keyboard (check the manual)
----

As my value is 2 I try the bios, but nothing ther, so the only solution must be on the wireless led/button in the front of the laptop, but it don't work. I press it and nothing happen.

My questions are:
Exist some other way to change the rf-kill switch?
Or some one know why my wireless button dont work? Maybe I need to install something for it work?

My second try was with ndiswrapper, but with no better results. No errors on load but I can't change the essid, the scan all ways give 'No Results' and the wireless led dont work like some say that it work.

I think the reason why with the ndiswrapper don't work is the same as the ipw2200. I think that wireless card is disability by hardware and I can't turnit on. Maybe the wireless button need some software??? I read that it is hardware based. I don't know!!!

Please I need your help...

snecklifter · 02-16-2005, 05:47 AM

You need to enable the 2200 chip either through the BIOS or through the physical switch on your laptop - you need to read the manual to find out of your laptop has one. Once the radio has been enabled, you can start to use wireless on your laptop.
Regards
Chris

polete · 11-15-2005, 08:44 AM

I've near real nightmares 'cause it's a month I'm trying to set up correctly my wireless conection on my laptop: It's an Acer travelmate 4002Wlmi with the famous ipw2200..well, if you find finally any ay to make it run, please,contact me 'cause i tried evereything and nothing served..tahnks!

snecklifter · 11-15-2005, 08:49 AM

*sigh*

What is the problem. What distro are you running? What error messages are you gettting? More information please.

nx5000 · 11-17-2005, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aalv

First, I try the ipw2200 but don't work. I search in the logs and found this:

ipw2200: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:
Kill switch must be turned off for wireless networking to work.

I search more an find that the Kill Switch value is 2 and must be 0 to work.

#cat /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rf_kill
#2

----
0 = RF kill not enabled (radio on)
1 = SW based RF kill active (radio off)
2 = HW based RF kill active (radio off)
3 = Both HW and SW RF kill active (radio off)

My questions are:
Exist some other way to change the rf-kill switch?

Did you try:

Code:

echo 0 > rf_kill

?

polete · 11-22-2005, 06:14 PM

About Wireless on Acer Laptop
I've exactly the same problems even if I have tried with different dstros: F.C.3, or ubuntu..the problem in this untractable Acer travelmate 4002Wlmi and it's intel wireless chip is that I can't find the way of getting it on when I start my computer,and it remains disabled for ever,no way if I changed firmwares,rescompiled new kernels,got the Kill radio switch on "0" and many more disparated things..
I think it's même chose as in aalv's message.
ideas?
Thanx in advance.

nx5000 · 11-23-2005, 08:12 AM

Quote:

I think it's même chose as in aalv's message.

Has anyone tried this:

http://www.informatik.hu-berlin.de/~tauber/acerhk/

* generate key events when a special key is pressed
* operate LEDs in mail/wlan keys (if available)
* enable WLAN hardware

shogun1234 · 12-07-2005, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aalv

I am getting 'Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On' in the logs, and when running cat /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rf_kill i always get 2, radio is off by hardware.
I tried enabling it in bios and pressing the wlan button, but no luck.

Is there any other way to enable the wlan by hardware?
my laptop is acer travelmate 4002, with intel centrino and intel pro wireless 2200bg

Have you solved your problem?

I encountered the same situation. The env I use is HP NC 6230 with kernel 2.6.12.4 manualy built, ieee 80211-1.0.2, ipw2200-1.0.6, fireware 2.3 and Debian Sarge Stable.

Further, I can't change the rk_kill value to 0 when using command 'echo 0 > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rf_kill', but can increased its values to 3 with command 'echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2200/*/rk_kill'.

Where did I do it wrong? How to solve this problem?

I appreciate any suggestion, sincerely.