Fedora 13: can't connect to wireless network in NetworkManager

fedora_fonzie · 06-22-2010, 06:43 AM

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a wireless USB network adapter for my desktop (my girlfriend wants me to get rid of all wires). The adapter is a Sitecom WL-608 Wireless USB Adapter 54g.

Fedora recognizes the adapter, because in NetworkManager there is a wireless network now. But the network is diconnected and I have no idea how to connect it. There must be available networks, because I also have a laptop with Fedora 13 and Wireless works just fine. On the same computer I can connect to wireless networks in Windows XP.
Please help me to overcome this problem. I problably need to give some more information, so here it is. (Sorry if some output is in Dutch, but you'll get the main idea):

Code:

[root@beerda ~]# service network status
Geconfigureerde netwerkkaarten:
lo
Actieve netwerkkaarten op dit moment:
lo eth0 wlan1

Code:

[root@beerda ~]# ifconfig wlan1
wlan1     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:0C:F6:80:90:EE  
          UP 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)

Code:

[root@beerda ~]# lsusb
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0df6:003f Sitecom Europe B.V. WL-608 Wireless USB Adapter 54g
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

I probably need to post more information, so just tell me what and I will post it.

Attached is a picture that might give you a better idea ("draaloze netwerken" = "wireless networks")

Thanks!

gold_leaf · 07-14-2010, 12:08 PM

That card needs the rt2870sta driver, according to this: link. I have the same problem on my box because the system automatically also loads in the rt2800usb driver, which conflicts.

Do

Code:

lsusb | grep rt

and look for rt2800usb and friends. If they're present they need to go:

Code:

sudo rmmod rt2800usb && sudo rmmod rt2x00usb && sudo rmmod rt2x00lib

If rt2870sta isn't loaded, then load it

Code:

sudo modprobe rt2870sta

If you get an 'error, doesn't exist' message then you will either need to build or otherwise obtain the drivers; an answer should be around on the Fedora forums for an rpm specific solution.

In any event, I have the same symptoms as you with a similar device on a default install (can see networks but can't connect), and using the staging driver solves the problem. Hope that helps get you started.

If it does work, you can make the solution permanent by adding rt2800usb, rt2x00usb and rt2x00lib to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf, you may also have to add rt2870sta to your /etc/modules file (or equivalents in Fedora).

fedora_fonzie · 07-15-2010, 03:57 AM

Hi gold_leaf (is your nickname derived from the poem "Nothing gold can stay" by Robert Frost?)

Thanks for your reply, but I have no luck so far.
The code

Code:

lsusb | grep rt

gave no output

The rt2870sta driver was not installed on my machine. I had to download it. I simply did:

Code:

yum install rt2870

It gave me the following output:

Code:

Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing     : rt2870-2.4.0.1-1.fc13.noarch                             1/3 
  Installing     : kmod-rt2870-2.6.33.6-147.fc13.i686-2.4.0.1-1.fc13.i686   2/3 
  Installing     : kmod-rt2870-2.4.0.1-1.fc13.i686                          3/3 

Installed:
  rt2870.noarch 0:2.4.0.1-1.fc13                                                

Dependency Installed:
  kmod-rt2870.i686 0:2.4.0.1-1.fc13                                             
  kmod-rt2870-2.6.33.6-147.fc13.i686.i686 0:2.4.0.1-1.fc13

I als did

Code:

sudo modprobe rt2870sta

Checked it if it was installed:

Code:

iwconfig

Code:

lo        no wireless extensions.

ra0       Ralink STA  ESSID:"11n-AP"  Nickname:"RT2870STA"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated   
          Bit Rate:1 Mb/s   
          RTS thr: off   Fragment thr: off
          Link Quality=10/100  Signal level:0 dBm  Noise level:0 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

eth0      no wireless extensions.

Code:

ifconfig ra0 up

But nothing has changed for me.

Quote:

...I have the same symptoms as you with a similar device on a default install (can see networks but can't connect)...

Are you sure we are talking about the same problem here? I can't see any wireless networks. See the picture in my first post.

gold_leaf · 07-16-2010, 07:25 AM

Sorry, looks like I read your first post wrong. Nevertheless, the recommended driver for that card is, as far as I can see, the RT2870sta driver, so I am beginning to be at a loss as to what to suggest.

I guess there might be some other modules other than rt2x00usb loading in - after all Fedora seems to be recognising the device. Whatever these drivers are will be conflicting with the rt2870sta module. If you can figure out what they are (beats me) and rmmod them, hopefully that will allow the appropriate driver to work.

Good luck with it.