Wireless connects only after running iwlist scan command -broadcom

deepclutch · 08-20-2014, 06:44 AM

I have a old dell inspiron 1720 laptop with on board broadcom wireless version:

Code:

0# lspci -vvnn | grep 14e4
03:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX [14e4:170c] (rev 02)
0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)

Wifi is from a MTS Huawei E315 Wifi modem(CDMA broadband).

Ubuntu(kernel:3.8.0-25) wireless works fine- but needs a few steps each time to connect:
It fails to detect and up the wireless interface every time, unless I manually run as root: "iwlist wlan0 scan". I have to try precisely 2 times to get wlan0 to configure with wifi the above command. after the 2nd try, networkmanager auto configures and wifi icon gets visible in the top gnome panel and internet works. see the reaction to commands I ran:

Code:

1st try: ~# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0     No scan results

2nd try: ~# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0     Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
                    Channel:6
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality=70/70  Signal level=-14 dBm  
                    Encryption key:on
                    ESSID:"xysgsgsgs"

I ran tail -f /var/log/syslog to trace what happens when the command iwlist scan wlan0 is run. it is attached here:

http://tr.im/1f1Jy

I have couple of wireless devices including notebooks and mobile phones which sync with the Wifi fine, except for this one. can somebody help me to resolve this issue?

deepclutch · 08-21-2014, 06:03 AM

for now, I have removed b43 driver and installed latest bcmwl-kernel-source(broadcom sta driver). with "wl" module loaded, the wireless scans and detects, configures network fine. the problem is onboard NIC card needs b44, ssb modules loaded which prevents wl from functioning. If I remove b44,ssb and reload in the sequence: modprobe wl; modprobe b44 - both works fine. if b44 loads first, no wl driver working. have to sort this out.
I have no idea how to place a script in the sysvinit(Systemd or Upstart) that removes all modules viz. b44, ssb, wl from loading and at a later stage modprobe wl followed modprobe b44. can someone help.

thank you

Fallow · 08-24-2014, 03:14 AM

This may or may not help (i'm new to linux) but you may have too many NICs for what the script defaults too?
Try editing your rca.inet1.conf with

Code:

MAXNICS=${MAXNICS:-8}

instead of the default which is 6.

Fallow · 08-24-2014, 03:43 AM

The above post more than likely didn't work, sorry. I misunderstood what the problem was.
Try making a start-up script where it runs through the scan twice. It may be redundant, but if it works and you don't have to manually enter it ...

Probably a bad workaround, but hey