I cant get my interface to go into master mode on my ubuntu system to be used as a router and is throwing out strange errors. This is the results of ifup wlan0

wlanctl-ng: Operation not supported
Failed to enable the device, exitcode= 1 .
run-parts: /etc/network/if-pre-up.d/linux-wlan-ng-pre-up exited with return code 1
Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Device or resource busy.
RTNETLINK answers: File exists
run-parts: /etc/network/if-up.d/avahi-autoipd exited with return code 2


this is the relevant secion of my networks/interfaces file

iface wlan0 inet static
address 172.16.2.1
netmask 255.255.255.0
wireless-mode master
wireless-essid IndiaSt

relevent lspci
02:01.0 Network controller: Intersil Corporation ISL3890 [Prism GT/Prism Duette]/ISL3886 [Prism Javelin/Prism Xbow] (rev 01)

Any help or advice would be fantastic, this has been bugging me all week.

Does it work as a client or as an Ad-Hoc mode? Many WiFi cards just refuse to be in Master mode (or at least no firmware that supports this mode is widely known). But I have some successful experience of using and Ad-Hoc node as a router. So, try Ad-Hoc + dhclient + netfilter NAT.

doing either ad-hoc or master with iwconfig gives

SIOCSIFFLAGS: Operation not permitted
when the interface is ifupped.

Sudo required maybe ???.

sudo -s 'ed in when i started doing any work on the system setup.

Maybe you could try ndiswrapper?