USB WiFi Antenna
 

Good Afternoon:

I have a Ralink RT3070 USB WiFi antenna. I thought I'd installed the drivers via the CD. However, I'm not so sure. Where do I go to find if such drivers were installed and working? I belive I can get them(the drivers)from Linux. If I need them, how do I download/install them through Linux?
[HP2000-210us 12.04.1LTS Ubuntu]

Thank You:
Rick

Here is a command I use to troubleshoot and give wireless info in a thread with your logo (ubuntu) in your profile. It will give more info so
members can respond better to your thread.

I think you scared him off, rok!
FYI, here is a less intimidating link.
lol!

Command readout
 

To: rokytnji

Thank You for responding. Here's the readout of that command. I'm not if sure the last 4 lines refer to "Ralink" drivers? Please explain readout.
THANX:
RICK

Linux rick-HP-2000-Notebook-PC 3.8.0-36-generic #52~precise1-Ubuntu SMP Mon Feb 3 21:54:46 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
lspci:
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller [8086:0044] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:3674]
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0046] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:3674]
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915
00:16.0 Communication controller [0780]: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset HECI Controller [8086:3b64] (rev 06)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:3674]
Kernel driver in use: mei
Kernel modules: mei

To hilyard:

I've been to this "site"/post previously. Ahm... you're talking to a novice when it's suggested I build/modify a kernel/driver or command. I'm not saying I couldn't do it, however, I'd want someone right there 'looking over my shoulder" making sure I did it correctly, before I'd attempt such an action. The antenna came with a mini-CD that, I thought, had the drivers on it to download/install. However, I'm not sure I DO HAVE them installed and need to know where I go to in order to check/verify their status. If I should need to get them from LINUX(which I've been told I can), then I'd need a link to the site where I can get/install them. I THANK YOU and/or anyone who would pass along pertinent information. It's always appreciated!!

THANX:
RICK

The drivers should be available in Ubuntu's software center, along with anything else you might need. Ubuntu does use private repositories for some stuff, and you might have to find one of those, but the drivers should be in the main Ubuntu repositories. If you don't know how to use the software center, you need to learn.

As a word of warning - do not install anything by hand unless you really know what you are doing.

@69Rixter -- I understand. rokytnji wants u to install inxi in order to better 'see' your system. It would help you to do so, as well, if available in ubuntu repos. I have not checked into 'buntu repos regarding ralink, of late, either.

Drivers on CD are most probably *.exe files or whatever MS is using nowadays. They, in turn, will do little good on a linux install, anyway.

I don't know how many installs and reinstalls of the OS I have done, so I do not shy away from it. Doing regular backups helps ease the mind when the unexpected happens or I just screw up a dist-upgrade in Debian Unstable, say. As such, I encourage you to learn the basic command line procedures for your particular distro or distro family. One of the best tutorials on package management I've seen is techieMoe's.

get into the terminal and enter the following, as an intro into APT --
after done searching for your ralink info on one page, hit space bar for the next.

What you're after may well be within the repositories of your distro.

Best wishes!

hEY All:

Here's what I've 'discovered". Opened up "readme" in mini-CD (came w/antenna). As I guessed, drivers are not installed. Seems I must acquire them from Linux. So, went to LinuxSoftwareCenter and "searched"LINUX 2.4 & 2.6 Series drivers (as per CD instructions). It gave me SmartArray pkg(cpqarrayd) package to install. Yet, I'm pretty sure the "drivers" are NOT in that pkg. Is this correct? I'm going to 'search" for such drivers, but can anyone give me advice about where to get and how to install those drivers...and when I do, is it required to install SmartArray as well?
Thanx:
Rick

I don't use Ubuntu, nor that hardware, so I don't know what package the drivers are in. They may be only on the manufacturer's site. Hard to tell, and I don't have the time or ambition to do the search for you now.

To sgosnell

Ahm....so why even reply? Did I come right out and ask you, personally, to reply. NO, I didn't. Sorry it was such a bother to you and really annoyed you had nothing positive to offer.

RICK

Can you please post lsusb output?

according to this https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ha...orkCardsEdimax the rt3070 should work. This tells how to get working http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2154070

to : hilyard & rokytnji

I went to UbuntuSoftwareCenter and searched for inxi. Nothing came up. OK, enlighten me to what this is;where I get it; and how to download/install and use it. Or rather, just point me in the direction of it users manual and download site. I've never heard of it.

Thanx Fellas:
RICK

To Emerson:

I thought I had posted this before. Hmmmm...anyway, here it is. Please respond and let me know what the readout is telling you. I went to the CD that came w/ the antenna and I understood it to say I hadn't gotten the drivers installed. But, I'll wait on your summation before trying anything further. [HP2000-210us Ubuntu 12.04.01]


Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 023: ID 148f:3070 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2870/RT3070 Wireless Adapter
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 05c8:021e Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd (Foxlink)
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0cf3:3005 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR3011 Bluetooth

Thanks Emerson:
RICK

Deleted.

According to this your device is supported but may require firmware to work. Please see your dmesg for relevant information. Hint: running grep on dmesg will make it much easier.

Emerson:

Thanx much. Ahhh... see someone else told me the drivers are installed. However when I went to the CD that came with the antenna, I got the understanding that they hadn't installed???? OK, so now, I run this dmesg and it will inform me as to what I need to do? Please explain "running grep on dmesg?

THANK YOU:
RICK

Dude. Sorry I did not respond sooner. I had to put my wife on a plane and I am flying solo this week so fun and games.

Just for reference

That is what inxi is. It is just a script that spits out info on your machine in terminal like cpuz would in Windows.
First hit in google search for "install inxi ubuntu"

http://askubuntu.com/questions/28463...tion-on-ubuntu

Ok. Covered that. So that you can help your self and learn something in the process. Also because my priorities while the wife is gone are drinking and motorcycle riding. Plus I am gonna turn you on to a Ubuntu Google Search Engine.

Linky

This should be a easy fix in Ubuntu. Now if you were runny Puppy Linux or TinyCore. It might be a different story.

Happy Trails, Rok.

dmesg command prints the kernel message buffer in a terminal. You can scroll up and down with Ctrl+PgUp and Ctrl+PgDown. What you see is very useful information about your system initialization as kernel is loading. Any time you have hardware issues you should inspect dmesg output. There is grep utility which can be used to search and filter output of any command, it can search also in its own. For instance, if there is a kernel driver looking for firmware it will be in dmesg output. For instance, to see all lines containing 'firmware' you can pipe dmesg output to grep:

To colorpurple21859:

Well, neither of those sites were helpful.If you read post concerning my particular device/WiFi card(Rt3070) you'll note it says "should work out-of-box-...just plug it in"--well, obviously, that's NOT the case. Anyway, Thanx for replying.

LATER:
RICK

To rokytjni:

THANX...learning a little more each day/post!!

Take Care:
Rick

Emerson:

Thanx. See, this is what I'm asking....and learning. THANK YOU to Emerson and each and all who've replied/helped out!!

LATER:
RICK

RT3070...

This seems to be the right download from Ralink/Mediatek


http://www.mediatek.com/en/downloads...0rt3572rt3070/

THORKELLJARI:

THANK YOU. Well, I've been told that I do have the drivers downloaded. there have been suggestions I need to apply certain other modules, or perhaps add-ons that will activate/enhance the performance. I just don't know!!?? Perhaps I should add that, lately, I've been having some 'quirks" with Ubuntu itself. So, the problems may lie within it's system and, therefore, not the fault of the external antenna. See, I just don't know. I'll check out the "site" you've suggested and get back to you.

THANK YOU:
Rick

Go to here
http://packages.ubuntu.com/precise/a...mware/download
and click on this to download the firmware for your wireless card.
security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
Transfer the .deb file to your ubuntu system and install.

hey colorpurple21859:

Ok, went to page, read it, and need some clarification. What I read/gather from site is,...???? I'm NOT sure what I'm downloading/installing. Is it a pkg mgr? Is it needed software for Ralink??? Does Ralink need additional software to work to it's specs? I won't download/install just anything... I need to know. Please don't take offense. I do want this ordeal with external antenna fixed and working at it's optimum. Thank You for your reply
Take Care:
Rick

I dare ya. :)

Going by what you have not posted.

to see if the raylink driver is installed or not in your kernel.

The firmware is not supplied in Linux distros because of legal issues. If you have the driver. But not the firmware. The usb wifi won't work.

It wont hurt to download and install the file. I bet if you left click on it. Gdebi will open since you say you are running Ubuntu 12.04.
You will need a reboot to make sure the install takes.
Then try network manager in Ubuntu to connect your wireless.

If yo8u are afeared. Keep the download in a folder. Open synaptic. Look for it in the search box (name is in the folder you have the deb in). Pick uninstall if it does not work.

Use the pdf for Ubuntu 12.04 to teach you a few things. Happy Trails, Rok

Edit: I have been marking other members posts as helpful as they have been very useful in this thread. md5sum check the all deb in terminal before installing with gdebi.

The firmware is needed for your wireless driver to work. You will need to restart your computer after installing the firmware for the usb to work. Firmware is software that is loaded to the device by the driver for the device to work. Most distros have a package that includes firmware for several different devices instead of having a firmware package for each individual device. The package I pointed you too was based on the information you had provided about the distro your are using and the wireless usb your trying to get working.

Unloading and reloading the module will do, faster than rebooting.

That is true but sometime I think restart is better.

Restart is good for testing a newly built system to see if all changes to configuration survive reboot.

To colorpurple 21859:

First of all, THANK YOU for replying and all of your assitience. OK, I'm understanding that your latest reply is saying I must ALSO add firmware to the kernel/module? Is that correct? If so, wouldn't/shouldn't that operation be on the CD sent w/ antenna? but, really, shouldn't that already be loaded into or with the drivers? Hey, correct me if I'm thinking wrong! I'm somewhat a novice and have plenty, as your well aware, to learn.
Take care:
RICK


To Emerson.

Remove/reload the 'module"??? Do you mean driver(s)? Appreciate your replying/time/effort. Much THANX!!!
Take care:
RICK

colorpurlple21859:

Thanx for clarification. OK, will do as directed. Will post results. Appreciate your help/replying.

Take care:
Rick

The module and firmware...

Yes, you do need both a kernel module for the chip in this device and the right firmware.

Newer versions of linux(newer kernel) may have the module build in, ready to be told to load with the command "modprobe", but may require that you also install the firmware. This may either be as a package from a repository, which may be the case for Ubuntu 12.04, or from a download from the chip maker(Ralink).

However you may have to download both the module and firmware from Ralink and compile everything yourself. If you need to download the firmware from Ralink, you may find a README or guide included that could help.

I can’t tell you exactly what to do. I use openSUSE, and the firmware was in a package after I added a repository.

When you have everything installed, you can use "lsmod" to see the loaded modules.

With a pci card that required a module and firmware, this is what is loaded for my wireless as an example.

Remember that after you configure the device, you must still set up and make the wireless connection.

.deb...

There are resources for Debian, but which version corresponds to Ubuntu 12.04 I don't know.

http://pkgs.org/download/firmware-ralink

This seems what is in the packages. It covers your chip.

https://packages.debian.org/de/squeeze/firmware-ralink

inxi installation on ubuntu

Works for 12.04 LTS --
have to go to Cathbard

To: thorkelljari:

OK, this I will do. Appreciate you responding. Soon, I'll get back and post the results. THANX much!!

To: hilyard: As usual, THANX for the info .

THANK YOU and TAKE CARE:
Rick