I got myself a D-Link DWL-AB650 card (this is a 802.11a/b combo card).

After some serious googling I found MadWiFi that should support the Atheros chipset which is on this card.

Downloading and compiling the source was very easy I just followed the README file within the tarball and it worked.

Here's a short description on what I had to do:
1. d/l the tarball and extracting it.
2. Check that the path to my linux source directory was the same as in /path/to/tarball/Makefile.inc (mine was /usr/src/linux).
3. compile with make
4. load the modules with
insmod wlan
insmod ath_hal
insmod ath_pci (not needed as it's a pc-card)
5. execute make install to install the modules into right directory.
6. execute iwconfig ath0 essid "<my_essid>" to set the essid for my AP.
7. execute ifconfig ath0 up to startup the interface
8. execute dhcpcd ath0 to get a ip from dhcp server.

This is working for me just gotta make myself a nice start-script for the last part...

Then you have some nice possibility to manage the card with what freq it should use, etc. etc. But look in the README file for more details.

Good luck anyone who tries this..

/Zappa

Zappa-

Thanks man! My AB650 card is the ONLY reason I'm still trapped with Windows XP. Had a question for you though. Here's where I'm at.

1. I'm running SUSE 8.2, fresh install, downloaded from network.
2. I have the Wireless Tools installed (from SUSE).
3. I've configured and am using my built on Wired connection successfully.

Okay, hardware:

D-Link DWL-AB650 802.11a/b PCMCIA
Dell Inspiron 8200
blah... blah... blah...

Following your instructions and the README, I receive the following when I attempt to do a 'make':

Ideas? I've checked and changed the lines to point to the correct kernel source; however, the .config file ISN'T there... I do have a Config.in file; however, when pointing it at that, the install dies a painful death.

Thanks for all of your help... The light on the horizon that my WiFi card will work on SuSE is great motivation... if you could point me in the right direction.



-David

Hi there,
finally some more info about my dwl-ab 650 wireless card. I am runing Toshiba laptop with RH 8.0. However, only thing stopping me to switch 100% to linux is my wireless card!

I got that driver and tried to install it, but did not work.
I followed your steps and did first
make
after that I tried to do
insmod wlan,
but my computer does not recognize this command. When I go to lib/modules/2.4.18-14/net I can see two files:
wlan.o and
ath_pci.o
I know you said I will need ath_hal.o but I cannot see it in my folder!!!
When I tried to do
make install
I get this output:
# depmod: *** Unresolved symbols in /lib/modules/2.4.18-14/net/ath_pci.o
ath_hal_computetxtime
ath_hal_detach
ath_hal_probe
ath_hal_attach
ath_hal_init_channels
ath_hal_mhz2ieee
I really need to have my card going, because this is the only thing holding me to switch to linux 100%.
I am also new in linux, so please do not be mad if I asked you some stupid questions.


Thank you in advance




Great topic!!!

David:
If you haven't managed to get it to work, try and look at the mailing list archive at http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/madwifi

I think your trouble is that you don't have a .config file and there should be a sample one somewhere on your disk.

Since I've never tried SuSE I can't give you any help where to find that one but I know there's been a post about that in the mailing list. And I know ppl who's got it to work under SuSE.

Good Luck!!!

Embeded:

I think you gotta upgrade your kernel to atleast 2.4.21 to have an safe trip to success...

On the same mailing list I've seen that using 2.4.18 kernel is a pain in the **** to get it to work.

If I haven't totally forgot all about RH there is a 2.4.21 kernel package for 8.0. Make sure you get all packages header/source.....

Cheers,

Zappa