Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo A1650 RF Kill Switch

Ravendark · 10-17-2009, 06:32 PM

Hello,

I have an amilo a1650 laptop with slackware 13 installed, which uses the broadcom 4318 wireless chipset.
I have installed b43 driver (i guess it is ok) but I cannot switch radio on.
Some time ago (slack 9??), I was using the fsam7400 module but I cannot compile it any more.
When I type make, everything disappears from the directory:

Version: 0.4.0:

Code:

make -C /lib/modules/2.6.31.4/build SUBDIRS=/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.4.0 MODVERDIR=/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.4.0 modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.31.4'
scripts/Makefile.build:44: /root/compiles/fsam7400-0.4.0/Makefile: No such file or directory
make[2]: *** No rule to make target `/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.4.0/Makefile'.  Stop.
make[1]: *** [_module_/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.4.0] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.31.4'
make: *** [modules] Error 2

Version 0.5.1:

Code:

make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build SUBDIRS=/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.5.1 modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.31.4'
scripts/Makefile.build:49: *** CFLAGS was changed in "/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.5.1/Makefile". Fix it to use EXTRA_CFLAGS.  Stop.
make[1]: *** [_module_/root/compiles/fsam7400-0.5.1] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.31.4'
make: *** [fsam7400.ko] Error 2

Is there another way to enable radio?

Thanks.

55020 · 10-18-2009, 04:14 AM

The best option is to upgrade your BIOS.

Background: I've got an Amilo-whatever (with an ath5k chip) and had exactly the same problem. In fact lots of people have been complaining to Fujitsu Siemens about this stupid idea that they have to make the RF default-off with no hardware switch to turn it on and the BIOS forcing it off at reboot. But I found that the latest BIOS for my Amilo-something-else does *not* force the RF off at power-up (there is nothing in the changelog, natch), so if you turn it on once using Windows, it will stay on forever. Hopefully the latest BIOS for your a1650 will be the same.

Another option - if you open up your notebook, the wifi is quite possibly on a removeable card, it may be possible to take it out and put some tape over the contacts for the rfkill switch. Someone posted some photos on Flickr showing exactly how to do this but I've lost the URL so you'll have to find them yourself

or if you're desperate you could change the card for one with a chipset that has good rfkill support.