topic title: Wi-Fi problem on Dell D620 laptop
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#1
Just installed version 16.2 386 on an old Dell laptop ...... unable to recognise either inbuilt (Broadcom Wi-Fi chip) or a USB TP LINK TL-WN821N WIFI dongle. Any suggested approaches to solve this problem please ?
Posts: 521
Shay
Joined: 20 Apr 2015
#2
Post the output of

Code: Select all

 inxi -F
If this is a USB drive with persistence, then yes , it will miss identify the Broadcom nic.
I have to use a newly created usb set up for the chip to be correctly ID ed with my 630.
Posts: 1,308
BitJam
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
#3
The driver for the TP LINK TL-WN821N is not open source which makes it big pain in the neck on Linux. You can
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"antix.freeforu ms.org/searc h. php?keywords=TL-WN821N&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search"
linktext was:"Search these forums for TL-WN821N"
====================================
or do a Google(
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://www.google.com/search?q=linux+TL-WN821N&oq=linux+TL-WN821N"
linktext was:"linux TL-WN821N"
====================================
). The last I checked the solution involves downloading source code for the driver and then either compiling it or re-compiling the kernel.
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#4
Shay ........ (thanks for reply/suggestion) Here is the result of the command you suggested. I would
(If poss) prefer to use the internal Broadcom wifi board now - as I see the TPLink USB dongle is
not likely to be any easier a solution.
ianc


$ inxi -F
System: Host: antix1 Kernel: 4.4.10-antix.1-486-smp i686 (32 bit)
Desktop: IceWM 1.3.8
Distro: antiX-16.2_386-full Berta Cáceres 15 June 2017
Machine: Device: portable System: Dell product: Latitude D620
Mobo: Dell model: 0FT292 BIOS: Dell v: A10 date: 05/16/2008
Battery BAT0: charge: 40.8 Wh 88.3% condition: 46.2/44.0 Wh (105%)
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 T7200 (-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
clock speeds: max: 2000 MHz 1: 1000 MHz 2: 1333 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 945GM/GMS 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1280x800@59.91hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945GM x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1
Audio: Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound: ALSA v: k4.4.10-antix.1-486-smp
Network: Card-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5752 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
driver: tg3
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full
mac: 00:18:8b:cb:05:8f
Card-2: Broadcom BCM4311 802.11a/b/g driver: b43-pci-bridge
IF: wlan0 state: down mac: 00:19:7e:41:93:8f
Drives: HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (5.9% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HTS72108 size: 80.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 72G used: 2.5G (4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 2.17GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 47.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 126 Uptime: 15 min Memory: 293.4/994.0MB
Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.21
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#5
Bitcom

Thanks for the info on the TPLink USB wifi dongle ........ I'll postpone looking
for a solution via dongle [to my lack of wifi] and try for a solution using the
internal Broadcom wifi board.

ianc
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#6
Bitjam,

sorry for the wrong attribution to you as"Bitcom" .........
must need another coffee !

ianc
Posts: 521
Shay
Joined: 20 Apr 2015
#7
The nic driver looks right, but I think you have a Switch on the side if I remember right.
Make sure it is turned on.
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#8
Shay wrote:The nic driver looks right, but I think you have a Switch on the side if I remember right.
Make sure it is turned on.
That switch was"on" ............ but the system [as presently configured - a stock / plain installation
of antix 16.2 for 386 machines] cannot see any wifi networks [when asked to search for such .........]

Thnx

ianc
Posts: 604
thriftee
Joined: 27 Feb 2009
#9
I think you need to use b43 instead of wl. I have a D620 that runs AntiX just fine on Wifi.

wireless-conflict-after-update-t6322.html?mobile=mobile

So they suggest:

This is what my / etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-dkms.conf looks like:

Code:
# wl module from Broadcom conflicts with the following modules:
#blacklist b43
#blacklist b43legacy
blacklist b44
#blacklist bcma
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmsmac
#blacklist ssb
blacklist wl

Edit yours like that and reboot.
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#10
thriftee wrote:I think you need to use b43 instead of wl. I have a D620 that runs AntiX just fine on Wifi.

wireless-conflict-after-update-t6322.html?mobile=mobile

So they suggest:

This is what my / etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-dkms.conf looks like:

Code:
# wl module from Broadcom conflicts with the following modules:
#blacklist b43
#blacklist b43legacy
blacklist b44
#blacklist bcma
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmsmac
#blacklist ssb
blacklist wl

Edit yours like that and reboot.
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#11
thriftee wrote:I think you need to use b43 instead of wl. I have a D620 that runs AntiX just fine on Wifi.

wireless-conflict-after-update-t6322.html?mobile=mobile

So they suggest:

This is what my / etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-dkms.conf looks like:

Code:
# wl module from Broadcom conflicts with the following modules:
#blacklist b43
#blacklist b43legacy
blacklist b44
#blacklist bcma
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmsmac
#blacklist ssb
blacklist wl

Edit yours like that and reboot.
Thanks thriftee - as a rank"newbie" to Linux, where would I find these lines of code please ?

ianc
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#12
Hi thriftee,

well I found the"etc" ++ ......... sets of files and finally the"broadcom" config
file - then ammended it to match your suggestion below and ............no change, no wifi,
still cannot 'see' any wifi networks - at all.

So ............ ??

Regards

ian



This is what my / etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-dkms.conf looks like:

Code:
# wl module from Broadcom conflicts with the following modules:
#blacklist b43
#blacklist b43legacy
blacklist b44
#blacklist bcma
blacklist brcm80211
blacklist brcmsmac
#blacklist ssb
blacklist wl

Edit yours like that and reboot.[/quote]

Thanks thriftee - as a rank"newbie" to Linux, where would I find these lines of code please ?

ianc[/quote]
Posts: 98
ile
Joined: 29 Jan 2016
#13
hello ianc
attention to what Shay mention about new usb. meaning a usb installer not previously booted on any machine. if this was not the first boot of the installer usb, then , can you, try a install with a fresh installer media not previously booted.
There is a d620 machine here working with b43 with same bios and similar enough hardware to your inxi report. worked immediate upon install without issue. good luck. hang in there. it will work soon. machine will enjoy antix.
plus, what miscommunication are we experiencing here? this is written as if the wireless is working. , but finding no signals."cannot see any wifi networks [when asked to search for such ...." if it was not working then it could not search for networks?
Posts: 604
thriftee
Joined: 27 Feb 2009
#14
I will see if I can boot up my D620 tonight and post the file I use.

The explanation was in the link I posted, but its not in layman's terms. Basically you have to have the right drivers loaded for it to work, and then have to use the right program that works with it has been my experience..
Posts: 15
ianc
Joined: 30 Aug 2017
#15
ile wrote:hello ianc
attention to what Shay mention about new usb. meaning a usb installer not previously booted on any machine. if this was not the first boot of the installer usb, then , can you, try a install with a fresh installer media not previously booted.
There is a d620 machine here working with b43 with same bios and similar enough hardware to your inxi report. worked immediate upon install without issue. good luck. hang in there. it will work soon. machine will enjoy antix.
plus, what miscommunication are we experiencing here? this is written as if the wireless is working. , but finding no signals."cannot see any wifi networks [when asked to search for such ...." if it was not working then it could not search for networks?
Hi ile,

I downloaded antix 16.2 full for 386 machines and burnt the iso file to a CD ........ and have booted from that, not a USB (stick) if thats
what you mean ?

I note [now that I look carefully] that there is no LED (?) alight when the side switch on the D620 is flicked to"on" ........ (*?) perhaps my machine has a hardware issue with the Broadcom board internally .......... not software. The machine was 'unused' for about 9months ..... before that it had an old (2008 approx) version of UBUNTU on it and everything worked as it should.

regards

ianc