[SOLVED] Problem with atheros wifi AR242x in 8.10

[Biochem]

I can detect the wifi card on an Acer Aspire 5100.

the relevant output of lspci -v is

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)
	Subsystem: AMBIT Microsystem Corp. Device 0428
	Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 16
	Memory at 54000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=64K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel modules: ath_pci

Other possible useful information

Biochem@laptop:~$ lsmod | grep ath
ath_pci                99096  0 
wlan                  211952  1 ath_pci
ath_hal               198864  1 ath_pci

Biochem@laptop:~$ sudo modprobe ath_pci
Biochem@laptop:~$ dmesg | tail -50
...
[   40.709418] hda-intel: Invalid position buffer, using LPIB read method instead.
[   47.072036] eth0: no IPv6 routers present
[  166.822017] ath_hal: 0.9.18.0 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, RF5413)
[  166.835596] wlan: 0.9.4
[  166.842774] ath_pci: 0.9.4
[  166.842985] ath_pci 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[  166.842997] ath_pci 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[  166.867618] wifi%d: unable to attach hardware: 'Hardware revision not supported' (HAL status 13)
[  166.867631] ath_pci 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A disabled

Biochem@laptop:~$ sudo iwlist scan
lo        Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth0      Interface doesn't support scanning.

pan0      Interface doesn't support scanning.

I also tried replacing the ath_pci with the ath9k using

sudo modprobe -r ath_pci ath9k
sudo modprobe ath9k
dmesg | grep -e ath -e wlan
iwconfig

but it still doesn't work. I'm really clueless on what to do next. Anyone as a suggestion.

Thanks

[luks911]

The drivers that work are the last madwifi version[0] (before compile and install it you have to disable the ath_pci you are using from System > Administration > Restricted Drivers Manager) or, more simple, the ath5k driver. To use ath5k install linux-backports-modules-intrepid

sudo aptitude install linux-backports-modules-intrepid

and then you can enable it in System > Administration > Restricted Drivers Manager, where you will saw a driver for Atheros 5xxx.

[0] http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org...0081204.tar.gz

[Biochem]

Thanks Luks, that exactly what I was looking for.

For further reference I needed to blacklist the ath_pci module and load the ath5k module

[Blue Snapper]

Great tip Luks911 ... it seems to work for my HP dv6736nr latop wifi.
Got any idea how I can get a wifi status icon on the Panel?
I had one with 8.04 but seems gone with 8.10.

[luks911]

In gnmoe you should have the Network Manager Applet (nm-applet). To try it type nm-applet in a terminal.
To add it in the startup go to System > Preferences > Sessions > Startup Program, click on Add and fill the blanks in this way:

Name: Network Manager
Command: nm-applet --sm-disable

and save it.

[atsab]

Hi Guys,
Glad you got your wireless sorted, i have the smae card have followed the instructions, i can see the suport for 5xxx serries in system >> administration >> hardware drives

but what do i do next

what and were do i need to black list

and how do i install http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org...0081204.tar.gz

[luks911]

Hi Guys,
Glad you got your wireless sorted, i have the smae card have followed the instructions, i can see the suport for 5xxx serries in system >> administration >> hardware drives

but what do i do next

what and were do i need to black list

and how do i install http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org...0081204.tar.gz

Hi,
You have to go to system >> administration >> hardware drives
and there enable the suport for 5xxx serries. The system will tell you that you have to reboot. If this works, you don't have to install the madwifi driver (http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org...0081204.tar.gz) neither put in blacklist the ath_pci module.

[atsab]

Hey thanks for the speedy reply, i selected and restarted the System >> Admin >> Hardware Drivers

Says that the 5xxx driver is activated but not currently in use?

what's my next move?

[luks911]

Well, try puting the ath_pci module in the blacklist. How? In a terminal:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

add a line like this

blacklist ath_pci

Now, reboot. And if the wifi doesn't work, look again in System > Administration > Hardware Drivers

[atsab]

ok i did as you asked but the driver is still active but not currently in use,

I think i might be missing something

here is the relevant output of running the sudo lshw -C network

 *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Ethernet controller
       product: AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
       vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:14:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0

is there any more info that i can provide that might help me to sort this configuration problem?