HOWTO: RT2500, etc. wireless cards

**sputnikkk** · July 22nd, 2008

I solved all this BS from NetworkMisManager by installing Wicd.

I tried to be all geeky and core like a command line commando - but in the end - the Wicd GUI saved the day.

Originally Posted by wieman01

The only way to make it stick at the moment it configuring your WPA2 settings manually (look at my WPA tutorial in the signature). I don't think Network Manager is ready yet for static IP addresses. Sad though.

**limkopi** · July 28th, 2008

i try this but it became worst before i did this ubuntu still can detect my wireless device and all but after i did this and reboot i dont even have a wireless option anywhere can you plz help thanks

**unutbu** · July 28th, 2008

Please tell us the manufacturer/model of your wireless card, and also post the output of

Code:

sudo lshw -C net
lsmod | grep ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper -l

**linuxquestusa** · July 28th, 2008

Originally Posted by wieman01

Dapper Drake users should take a look at this thread if this one doesn't work. This guide was tested with Feisty Fawn, Gutsy Gibbon, and Hardy Heron.
--
To all RT73 users, please also see this post. Thanks to Kiefer Rodriguez for this solution.

Please post to this Launchpad bug report with all of your specs, if you have problems with a Ralink based wireless adapter.

This is a simple guide for all Ralink based wireless adapters and everyone who wants to replace the Linux driver with "ndiswrapper" (e.g. because you want to make use of either Network Manager or WICD).

INSTRUCTIONS:

Get the latest version of the Windows driver for your card from Linksys' website or from the CD that came with your device (whatever vendor).

Install "ndiswrapper" package with working internet connection (Ethernet):

Install "ndiswrapper" package without working internet connection (alternatively, install it via Synaptic/Adept):

Load new driver module (may not be necessary any longer, but does no harm either):

Add the module to "/etc/modules" to have it load automatically:

Create alias directive:

Pick a valid Ralink driver based on the chipset of your card (you might blacklist all of them if you are not sure):

Blacklist Ralink driver:

Now unzip the driver archive you have just downloaded (e.g. in your home directory):

Now find the right driver in the resulting folder & deploy it (folder should also contain other driver files i.e. .cat, .sys):

Make sure it has installed correctly:

The output should yield something like this:

Last but not least open this file...

...and add these 2 lines if they are not there yet [also try without adding them if Network Manager does not pick up the card & reboot]:

You can now safely delete the extracted driver files & folders. Then reboot the computer and see if you can connect using your favorite networking applet (e.g. Network Manager, WICD, Wifi Radar, etc.).

Feedback is - as always - appreciated.

CHANGE LOG:
30/09/2007: Minor fixes.
07/10/2007: Expanded "blacklist".
20/10/2007: Added missing part concerning "interfaces" file.
22/10/2007: Load module "ndiswrapper" at boot.
23/10/2007: Enhanced blacklist.
07/11/2007: Bug fix for Network Manager.
12/11/2007: Updated blacklist & module section.
13/01/2008: Launchpad bug report.
15/04/2008: Update for Hardy.
17/04/2008: RT73 note.

Everything works until I type the following command:

Quote:
ndiswrapper -l

When I type this command the message comes back as

invalid driver

and that is for rt2500usb.inf, rt2500usb.sys and rt2500usb.cat.

Please help resolve this

**unutbu** · July 28th, 2008

linuxquestusa, open a terminal and type

Code:

cd path/to/drivers     # change the path to the correct path where rt2500usb.* are located
sudo ndiswrapper -r rt2500usb
sudo ndiswrapper -i rt2500usb.inf
ndiswrapper -l

What is the output?
Also, if it doesn't work, please tell us what make/model wireless card you are using.

**limkopi** · July 29th, 2008

Originally Posted by unutbu

Please tell us the manufacturer/model of your wireless card, and also post the output of

Code:

sudo lshw -C net
lsmod | grep ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper -l

i have a linksys WUSB54G ver.4
i did what you told me to do this is what i get
[CODE]
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$ sudo lshw -C net
[sudo] password for jordan:
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: NetXtreme BCM5751 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 11
serial: 00:01:6c:dc:d3:d8
size: 100MB/s
capacity: 1GB/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm vpd msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=tg3 driverversion=3.86 duplex=full firmware=5751-v3.29a ip=192.168.1.68 latency=0 link=yes module=tg3 multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100MB/s
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$ lsmod | grep ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper 244736 0
usbcore 169904 9 gspca,ndiswrapper,zc0301,usbhid,usb_storage,libusu al,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$ ndiswrapper -l
rt2500usb : driver installed
device (13B1:000D) present (alternate driver: rt2500usb)
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$

jordan@jordan-desktop:~$ sudo lshw -C net
[sudo] password for jordan:
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: NetXtreme BCM5751 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 11
serial: 00:01:6c:dc:d3:d8
size: 100MB/s
capacity: 1GB/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm vpd msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=tg3 driverversion=3.86 duplex=full firmware=5751-v3.29a ip=192.168.1.68 latency=0 link=yes module=tg3 multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100MB/s
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$ lsmod | grep ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper 244736 0
usbcore 169904 9 gspca,ndiswrapper,zc0301,usbhid,usb_storage,libusu al,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$ ndiswrapper -l
rt2500usb : driver installed
device (13B1:000D) present (alternate driver: rt2500usb)
jordan@jordan-desktop:~$

hope you can help thx

**unutbu** · July 29th, 2008

limkopi, the good news is that the "lsmod" and "ndiswrapper -l" seem to indicate the driver is properly installed.

The bad news is lshw is not listing the wireless adapter. It's as though the computer does not recognize the Linksys has been plugged in. I'm not sure why this is so.

Would you please do the following:
Power down (not just reboot), then power up the computer, with the WUSB54G attached to a USB port
Then run:

Code:

lsusb        # I'm just curious to see if the WUSB54G will show up here
bzip2 -c < /var/log/messages > messages.bz2
dmesg | bzip2 -c > dmesg.bz2

Please post the output of "lsusb" and post messages.bz2, dmesg.bz2 as attachments.

**Darwiesh** · August 7th, 2008

thanQ .....
i have did all these steps my dear the ndiswrapper installed successfuly but the driver can't get any wireless connection i tried in all ways but i failed ...the problem is when i go to administrator >>wireless i can see my driver RTL8185 and all thing is good and driver installed but the nothing goes on ....need your help
my OSs are Ubuntu 8.04 64 bit & Vista ultimate 32 bit

**unutbu** · August 9th, 2008

Darwiesh, please post the output of

Code:

ifconfig
iwconfig
iwlist scan
lsmod | grep ndis

**TheMaxzilla** · August 11th, 2008

Ok, so I followed all of the instructions in the HOWTO, and it worked, no errors. But it won't connect to any networks. Can someone please help me resolve this problem? I don't know what other information to give you, so...