Atheros "ath5k" Wireless Not Working

[chili555]

Please try:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

Change the hp-wmi line to:

#blacklist hp-wmi

The # symbol will ask the system to ignore that line. Proofread carefully, save and close gedit. Next, do:

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local

Add one line above exit 0

rfkill unblock wifi

Proofread carefully, save and close gedit.

WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist, it will be ignored in a future release.

Whatever is in there needs to be in blacklist.conf. Let's have a look:

cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Reboot and tell us if your wireless is working.

so long as I get really detailed instructions.

That's my specialty!

[Naturally-Simple]

Hallelujah! It works! I suppose a problem there was the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist without the ".conf" at the end.

Drpjkurian, I took another look at your blog instructions, and they are also missing the ".conf" at the end of the blacklist file. Just a heads up for people in a similar situation as mine. Other than that, though, your instructions and Chili555's tweaking have helped me out tremendously!

I've rebooted three times now, two without the wired connection and my wireless automatically connected. The third time, I was wanted to see if starting it with a wired connection would make any difference, but I had both wired and wireless working. When I unplug the wired, the wireless kicks in, and vise versa. Smooth as silk.

Just in case, I'll leave this unresolved until later tonight when I check again. I don't see why another 8 hours would make a difference, but you never know. If all is still well, I'll mark this thread as solved.

Thanks again so much you two!

[Naturally-Simple]

UPDATE:

Turning my computer on poses no problems for my wireless, but it would seem as though there's an issue with the wireless when the system wakes from sleep after I shut the laptop lid. At that point I can't see any other networks (well, besides just one random one which isn't mine), and I tried connecting to mine as a hidden network, but that didn't work. Rfkill shows all is unblocked.

Any ideas on that?

[chili555]

You might try this:

sudo gedit /etc/pm/config.d/config

Add one line:

SUSPEND_MODULES=ath_pci

Proofread carefully, save and close gedit. It may take a reboot to get all the various systems to see the change. ath_pci is the Madwifi driver, right? Please check lsmod.

DISCLAIMER: This works often, but not always.

[Naturally-Simple]

I was wondering whether you missed something at the end of "config" but I followed your instructions, Chili555, and it seems like this has fixed the issue for me. I've tested it twice now, so I'd imagine it should keep on working. I'll mark this as solved.

Thanks again so much!

[chili555]

Happy to have helped. Glad it's all sorted. Have fun!

[chili555]

I'm confused. Did you install madwifi? Please let me see:

sudo updatedb
locate ath | grep .ko

What is in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist?

cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

We'll transfer it all, if we need it, to blacklist.conf.

What does this tell us?

sudo modprobe ath5k
dmesg | grep ath5k

[Naturally-Simple]

just before I saw your post, I tried "rfkill list all" to see what it shows:

kevin@deep-thought:~$ rfkill list all
0: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no

so I toggled my physical button, with no luck. I tried "rfkill unblock wifi" but that gave me this:

kevin@deep-thought:~$ rfkill unblock wifi
kevin@deep-thought:~$ rfkill list all
0: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: yes
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no

Here's the output of the commands you asked me to try:

kevin@deep-thought:~$ sudo updatedb
kevin@deep-thought:~$ locate ath | grep .ko
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/mathml.css
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/dtd/mathml.dtd
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/entityTables/mathml20.properties
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/fonts/mathfont.properties
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/fonts/mathfontSTIXNonUnicode.properties
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/fonts/mathfontSTIXSize1.properties
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/fonts/mathfontStandardSymbolsL.properties
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/fonts/mathfontSymbol.properties
/home/kevin/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/gecko/1.0.0/wine_gecko/res/fonts/mathfontUnicode.properties
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/kernel/drivers/md/multipath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar9170/ar9170usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/updates/compat-wireless-2.6.34/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/updates/compat-wireless-2.6.34/ath3k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/updates/compat-wireless-2.6.34/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/updates/compat-wireless-2.6.34/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/updates/compat-wireless-2.6.34/ath9k_common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.32-25-generic/updates/compat-wireless-2.6.34/ath9k_hw.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/md/multipath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar9170/ar9170usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_htc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-28-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_hw.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/md/multipath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar9170/ar9170usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_htc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_hw.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-10-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/md/multipath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar9170/ar9170usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_htc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_hw.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/md/multipath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar9170/ar9170usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_htc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_hw.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/net/ath_hal.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/net/ath_pci.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/net/ath_rate_amrr.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/net/ath_rate_minstrel.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/net/ath_rate_onoe.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/net/ath_rate_sample.ko
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/gweather.xml
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/gweather-details.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/gweather-menu-prefs.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/gweather-prefs-general.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/gweather-prefs-locations.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/gweather_applet.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-cloudy.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-few-clouds.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-fog.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-night-clear.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-night-few-clouds.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-showers.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-snow.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-storm.png
/usr/share/gnome/help/gweather/ko/figures/stock_weather-sunny.png
/usr/share/omf/gweather/gweather-ko.omf

kevin@deep-thought:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
#Remove To Install MadWIFI Drivers
blacklist ath5k

#Remove To Install MadWIFI Drivers
blacklist ath9k
blacklist ath5k

kevin@deep-thought:~$ sudo modprobe ath5k
WARNING: All config files need .conf: /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist, it will be ignored in a future release.
kevin@deep-thought:~$ dmesg | grep ath5k
[ 8114.614113] ath5k 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[ 8114.614131] ath5k 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 8114.614212] ath5k 0000:02:00.0: registered as 'phy0'
[ 8115.143405] Registered led device: ath5k-phy0::rx
[ 8115.143449] Registered led device: ath5k-phy0::tx
[ 8115.143465] ath5k phy0: Atheros AR2425 chip found (MAC: 0xe2, PHY: 0x70)

[chili555]

I see no evidence of the successful installation of madwifi; ath_pci.ko is nowhere to be found in 2.6.38-11:

/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/md/multipath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar9170/ar9170usb.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/ath5k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_common.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_htc.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k_hw.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.38-11-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.ko

Therefor, ath5k is the only reasonable driver. Let's remove the blacklist:

sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Now, let's try another experiment:

sudo rmmod -f hp-wmi
sudo rfkill unblock all
rfkill list all

If this brings your wireless to life, we'll need to blacklist hp-wmi.

[Naturally-Simple]

Ok, I followed what you asked me to do:

kevin@deep-thought:~$ sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
kevin@deep-thought:~$ sudo rmmod -f hp-wmi
kevin@deep-thought:~$ rfkill unblock all
kevin@deep-thought:~$ rfkill list all
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

I toggled the physical switch, but nothing. When I click on my network connections, I now see something different. It now has a greyed out "Wireless Networks" and also greyed out "wireless is disabled by hardware switch" and again a repeat greyed out "Enable Wireless".

Obviously my hardware switch is blocked. I recall the last time that all I did was push the physical button to make this change, but that solution doesn't seem to be working now.