Installing Broadcom B43 Wireless Driver Firmaware

[jordanae]

I downloaded the Ubuntu Hardy Heron beta a while back and ever since my wireless driver has not worked. But I checked my drivers and it said all I need is to get the firmware for my Broadcom B43 wireless driver. The only problem is that I don't know how. Can anyone help me out there?

[MyNameIsEarlB]

I just installed Ubuntu on my laptop, and i had the same exact problem, i read this post right before i found the firmware, less than 5 mins ago, so here you go!

http://downloads.openwrt.org/sources...0.53.0.tar.bz2

im about to try to get mine working now

this is the site i found it on
http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43

[Dr_Dan]

I've just had the same problem getting the broadcom b43 wireless driver on my compaq presario laptop after installing ubuntu 8.04. When I ran the live cd after booting it detected that I needed the driver and downloaded and installed in automatically when I connected to the internet after I hooked up via the ethernet cable.

I then installed ubuntu on the hard drive but since then it no longer detects the need for the driver (even if I try find hardware).

Ive tried what it says at http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43 BUT I don't understand what it means when it says

wget http://bu3sch.de/b43/fwcutter/b43-fwcutter-011.tar.bz2
tar xjf b43-fwcutter-011.tar.bz2
cd b43-fwcutter-011
make
cd ..

where do I type this to download and extract the fw-cutter and firmware?

[UtopiaTheory]

Hello,

If you go to

System > Administration > Hardware Drivers

You can check there if the B43 Driver is enabled or not. If the check box is blank, just check it and follow the directions on the screen. To actually fetch the firmware you will need a wired connection! It will fetch it for you and get it running. I hope this helps!

Tom

[community nerd]

I was able to install it but if i reboot, it does not autimatically use the driver. I have to manually activate it. Any answers on that?

[Ayuthia]

I was able to install it but if i reboot, it does not autimatically use the driver. I have to manually activate it. Any answers on that?

You should be able to get it to load automatically by adding the module to /etc/modules:

echo b43 | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

[miji.nyan]

Okay, so I dont have a cable, but can i install the firmware manually via flash drive then install it on ubuntu with a terminal command?

[Darth Bane]

Ok,
folks i just stepped into the same technical issue with Kubuntu 10.10 and my HP Pavilion DV8000. I read almost all available wikis about this topic.

Final i solved it by my own:

1. Connect your laptop to the Internet by a wired Ethernet connection
2. Go to SYSTEM SETTINGS - Software Management
3. Search for new software (GET and REMOVE software)/search input field: b43
4. Select only: b43-fwcutter (install this package)
5. Now back to the search input field (search for): broadcom
6. You will find two packages:
- broadcom-sta-common
- broadcom-sta-source
You need to install both packages.
7. Now back to the search input field (search for): b43
Select "firmware-b43-installer" and install it
8. Reboot the system
9. Define your Wlan connection - the Wifi interface should now be shown within your desktop network manager

I know that many of you would say this does not fit together, but when i only used the b43 component package i was not able to get a stable wifi connection (i lost the connection after a couple of seconds - means i lost the complete wlan interface). By adding the broadcom package i was able to build a strong and lasting wifi connection with my b43 wifi card.

Before i also lost the b43 connection after every restart or reboot, but now everything is fine - i double checked this twice.

May be this solution will also work for some of you out there.

[Macbook5]

Okay, so I dont have a cable, but can i install the firmware manually via flash drive then install it on ubuntu with a terminal command?

I'm having a similar problem, the cable solution isn't working but I have access to another computer with internet and a thumb drive. I already downloaded the file, I just need to install it. Does anyone know how?

[roadie133]

I've just had the same problem getting the broadcom b43 wireless driver on my compaq presario laptop after installing ubuntu 8.04. When I ran the live cd after booting it detected that I needed the driver and downloaded and installed in automatically when I connected to the internet after I hooked up via the ethernet cable.

I then installed ubuntu on the hard drive but since then it no longer detects the need for the driver (even if I try find hardware).

Ive tried what it says at http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43 BUT I don't understand what it means when it says

wget http://bu3sch.de/b43/fwcutter/b43-fwcutter-011.tar.bz2
tar xjf b43-fwcutter-011.tar.bz2
cd b43-fwcutter-011
make
cd ..

where do I type this to download and extract the fw-cutter and firmware?

I intended to post the answers but now realize I need to verify the process first, will return when I can confirm.