How To: Wireless on a Fujitsu Siemens Li 2727 notebook

[randysparks]

This should work for all the annoying notebooks in the Fujitsu Siemens range that require a special software switch to activate wifi, although it's only tested on an Li2727 notebook.

These steps are nice and easy. No compiling modules, as the other (older) guides suggest. Please post links to this guide wherever you find these outdated guides.

EDIT: If using Jaunty (9.04), there's no need for step 1 & 2. Just skip straight to step 3.

1. Get online via an Ethernet cable and use Synaptic to install either of these packages (hit the Reload button before installing, as you should always do):

linux-backports-modules-hardy 
linux-backports-modules-intrepid

Get the Hardy one if you're using Ubuntu 8.04, or the Intrepid one if you're using Ubuntu 8.10.

2. Update the system (sudo apt-get update, or use the program on the System -> Administration menu).

3. You can now go online straight away, although only until you reboot, by typing the following into a terminal window:

sudo modprobe acerhk
echo on > /proc/driver/acerhk/wirelessled

Wait a few seconds for wifi networks to appear in Networkmanager. Note that they won't appear instantly.

However, to make the change permanent, you'll need to do the following:

Open a terminal window and type the following to edit /etc/modules:

sudo nano /etc/modules

4. Add a new line at the end that reads simply

acerhk

Save the file (Ctrl+X, Y, hit Enter).

5. Create a new text file as follows:

sudo nano /etc/rc2.d/S19wifiactivate

In the new text file, type the following:

echo on > /proc/driver/acerhk/wirelessled

Save the file (Ctrl+X, Y, Enter).

6. Type the following to make your new file executable

sudo chmod +x /etc/rc2.d/S19wifiactivate

7. Reboot. When Ubuntu returns to service you should now have wireless working fine. No need to enable it using the keyboard shortcut.

To control the screen brightness, just add the Brightness applet to any panel. The keyboard shortcut keys don't work.

[super.rad]

Thanks I'd tried so many guides to get the wireless working on my gf's new laptop and none of them had worked. This was by far the easiest and worked perfectly

[suspicion4u]

Not to crash the parade on anybody else's how to but I lost the widgets panel and my desktop in kde's version of intrepid ibex and I cant seem to get it back after trying almost this whole week so if somebody could assist with that it'll be greatly appreciated. Im sure its something simple but its just not coming to me

[zeroms]

Great job!
Thank you!

P.S.: One more thing needed if it is possible and someone from here know how can I set up to work the Fn+F1 to turn on/off the Wireless? (Sometimes I'm using wired connection)

[iklein]

Great thanks!
You are my savior!!!

[randysparks]

Great job!
Thank you!

P.S.: One more thing needed if it is possible and someone from here know how can I set up to work the Fn+F1 to turn on/off the Wireless? (Sometimes I'm using wired connection)

To turn off the wifi, you should be able to type the following:

sudo echo off > /proc/driver/acerhk/wirelessled

It looks like there's still no support for the Li2727's hotkeys in any version of Ubuntu

[iklein]

I found "acerhk-source" in Synaptic. This driver will give access to the special keys which are not handled by the keyboard driver. It should work on Fujitsu-Siemens.

Try.

[iklein]

It doesn't work on my 2727.

[super.rad]

This worked for me on intrepid until there was a kernel update, now I'm using Jaunty and have followed the guide again and after rebooting the wireless led is on but ubuntu shows no wireless devices. Before I tried this guide it could see the wireless card but it never worked (and the led was never on) any suggestions?

[anastuta]

@ randysparks,

Thanks for the guidance, it worked for me, Fujitsu Siemens Amilo PA 3515, for wireless. Now I am writing this message wireless connected. Of course I have Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty i686.

thanks again