Re: Software and kernel modules for Linksys WPC54G / WPC54GS

From: John Marks (jmarks1_at_nycap.rr.com)
Date: 11/28/05

  • Next message: H.S.: "Re: Printing from C/C++ ?"
    To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
    Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:15:36 -0500
    
    

    On Saturday 26 November 2005 13:53,
    bounce-debian-user=jmarks1=nycap.rr.com@lists.debian.org wrote:
    > On Fri, Nov 25, 2005 at 12:22:51PM +0100, Nico Gulden wrote:
    > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
    > > Hash: SHA1
    > >
    > > Hello all,
    > >
    > > I plan to set up a WLAN environment und I'm looking for the right
    > > componenents. I'd like to use the Linksys WPC54GS or WPC54G WLAN
    > > adapter.
    > >
    > > How are your experiences with these devices? Do they work easily with
    > > debian? What chipset do the devices use and what modules or extra
    > > software do I need in order to get it working.
    >
    > I acquired one of these from a windows using friend (who has sinced
    > switched to Debian!). Getting the device to work was a simple matter
    > of:
    >
    > $ sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper
    > $ sudo ndiswrapper -i windows_driver.inf
    > $ sudo modprobe ndiswrapper
    > $ sudo sh -c 'echo ndiswrapper >> /etc/modules'
    >
    > Of course, you also have to edit /etc/network/interfaces and bring up
    > the interface -- note that ndiswrapper by default will use wlan0 (not
    > eth?) as the interface name.
    >
    > However, DO NOT BUY WPC54G*. Use free software drivers. Proprietary
    > XP drivers cannot be trusted. They cannot even be trusted to obey FCC
    > regulations -- their use may well be illegal -- there is no way to know.
    > Nor should Linksys/broadcom be rewarded in any way for their unnecessary
    > and counter-productive secrecy. Such rewards only hurt the progress of
    > free software. Note that Linksys has actually written Linux drivers for
    > the Broadcom chipset, but these are not free software. See link:
    >
    > http://linux-bcom4301.sourceforge.net/
    >
    > There are wireless PCMCIA devices with free software drivers. I do
    > not know of any particular wireless-G cards which have them, but there
    > are wireless-B cards which do (those using the Intersil Prism chipset,
    > at least). See http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/hardware.html for a list
    > which, unfortunately, does not distinguish PCMCIA cards from PCI. There
    > is more information here:
    >
    > http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/#whard
    >
    > If you must buy WPC54G*, at least try to buy one used. Even if this
    > behavior is multiplied, it is not likely to benefit linksys/broadcom
    > in any way, since the used market is probably undifferentiated. While
    > prices of new cards may go up as the used cards leave the market, prices
    > of new or even used linksys cards are unlikely to go up any faster than
    > the market as a whole. The Windows-using masses will just buy competing
    > used cards if they can't find used linksys ones. At least, this will
    > work unless Linux users start buying them new once the used market dries
    > up -- but we can hope that Linux users are not so short-sighted.

    I purchased a WPC54G. It was bundled with the Linksys WRT54G wireless access
    point. A friend had purchased the same card and it worked fine for him on
    linux. I installed ndiswrapper and the same windows driver he was using. It
    did not work and I discoverd my card used a different chipset and different
    windows driver. It worked with the correct windows driver. Once in a while
    my machine locks up and I think it may be the driver/card. I would not
    purchase one of these cards again.

    -- 
    To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST@lists.debian.org 
    with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org
    

  • Next message: H.S.: "Re: Printing from C/C++ ?"

    Relevant Pages

    • Question About Gigabit Ethernet Adapters.
      ... I recently acquired two gigabit Ethernet cards, ... After reading some docs, I found out the Linksys is the only one that is ... Is there a way I could get some drivers for the card? ...
      (freebsd-questions)
    • Problem with 2.6.20 based kernels on SUSE 9.3
      ... fine except that the network card is not detected at boot time. ... # Firmware Drivers ... # ACPI Support ... # Wireless 802.11 Frequency Hopping cards support ...
      (Linux-Kernel)
    • Re: Network Cards for W2003
      ... I know that it is hard to get drivers for NIC for Windows Server 2003. ... second my company upgraded to new hardware and the old machines had to go, ... but some of the cards were not that old and it seems that ...
      (microsoft.public.windows.server.setup)
    • Re: >>>> Linux wont even load onto my machine. Any advice on using Red Hat?
      ... Hardware manufacturers produce drivers for their equipment. ... you're left with enthusiasts to produce drivers for other cards ... But supporting hardware isn't the operating systems' domain, ...
      (alt.os.linux.redhat)
    • Re: Advantech drivers for PCL-711B control/DAQ ISA card
      ... I have a few of that series of cards. ... in Borland C++ Builder than get the drivers to load in that programming ... Are you TRYING to stay with an ISA equipped computer? ... It doesnt take much code to write a byte to the Digital Output or read the ...
      (sci.engr.control)