Wireless on my Thinkpad T60p

[aleckwyq]

I install FC8 in my Thinkpad T60p as the secondary Operation system, beside windows XP.
I found the wireless card ath0 in the 'Network device control', but I can't active it.
and the light of the wireless is not on.
Do anybody have some similar experience.
Thank you!

[Hades0523]

did you set linux acpi=off before you start install F8? This command will shut you LED down,you can make it on that the light will be on.

[aleckwyq]

I'm new. How to set 'linux acpi=off'',
change a file or enter the command in terminal
Thank you

[glennzo]

Hi aleckwyq. To get the IPW3945 wireless adapter working in Fedora 8 you should only need to start NetworkManager. Do that through System > Administration > Services. Start it and check the box so it starts at boot. When you start it there will be an icon in the top panel. Clicking the icon should show your access point.

[Hades0523]

I'm new. How to set 'linux acpi=off'',
change a file or enter the command in terminal
Thank you
[root@localhost etc]# cat /etc/grub.conf
post the output here,

[aleckwyq]

the output of 'cat /etc/grub.conf' as follow:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You do not have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
# root (hd0,5)
# kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda6
# initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=2
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,5)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.23.9-85.fc8)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.9-85.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.9-85.fc8.img
title Fedora (2.6.23.1-42.fc8)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.1-42.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.1-42.fc8.img
title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

Thank you so much.

[Hades0523]

[root@localhost ~]# gedit /etc/grub.conf

write
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.9-85.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/ acpi=on rhgb quiet
intead of
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.9-85.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet

as you see,just replace "LABEL=/1" to "LABEL=/ acpi=on"

PS:make sure that your current kernel is "2.6.23.9-85.fc8",not as the below one "2.6.23.1-42.fc8"

[aleckwyq]

Hi Hades0523,

I don't know why. when I did as you say. I can't start the laptop. So I just can start the 2.6..23.1-42.fc8.

[bbfuller]

Hello aleckwyq

I'm not sure why you would need to make those changes to get a wireless card working.

I have an Intel 3945 and it was very easy to get working without any such changes.

I assume from glennzo's post earlier on that he knows your laptop type and knows it has an Interl3945 card. If there is any doubt about that then run the command:

/sbin/lspci

from a command line and post back the part that relates to your wireless card when you have got it booting properly again.

I suggest that you undo the changes you have made to /etc/grub.conf, reboot the machine, run the command above and post back with the result.

Also let us know if you used a DVD or a live cd to install from and if you are running Gnome or KDE as your desktop. It makes a difference as to what services are started and where the software to control wireless cards is started from.

It does seem to me that from your first post you have an atheros wireless card but we do need details.

[Hades0523]

if you can into the CLI(command line interface),set grub.conf as follow:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You do not have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
# root (hd0,5)
# kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda6
# initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=2
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,5)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.23.9-85.fc8)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.9-85.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/1 acpi=on rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.9-85.fc8.img
title Fedora (2.6.23.1-42.fc8)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.1-42.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.1-42.fc8.img
title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

[glennzo]

Hello aleckwyq. I'm not sure why you would need to make those changes to get a wireless card working. I have an Intel 3945 and it was very easy to get working without any such changes. I assume from glennzo's post earlier on that he knows your laptop type and knows it has an Interl3945 card..Nah. I just googled the model and found that it has the IPW3945, just like my Toshiba. All I do to get wireless working is fire up NetworkManager, click the icon in the top panel, select my SSID and away I go. I don't need to install anything. I'd assume that it should be the same for any laptop with IPW3945.

[bbfuller]

Hello glennzo,

I'm sure you are right, my 3945 did just the same, however in post #1 of this thread aleckwyq reports seeing ath0 somewhere which suggests atheros.

I'm still not sure about the rest of this thread though. The lack of a wireless light is an annoyance many live with. I don't see what acpi has to do with activating the card though. Also in post #1 which I assumed was the major problem.

[glennzo]

Hello glennzo,

I'm sure you are right, my 3945 did just the same, however in post #1 of this thread aleckwyq reports seeing ath0 somewhere which suggests atheros.

I'm still not sure about the rest of this thread though. The lack of a wireless light is an annoyance many live with. I don't see what acpi has to do with activating the card though. Also in post #1 which I assumed was the major problem.Hi bbfuller, I saw that too (ath0). Maybe it doesn't have IPW3945 but before the OP gets in too deep he should at least confirm which he's dealing with.

[aleckwyq]

Hi glennzo,

My situation is as fllow
1. I can see the wireless signal in the "wireless assistant". and there are several, but when I try to connect I failed.
2. some time the wireless connect will show in the network manager, but sometime not. When I try to connect using the network manger, it will ask me to input WEP key. I try several time all failed.

So, is that mean my wireless card is no problem. The only question is about eh setting of the wireless. In addition, the wireless router require WEP key.

Thank you so much!

[glennzo]

I trust you know the name of your wireless connection (SSID), the type of security you're using (WEP, WPA, etc) and the passkey?

[aleckwyq]

Yes.

I know the SSID, and the type of Security is WEP, and I also input the passkey. But I failed.
At first when I try to connect, the SELinux will notice me. So I shut down ENLinux.
Now I don't know why can't connect.
In addition. there three types of WEP in Fedora 8. I don't know choose which one.
another very interesting thing is that. the status of wireless device in "Network device control" is "Inactive", and I always fail to active it. If so, it doesn't actived, why I can find the signal in the "wireless assistant"?

Thank you!

[glennzo]

Could you post the output of the command /sbin/lspci please?

[aleckwyq]

hi, bbfuller,
thank you. lspci as follow:

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC (rev 01)

My system is Fedora 8, which download from internet. any other information you need?

[aleckwyq]

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M56GL [Mobility FireGL V5250]
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC (rev 01)
15:00.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1510 PC card Cardbus Controller
[root@chemistry2150 ~]# /sbin/lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M56GL [Mobility FireGL V5250]
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC (rev 01)
15:00.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1510 PC card Cardbus Controller

[bbfuller]

Hello aleckwyq

The madwifi site here:

http://madwifi.org/wiki/Compatibility/Atheros

says this:

AR5005GS ¶
Chipset: AR5005GS = (AR5212)
Chip: AR5212 (802.11b+g)
URL: http://www.atheros.com/pt/AR5005GS.htm
Supports: IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g
Notes: Works perfectly with madwifi 0.9.3.1 on fedora 7 with 2.6.22.1-41.fc7 kernel

about your card chipset so I assume it should work.

I see that you say this:

I found the wireless card ath0 in the 'Network device control', but I can't active it.

about your card in the first post of this thread and so I assume that you have installed the madwifi drivers?

Can you confirm that and specify how you did it. Either from source or from a repository like Livna?

Could you also run the following commands. As one will need to be run from a root command line they both might as well be. In case you haven't done it before, at an ordinary command line use the command:

su -

that's a space and a minus sign after the su. Give it your root password when prompted and then issue two further commands:

iwconfig

and

iwlist scan ath0

and copy and paste back the output from them. I am assuming by the way that the output of iwconfig will confirm that the name of your wireless interface is ath0. If it is not, substitute what it finds for the ath0 in the second command.

When you post back, can you tell us if you installed from the live cd or a DVD and if you are using Gnome or KDE for your desktop. Surprisingly, which you use makes a difference as to what services are started and where certain things are located.

[aleckwyq]

Hi, bbfuller,

Thank you for your reply.
I install madwifi.
My system is Fedora 8. I download from Fedora website. the file name is Fedora-8-i386-DVD.iso. I have updated the the latest version. Kernel is 2.6.23.9-85.fc8. Thank you

iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

irda0 no wireless extensions.

wifi0 no wireless extensions.

ath0 IEEE 802.11a ESSID:"" Nickname:""
Mode:Managed Frequency:5.32 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:0 kb/s Tx-Power:8 dBm Sensitivity=1/1
Retry:off RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality=0/70 Signal level=-85 dBm Noise level=-85 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:3577 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

iwlist ath0 scan
ath0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:17:0F:23:F9:B0
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality=15/70 Signal level=-80 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 02 - Address: 00:17:0F:8F:D0:70
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality=13/70 Signal level=-82 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 03 - Address: 00:18:74:FA:AC:6F
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:5.745 GHz
Quality=43/70 Signal level=-52 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 04 - Address: 00:17:0F:D8:8E:1F
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:5.765 GHz
Quality=9/70 Signal level=-86 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 05 - Address: 00:18:74:C5:1C:2F
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:5.805 GHz
Quality=39/70 Signal level=-56 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 06 - Address: 00:17:0F:D8:8E:10
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=29/70 Signal level=-66 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 07 - Address: 00:17:0F:D8:8B:DF
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:5.18 GHz (Channel 36)
Quality=12/70 Signal level=-83 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s
36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 08 - Address: 00:18:74:C5:1C:20
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=46/70 Signal level=-49 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 09 - Address: 00:12:01:58:69:50
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=13/70 Signal level=-82 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 10 - Address: 00:17:0F:D8:8B:D0
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality=28/70 Signal level=-67 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Cell 11 - Address: 00:0E:84:2B:44:C0
ESSID:""
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=7/70 Signal level=-88 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
11 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100

[bbfuller]

Gosh aleckwyq

I don't think I have ever seen a wireless card detect as many access points as that in one locality. But at least it appears to show that your wireless card is installed properly and is able to see wireless signals.

I'm not sure if you edited any of the information above though.

Firstly, the output of iwconfig would seem to tell us that your card is connected to an access point with the broadcast name (ESSID) of "Nickname" or have you put that in some configuration dialogue somewhere?

The other thing is that there are no broadcast names in the output of iwlist, which is odd.

Now it may be that no-one is broadcasting the name of their network, but you will probably have to broadcast yours for one way of connecting. The Fedora NetworkManager doesn't work with hidden broadcast names.

Theory is at least, that you should not try to configure the card through anything other that NetworkManager. My first suggestion is that you look in the "Network" application off the System Menu - Administration and make sure that there are no configuration options entered there, and that the card is not set to activate when the computer starts. There will also probably be an entry "Controlled by NetworkManager", make sure that is marked.

Then the card should be under the control of NetworkManager solely. If you left click on the Network applet in the notification area top right of the screen and left click on your network you should be asked for the key.

The options you choose for WEP are determined by how it is entered in your access point. For my Access Point I have the choice of 64bit or 128bit.

I enter a word or phrase of my choice and it gets encrypted to a string of numbers and letter. Numbers 0-9 letters A-F.

It's usually that you need to enter in your NetworkManager settings when asked.

You should then specify in NetworkManager that your key is 40/128 bit Hexadecimal.

The thing that we really need to address though is the business of broadcast network name. If your card is finding "Nickname" in iwconfig, then it also ought to appear in the output from iwlist.

If you gave it that name in some configuration dialogue then it needs removing as above.

If your network is one of those in the listing from iwlist then you need to unhide its broadcast name to go forward.