Difference between revisions of "Broadcom Wireless"

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(updates for bcmwl driver package)
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While newer Broadcom cards should work without issue, some older laptops (particularly HP/Compaq and Dell D-series) include older B43xx wireless cards that don't work out of the box, due to missing firmware. To determine if you have one of these cards, follow the instructions on the [[Network Card Determination]] page - if you see a Broadcom B43xx device, follow these steps to make it work:
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While newer Broadcom cards should work without issue, some laptops (particularly older HP/Compaq, Dell D-series, and the newest Apple hardware) include Broadcom wireless cards that don't work out of the box. If you have an Apple Mac, you have Broadcom hardware. To determine if you have one of these cards on any other brand of laptop, follow the instructions on the [[Network Card Determination]] page - if you see a Broadcom B43xx device, follow these steps to make it work:
  
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===Boot in "generic" mode===
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First, we need to boot in generic mode so that the new driver will work properly and survive a system reset. For further details on generic mode, see the [http://ubermix.org/customization.html Customization] page on the ubermix site.
 
# Plug in to a wired connection to the internet.
 
# Plug in to a wired connection to the internet.
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#Reboot the device and press ESC immediately after your computer manufacturer's splash screen disappears (you should see a flashing cursor in the top left corner for a few seconds - press the escape key within 3 seconds to view the menu.)
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#Select "Normal Boot" from the menu (but don't press enter) and press the "e" key on your keyboard
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#Select the line in the box that begins with the word "initrd" and move the cursor to the end of the line.
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#Backspace over the four letters "aufs" and replace them with "generic". Do not add any spaces. Then press "ctrl+x" on your keyboard to boot
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===First, try the b43 firmware===
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If you are using something other than Apple hardware, try the following first:
 
# Go to '''System''' and select '''Synaptic Package Manager'''. If you don't see Synaptic Package Manager, then open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and type "sudo synaptic" followed by the enter key.
 
# Go to '''System''' and select '''Synaptic Package Manager'''. If you don't see Synaptic Package Manager, then open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and type "sudo synaptic" followed by the enter key.
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# Click the '''Reload''' button at the top to refresh the package list.
 
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# Click in the '''Quick filter''' box at the top, and type '''bcmwl'''
 
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# Select the box next to '''bcmwl-dkms''' and choose '''Mark for installation'''
 
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# Click on '''Apply'''
 
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When the install completes, reboot your machine and see if the adapter works. If it doesn't, follow steps 1,2, and 4 above, then:
 
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# Select the box next to '''bcmwl-dkms''' and choose '''Mark for complete removal'''
 
 
# Click in the '''Quick filter''' box at the top, and type '''b43'''
 
# Click in the '''Quick filter''' box at the top, and type '''b43'''
 
# Select the box next to '''firmware-b43-installer''' and choose '''Mark for installation'''
 
# Select the box next to '''firmware-b43-installer''' and choose '''Mark for installation'''
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# Click on '''Apply'''
 
# Click on '''Apply'''
  
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When the install completes, reboot your machine and see if the adapter works. If it ''still'' doesn't follow the steps above, except select '''firmware-b43-lpphy-installer''' prior to clicking '''Apply'''. Reboot again, and your wireless adapter should work.
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When the install completes, reboot your machine and see if the adapter works. If so, and you aren't experiencing any problems, you're done. If it doesn't work or you experience poor performance, try installing the proprietary driver
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===If that doesn't work, try the Broadcom driver===
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Use the following if you are installing on Apple hardware, or if the above doesn't work:
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# First, boot in "generic" mode, as described above, then...
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If you are using ubermix 2.02 or greater:
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# Open a terminal by pressing ctrl-alt-t
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# Type /usr/local/lib/broadcom/setup.sh
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# Reboot
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If you are using an older version:
  
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# Go to '''System''' and select '''Synaptic Package Manager'''. If you don't see Synaptic Package Manager, then open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and type "sudo synaptic" followed by the enter key.
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# Click the '''Reload''' button at the top to refresh the package list.
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# Click in the '''Quick filter''' box at the top, and type '''bcmwl'''
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# Select the box next to '''bcmwl-kernel-source''' and choose '''Mark for installation'''. Synaptic will notify you that it is also installing "linux-firmware-nonfree" - this is OK.
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# Click on '''Apply'''
  
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'''''Important note:''' This update makes changes to the boot configuration of the ubermix install on your device. If you wish for these changes to survive a reset or to customize the install key for use on additional similar devices, you MUST follow steps 1-6 under "Rebuilding the base image) on the 4 - Customization page. ''
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When the install completes, reboot your machine and the adapter should work. and your wireless adapter should work.

Latest revision as of 23:12, 21 June 2014

While newer Broadcom cards should work without issue, some laptops (particularly older HP/Compaq, Dell D-series, and the newest Apple hardware) include Broadcom wireless cards that don't work out of the box. If you have an Apple Mac, you have Broadcom hardware. To determine if you have one of these cards on any other brand of laptop, follow the instructions on the Network Card Determination page - if you see a Broadcom B43xx device, follow these steps to make it work:

Boot in "generic" mode

First, we need to boot in generic mode so that the new driver will work properly and survive a system reset. For further details on generic mode, see the Customization page on the ubermix site.

  1. Plug in to a wired connection to the internet.
  2. Reboot the device and press ESC immediately after your computer manufacturer's splash screen disappears (you should see a flashing cursor in the top left corner for a few seconds - press the escape key within 3 seconds to view the menu.)
  3. Select "Normal Boot" from the menu (but don't press enter) and press the "e" key on your keyboard
  4. Select the line in the box that begins with the word "initrd" and move the cursor to the end of the line.
  5. Backspace over the four letters "aufs" and replace them with "generic". Do not add any spaces. Then press "ctrl+x" on your keyboard to boot

First, try the b43 firmware

If you are using something other than Apple hardware, try the following first:

  1. Go to System and select Synaptic Package Manager. If you don't see Synaptic Package Manager, then open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and type "sudo synaptic" followed by the enter key.
  2. Click in the Quick filter box at the top, and type b43
  3. Select the box next to firmware-b43-installer and choose Mark for installation
  4. Select the box next to firmware-b43legacy-installer and choose Mark for installation
  5. Click on Apply

When the install completes, reboot your machine and see if the adapter works. If so, and you aren't experiencing any problems, you're done. If it doesn't work or you experience poor performance, try installing the proprietary driver

If that doesn't work, try the Broadcom driver

Use the following if you are installing on Apple hardware, or if the above doesn't work:

  1. First, boot in "generic" mode, as described above, then...

If you are using ubermix 2.02 or greater:

  1. Open a terminal by pressing ctrl-alt-t
  2. Type /usr/local/lib/broadcom/setup.sh
  3. Reboot

If you are using an older version:

  1. Go to System and select Synaptic Package Manager. If you don't see Synaptic Package Manager, then open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and type "sudo synaptic" followed by the enter key.
  2. Click the Reload button at the top to refresh the package list.
  3. Click in the Quick filter box at the top, and type bcmwl
  4. Select the box next to bcmwl-kernel-source and choose Mark for installation. Synaptic will notify you that it is also installing "linux-firmware-nonfree" - this is OK.
  5. Click on Apply

When the install completes, reboot your machine and the adapter should work. and your wireless adapter should work.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.ubermix.org/index.php?title=Broadcom_Wireless&oldid=750"