Broadcom Wireless Not Working!

okay, i have a compaq presario v2403nr with opensuse 10.3. my wireless card, a broadcom bcm4318 is not working. i've tried both the bcm43xx-fwcutter and ndiswrapper approach and neither seem to help.

linux recognizes the card as a valid wireless device via iwconfig but even if i configure the network manually via this it doesn't connect.

my comp is configured to use networkmanager with knetworkmanager as a frontend (default suse install). knetworkmanager does not show the furthest i ever managed to get it was where it scanned for networks successfully but failed to connect because it failed to configure the wireless card. i believe this was when i had configured suse to use ifup instead, but ran networkmanager anyway.

any help on this would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

This could well be a driver issue. One has to be careful about using trying the two methods without first uninstalling the unwanted driver. (Network scripts can still try to load the old driver).

Just to make it a little easier for someone to help you, can you please open a terminal window (console) and type su to become root user. Enter your root password when prompted. Type these commands and post output:

lspci (to get a description of your network hardware from suse's point of view)
lsmod (to see what driver is loaded)
ifconfig (to see network configuration, IP assignment etc)
iwconfig (wireless configuration)

Tip: If using another machine to post from, cut and paste the results into a text file, transfer to a usb memory stick, and then post here via internet-enabled computer.

Okay, here goes.

laptop:/home/the.ravenous.llama # lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev d3)
00:1e.2 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.3 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FBM (ICH6M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
06:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
06:06.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
06:09.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCIxx21/x515 Cardbus Controller

laptop:/home/the.ravenous.llama # lsmod
Module******************Size**Used by
nls_iso8859_1********** 8192**1
nls_cp437************** 9856**1
vfat****************** 16128**1
fat********************52380**1 vfat
ip6t_LOG************** 10496**11
nf_conntrack_ipv6******22848**5
xt_pkttype**************5888**6
ipt_LOG**************** 9984**13
xt_limit****************6656**24
microcode**************15372**0
snd_pcm_oss************50432**0
snd_mixer_oss**********20096**1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq****************54452**0
snd_seq_device******** 12172**1 snd_seq
ip6t_REJECT************ 9216**3
xt_tcpudp************** 7168**6
ipt_REJECT**************8448**3
xt_state****************6528**10
iptable_mangle**********6784**0
iptable_nat************11140**0
nf_nat**************** 21912**1 iptable_nat
i915****************** 26624**2
iptable_filter**********6912**1
drm********************79636**3 i915
ip6table_mangle******** 6656**0
nf_conntrack_ipv4******14856**7 iptable_nat
nf_conntrack********** 61684**5 nf_conntrack_ipv6,xt_state,iptable_nat,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4
nfnetlink************** 9752**4 nf_conntrack_ipv6,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack
ip_tables**************16324**3 iptable_mangle,iptable_nat,iptable_filter
ip6table_filter******** 6784**1
ip6_tables************ 17476**3 ip6t_LOG,ip6table_mangle,ip6table_filter
x_tables************** 18308**11 ip6t_LOG,xt_pkttype,ipt_LOG,xt_limit,ip6t_REJECT,xt_tcpudp,ipt_REJECT,xt_state,iptable_nat,ip_tables,ip6_tables
ipv6******************268152**17 nf_conntrack_ipv6,ip6t_REJECT,ip6table_mangle
apparmor************** 40736**0
fuse****************** 45460**2
loop****************** 21636**0
dm_mod**************** 56880**0
pcmcia**************** 41076**0
8139too****************29184**0
bcm43xx************** 419548**0
firmware_class******** 13568**3 microcode,pcmcia,bcm43xx
battery****************14724**0
ieee80211softmac****** 34432**1 bcm43xx
ac**********************9604**0
ieee80211**************35400**2 bcm43xx,ieee80211softmac
yenta_socket********** 28684**1
rsrc_nonstatic******** 15872**1 yenta_socket
button**************** 12432**0
pcmcia_core************40852**3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
ieee80211_crypt******** 9728**1 ieee80211
8139cp**************** 26112**0
mii******************** 9344**2 8139too,8139cp
snd_intel8x0m**********21132**1
snd_intel8x0********** 36636**3
snd_ac97_codec******** 97060**2 snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0
ac97_bus****************6272**1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm****************82564**5 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer**************26756**3 snd_seq,snd_pcm
sr_mod**************** 19492**1
snd********************58164**15 snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
cdrom******************37020**1 sr_mod
soundcore**************11460**1 snd
iTCO_wdt************** 14372**0
iTCO_vendor_support**** 7812**1 iTCO_wdt
usb_storage************80780**1
i2c_i801************** 12560**0
rtc_cmos************** 12064**0
ide_core**************122948**1 usb_storage
intel_agp**************27156**1
rtc_core************** 23048**1 rtc_cmos
i2c_core************** 27520**1 i2c_i801
snd_page_alloc******** 13960**3 snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
rtc_lib**************** 7040**1 rtc_core
agpgart****************35764**3 drm,intel_agp
usbhid**************** 41300**0
hid********************29184**1 usbhid
ff_memless**************9352**1 usbhid
joydev**************** 13632**0
sg******************** 37036**0
sd_mod**************** 31104**7
ehci_hcd************** 34956**0
uhci_hcd************** 27024**0
usbcore************** 123372**5 usb_storage,usbhid,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
edd********************12996**0
ext3******************131848**2
mbcache****************12292**1 ext3
jbd********************68148**1 ext3
fan******************** 9220**0
ata_piix************** 21380**5
libata****************136776**1 ata_piix
scsi_mod**************140376**5 sr_mod,usb_storage,sg,sd_mod,libata
thermal****************19848**0
processor**************40744**1 thermal

laptop:/home/the.ravenous.llama # ifconfig
eth0******Link encap:Ethernet**HWaddr 00:C0:9F:ED:82:A4
**********UP BROADCAST MULTICAST**MTU:1500**Metric:1
**********RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
**********TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
**********collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
**********RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)**TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
**********Interrupt:20 Base address:0x6000

eth1******Link encap:Ethernet**HWaddr 00:14:A5:26:AA:EF
**********UP BROADCAST MULTICAST**MTU:1500**Metric:1
**********RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
**********TX packets:65 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
**********collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
**********RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)**TX bytes:2730 (2.6 Kb)
**********Interrupt:4 Base address:0xc000

lo********Link encap:Local Loopback
**********inet addr:127.0.0.1**Mask:255.0.0.0
**********inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
**********UP LOOPBACK RUNNING**MTU:16436**Metric:1
**********RX packets:54 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
**********TX packets:54 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
**********collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
**********RX bytes:3476 (3.3 Kb)**TX bytes:3476 (3.3 Kb)

laptop:/home/the.ravenous.llama # iwconfig
lo********no wireless extensions.

eth1******IEEE 802.11b/g**ESSID:off/any**Nickname:"Broadcom 4318"
**********Mode:Managed**Frequency=2.472 GHz**Access Point: Invalid
**********Bit Rate=1 Mb/s** Tx-Power=18 dBm
**********RTS thr:off** Fragment thr:off
**********Encryption key:off
**********Link Quality=0/100**Signal level=0 dBm**Noise level=0 dBm
**********Rx invalid nwid:0**Rx invalid crypt:0**Rx invalid frag:0
**********Tx excessive retries:0**Invalid misc:0** Missed beacon:0

eth0******no wireless extensions.

Hope this helps.

Ok, from your lsmod output I can see you're using the broadcom (bcm43xx) driver.

eth1 IEEE 802.11b/g ESSIDff/any Nickname:"Broadcom 4318"
Mode:Managed Frequency=2.472 GHz Access Point: Invalid[/b]

This iwconfig output is not so good. It shows a problem between your router and client (your suse machine). Are you sure it is set up the way iwconfig suggests?

Some other things you can do:

1) You mention you selected 'traditional ifup' when configuring this interface. Try changing back to 'Network Manager'.

2) Look for a file like /etc/sysconfig/network/ifcg-wlan-id.xxxx, and post contents here. (This is a wireless configuration file set up by yast).

Maybe one of the power users around here can jump in with some technical wisdom...


Edit: This blog is worth a read too. It might help you to start over with ndiswrapper.

Default is back to NetworkManager.
Here, this is the contents of the ifcfg-eth1 file, which is relative to this card. My LAN card works just fine; I tested it earlier today.

BOOTPROTO='dhcp'
BROADCAST=' '
ETHTOOL_OPTIONS=' '
IFPLUGD_PRIORITY='10'
IPADDR=' '
MTU=' '
NAME='Hewlett-Packard Company BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller'
NETMASK=' '
NETWORK=' '
REMOTE_IPADDR=' '
STARTMODE='auto'
USERCONTROL='yes'
WIRELESS_AP=' '
WIRELESS_AUTH_MODE='open'
WIRELESS_BITRATE='auto'
WIRELESS_CA_CERT=' '
WIRELESS_CHANNEL=' '
WIRELESS_CLIENT_CERT=' '
WIRELESS_CLIENT_KEY=' '
WIRELESS_CLIENT_KEY_PASSWORD=' '
WIRELESS_DEFAULT_KEY=' '
WIRELESS_EAP_AUTH=' '
WIRELESS_EAP_MODE=' '
WIRELESS_ESSID=' '
WIRELESS_FREQUENCY=' '
WIRELESS_KEY=' '
WIRELESS_KEY_0=' '
WIRELESS_KEY_1=' '
WIRELESS_KEY_2=' '
WIRELESS_KEY_3=' '
WIRELESS_KEY_LENGTH='128'
WIRELESS_MODE='Managed'
WIRELESS_NICK=' '
WIRELESS_NWID=' '
WIRELESS_PEAP_VERSION=' '
WIRELESS_POWER='yes'
WIRELESS_WPA_ANONID=' '
WIRELESS_WPA_IDENTITY=' '
WIRELESS_WPA_PASSWORD=' '
WIRELESS_WPA_PSK=' '

Is this the right file?
Also, earlier today when I was working with YAST, somehow my wireless card magically began to detect networks. It was the same problem as before, in which KNetworkManager failed to connect because said it couldn't configure the card. After I rebooted the computer the wireless card stopped working again.

One more thing: my laptop also has a button used to enable/disable the wireless card. Could the problem be somehow related to Linux failing to recognize that button? After I had initially installed SUSE i pressed the button by mistake, and the computer mysteriously crashed, in which the screen went blank and the computer became unresponsive. However, after I had rebooted the button had switched (light went on) indicating that the button had been pressed and received. (Looking back, I've only been able to detect the networks when the button was lit...)

Okay. Still help!!!

Okay, important update. After again attempting to extract firmware using bcm43xx-fwcutter, I completely reinstalled my wireless card. I also set to enable the card on boot in YAST. When I rebooted, KNetworkManager began scanning for networks. Success!

However... it didn't allow me connect to anyone. After I had selected my home network a bubble popped up that said "Configuring network card" and a progress bar that showed 28% percent. After about 5 minutes of nothing beyond this it showed a message saying "unable to connect to network." This is a complete newbie opinion but I think the problem now lies in some sort of permissions problem between KNetworkManager and the network card. I mean, if the firmware didn't work, I wouldn't be able to scan for networks either, right? Post any feedback, PLEASE!

try temporarily disabling any encryption, on the router & the wireless device, then try connecting. once you are connected, try again with encryption. see if that is where the problem lies,also, check your firewall,see if it is blocking the connection

I've just installed Suse 10.3 on my Dell 1501 laptop with the bcm94311 wireless card,took me two days of messing around with fwcutter,ndiswrapper and firmware downloads and nothing worked,in the end and in frustrated desperation and being a newbie tried installing the windows drivers in wine didn't work,i did notice that wine extracted all the files from the EXE into a C directory which i couldn't find, so i extracted the files again using wine onto my desktop then put them in a file in home,pointed ndiswrapper at the setup.exe file and my wireless card has worked fine since.

Many thanks, deltaflyer, for the firewall tip. I checked the firewall settings and discovered that both of my network cards were set to "demilitarized zone." I set both to External zone, and now both cards work perfectly!!! Thanks!

Many thanks, deltaflyer, for the firewall tip. I checked the firewall settings and discovered that both of my network cards were set to "demilitarized zone." I set both to External zone, and now both cards work perfectly!!! Thanks![/b]

Good to know you've got your wireless connection sorted. Firewall settings are a common issue, so it is a good idea to disable (temporaroly) while setting up new network interfaces.