Problem with Realtek RTL8187, no access point associated.

English Network/Internet
1

Hello. I am having trouble getting my wireless card to connect to any access points. Specifically, I am attempting to use a Realtek RTL8187 with my Android phone as an access point. Incidentally, I am using another Linux machine with no problem. I am brand new to this forum and to Linux. Please forgive me in advance if it takes me a bit to understand what may seem basic.

I hope the following information may help you to help me.

My card’s kernel driver is rtl8187. I am unaware if I need to install any other firmware as “dmesg | grep firmware” gives no output.

As far as encryption, I am using WPA2 PSK with passphrase. I have checked the ESSID and passphrase many times in Network Connections and Network Settings.

I understand I am supposed to make sure wpa_supplicant is installed, but I don’t know what it is or how to make sure it is installed…

Some other commands I hope are useful, (I have amended their results):

**Ron@linux-eyro:~> /usr/sbin/iwconfig **

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=20 dBm
Retry long limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:off

**linux-eyro:~ # sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan **

lo Interface doesn’t support scanning.

eth0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.

wlan0 No scan results

dmesg

6.184307] phy0: hwaddr 00:e0:4c:06:40:9f, RTL8187vB (default) V1 + rtl8225, rfkill mask 2 
6.195044] rtl8187: Customer ID is 0x00 
6.195085] Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::radio 
6.195113] Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::tx 
6.195142] Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::rx 
6.196038] rtl8187: wireless switch is on 
6.196088] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187 
6.804139] scsi 4:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Novatel  MMC Storage      2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2

dmesg | less

2.907028] usb 1-7: Product: RTL8187_Wireless 
2.907029] usb 1-7: Manufacturer: Manufacturer_Realtek_RTL8187_ 
2.907031] usb 1-7: SerialNumber: 00E04C06409F

I have many hours into figuring this out, so I really appreciate any help you may offer.

Ron

2

I think this command is sufficient to check this :

rpm -qi wpa_supplicant

But I really don’t think that wpa_supplicant affects the results of iwlist scan. Quoting wiki :

wpa_supplicant is a free software implementation of an IEEE 802.11i
My guess is You don’t have the proper driver for your card but I don’t know what exactly You should install. I’m sure someone here will guide You or You could also search through the forms because I think the information You seek is somewhere here. It my also be that your radio is off. So be sure to check it as well.

Best regards,
Greg

3

Thanks, Greg for your quick response! It appears I did have Wpa_supplicant installed. I have downloaded the newest driver from Realtek, but I am still trying to figure out how to install it. The latest openSuse it is supposed to support 10, i am using 11.3. Pardon my ignorance, but how does one turn on the radio button? If any other system info is needed, I would be glad to provide it.

4

Hi,

Check if the driver is installed :

rpm -qa | grep rtl8187

If not, the driver is available here in the wireless repo : Index of /repositories/driver:/wireless/openSUSE_11.3. Just chose your arch and download if needed.

5

On 01/20/2011 11:36 AM, RandomRon wrote:
>
> Thanks, Greg for your quick response! It appears I did have
> Wpa_supplicant installed. I have downloaded the newest driver from
> Realtek, but I am still trying to figure out how to install it. The
> latest openSuse it is supposed to support 10, i am using 11.3. Pardon
> my ignorance, but how does one turn on the radio button? If any other
> system info is needed, I would be glad to provide it.

There should be no reason to build the driver for the RTL8187L or RTL8187B from
the Realtek web site. The correct driver is rtl8187, which is built into the
kernel for a long time.

There is no radio button for the RTL8187L; however if your system has a
different wifi card that does have a switch, that switch being off will kill ALL
the radios, including the RTL8187.

Please post the output of the following commands:


lsmod | grep rtl
/usr/sbin/rfkill list
sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan

If the rfkill line says “command not found”, then you will need to

sudo zypper in rfkill

WITH the network enabled.

6

On 01/20/2011 03:36 PM, DaaX wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Check if the driver is installed :
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> rpm -qa | grep rtl8187
> --------------------
>
>
> If not, the driver is available here in the wireless repo : ‘Index of
> /repositories/driver:/wireless/openSUSE_11.3’
> (http://tinyurl.com/2vezxtw). Just chose your arch and download if
> needed.

This test will fail as that driver is part of the standard kernel. What will
show it is

find /lib/modules -name rtl8187.ko

7

I didn’t know the driver is part of the kernel. How can someone know it is included in the kernel ?

8

On 01/21/2011 12:06 PM, DaaX wrote:
>
> I didn’t know the driver is part of the kernel. How can someone know it
> is included in the kernel ?

The “find” command in the previous posting of mine will show it. Another way
would be

zcat /proc/config.gz | grep 8187

I know because I helped put it there in 2008.

9

There should be no reason to build the driver for the RTL8187L or RTL8187B from
the Realtek web site. The correct driver is rtl8187, which is built into the
kernel for a long time.

There is no radio button for the RTL8187L; however if your system has a
different wifi card that does have a switch, that switch being off will kill ALL
the radios, including the RTL8187.

Please post the output of the following commands:


lsmod | grep rtl
/usr/sbin/rfkill list
sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan

If the rfkill line says “command not found”, then you will need to

sudo zypper in rfkill

WITH the network enabled.[/QUOTE]


Ron@linux-eyro:~> lsmod | grep rtl 
rtl8187                56564  0 
mac80211              243337  1 rtl8187 
cfg80211              155663  2 rtl8187,mac80211 
eeprom_93cx6            1429  1 rtl8187 
usbcore               192259  7 rtl8187,usb_storage,option,usbserial,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd 
Ron@linux-eyro:~> /usr/sbin/rfkill list 
bash: /usr/sbin/rfkill: No such file or directory 
Ron@linux-eyro:~> sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan 
root's password: 
lo        Interface doesn't support scanning. 

eth0      Interface doesn't support scanning. 

wlan0     No scan results

lwfinger, since rfkill line says “No such file or directory,” I need to

sudo zypper in rfkill

with the network enabled, correct? As I am not conected to any network from the machine with this issue, how do I enable the network? I appologize for my extreme noobness.

10

[Quote/]
The “find” command in the previous posting of mine will show it. Another way
would be

zcat /proc/config.gz | grep 8187

I know because I helped put it there in 2008.[/QUOTE]

Ron@linux-eyro:~> find /lib/modules -name rtl8187.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.34-12-default/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtl818x/rtl8187.ko
Ron@linux-eyro:~> zcat /proc/config.gz | grep 8187
CONFIG_RTL8187=m
CONFIG_RTL8187_LEDS=y
CONFIG_R8187SE=m

11

Ron@linux-eyro:~> find /lib/modules -name rtl8187.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.34-12-default/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtl818x/rtl8187.ko
Ron@linux-eyro:~> zcat /proc/config.gz | grep 8187
CONFIG_RTL8187=m
CONFIG_RTL8187_LEDS=y
CONFIG_R8187SE=m

12

On 01/21/2011 07:36 PM, RandomRon wrote:
>
> lwfinger, since rfkill line says “No such file or directory,” I need to
>
> sudo zypper in rfkill
>
> with the network enabled, correct? As I am not conected to any network
> from the machine with this issue, how do I enable the network? I
> appologize for my extreme noobness.

How did you install? If it was from the DVD, then the zypper command might work.
I do not know if that package is available there.

I asked earlier if that machine has another wireless device, but didn’t see your
answer. If it does, an rfkill block can be released by unloading the driver for
that card.

13

I installed from a DVD. I copied the zypper command below.

There are no other wireless devices conected to this computer.

Ron@linux-eyro:~> sudo zypper in rfkill
root’s password:
Retrieving repository ‘Updates for openSUSE 11.3 11.3-1.82’ metadata ]
Download (curl) error for ‘http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.3/repodata/repomd.xml’:
Error code: Connection failed
Error message: Couldn’t resolve host ‘download.opensuse.org’

14

I’d like to report that I just got a NIC based on this same chipset (for $12 on newegg) and it worked out of the box. It’s rock solid and has a very strong signal. The external antenna probably helps with that.
OpenSuse 11.3 64 bit

Rosewill RNX-G1
0BDA:8187
Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
RTL8187 Wireless Adapter

15

You need an internet connection for the command to work. Could You connect with ethernet cable and run the command again ?

Best regards,
Greg

16

On 01/22/2011 01:36 AM, glistwan wrote:
>
> RandomRon;2280846 Wrote:
>> I installed from a DVD. I copied the zypper command below.
>>
>> There are no other wireless devices conected to this computer.
>>
>> Ron@linux-eyro:~> sudo zypper in rfkill
>> root’s password:
>> Retrieving repository ‘Updates for openSUSE 11.3 11.3-1.82’ metadata
>> ]
>> Download (curl) error for
>> ‘http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.3/repodata/repomd.xml’:
>> Error code: Connection failed
>> Error message: Couldn’t resolve host ‘download.opensuse.org’
> You need an internet connection for the command to work. Could You
> connect with ethernet cable and run the command again ?

Without an internet connection, you need to use YaST => Software Management to
search for “rfkill” and install it.

Are you sure the device is OK? As noted above, it should just work. Is it
mounted internally?

17

Thanks. I will keep this one in mind if the other doesn’t work out.

18

I will need to bring the desktop to another location, but I can do that.

19

A search in Software Manager had “no Matches.” I will try to figure out how to get it from somewhere else.

I only assume the device it is ok. It is new from Amazon. It is a usb device.

20

Well guys, I tried to install the wireless adapter on a Windows machine and it didn’t want to work there either! I guess lwfinger had it, it may just be a defective item to begin with.

I sure appreciate everyone’s help. I will look at getting a replacement and will let you know how it works.

Thanks!

Ron