Can't get my Computer to see my Wireless Adapter

Linux Support
1

I have followed the directions from this thread:

http://linuxforums.org.uk/index.php?topic=852.0

and can get the adapter to “light” up but it will not acquire an IP address. I have a problem with the adapter. When I do an ifconfig -a I get a mac address of 40:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff or 60:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff or 68:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff. That’s right the mac address will change on when periodically after a reboot. My router has mac address filter enabled, but for the purposes of getting this adapter recognized I have temporarily disabled it, yet I can’t get it to grab an IP address.

Can someone with experience walk me through a few things to try. I’ve been trying to get this adapter up and running for the past two days without success.

2

Hi poetic, and welcome to the forum :slight_smile:

Can we first identify your distro/version/achitecture ?

eg.
Ubuntu 12.04 32bit

and the adapter …

lsusb

or

lspci -vnn | grep -i net
3

lsusb

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 148f:2870 RaLink Technology, Corp. RT2870 Wireless Adapter
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 15ca:00c3 TexTech International Ltd. Mini Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

lspci -vnn | grep -i net

00:12.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] [II06:3065] (rev 78)

iwconfig

Ralink STA ESSID:“11n-AP” Nickname:“RT2870STA”
Mode:Auto Frequency=2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:1 Mb/s
RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Link Quality=10/100 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

ipconfig-a

Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 58:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
inet6 addr: fe80::5aff:ffff:feff:ffff/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:2 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:152 (152.0 B)

4

Some further information that I wanted to include. I have a working Netgear wireless adapter that uses ndiswrapper in order for it to work. Is there a need to purge this installation in order for the new network adapter to work?

5
When I do an ifconfig -a I get a mac address of 40:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff or 60:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff or 68:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff.
That would indicate that your adapter has no valid mac address.

You could change it with macchanger (see here)

sudo apt-get install macchanger macchanger-gtk

then (replace wlan0 as needed)

sudo macchanger wlan0

or GUI version:

macchanger-gtk
6

I was able to compile and then make macchanger, but when I give this command: sudo macchanger ra0 I get this echoed back:

Current MAC: c0:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (unknown)

ERROR: Can’t change MAC: interface up or not permission: Operation not supported

Before I did this I entered: sudo ifconfig ra0 down and it returned with no errors.

7

Which distro/version/architecture are we talking about ?

cat /etc/*release

and which kernel:

uname -a
8

cat /etc/*release

DISTRIB_ID_LinuxMint
DISTRIB_RELEASE=15
DISTRIB_CODENAME=olivia
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION=“Linux Mint 15 Olivia”
NAME=“Ubuntu”
VERSION=“13.04”, Raring Ringtail"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME=“Ubuntu 13.04”
VERSION_ID=“13.04”
HOME_URL=“http://www.ubuntu.com/”
SUPPORT_URL=“http:/www.help.ubuntu.com/”
BUG_REPORT_URL=“http://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/”

uname -r
3.8.0.33-generic

9

Do you still get the weird mac address behaviour if you use the rt2800usb driver ?

sudo modprobe -r rt2870sta

then

sudo modprobe rt2800usb

??

10

sudo modprobe -r rt2870sta

FATAL: Module rt22870sta is in use

Code: [Select]

sudo modprobe rt2800usb

echo’ed back nothing. It did seem to probe the adapter as it started flickering alot. But I still don’t have a wireless connection.

My gut tells me this has got to do with the bad MAC address that I’m getting. Should I just send the adapter back and try another one?

When should I be able to discern the MAC address of the adapter? Do I have to install the software first or should I be able to do an ifconfig -a and find out what the MAC address is before doing any software installation.

11
When should I be able to discern the MAC address of the adapter? Do I have to install the software first or should I be able to do an ifconfig -a and find out what the MAC address is before doing any software installation.

If there wasn’t a driver loaded, the adapter wouldn’t be listed by ifconfig at all … I’d assume the mac address is hard coded, but passed to the OS by the driver.

Try blacklisting the rt2870sta driver … then rebooting

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

and add a single NEW line at the bottom that reads:-

blacklist rt2870sta

SAVE the file, and reboot.

When back at the desktop, run:

sudo modprobe rt2800usb

then check your mac address with:

ifconfig

is it still weird ?

12

Please note when I opened up the blacklist.conf file at the bottom there was a command, blacklist rt2800usb

I pounded this out, added the blacklist rt2870sta and rebooted. The ra0 device is no longer listed.

I then unpounded blacklist rt2800usb and rebooted with the blacklist rt2870sta command invoked also and the ra0 device is not listed.

13

Forgot to mention the sudo modprobe rt2800usb returned with no errors.

14

can you run:

sudo updatedb

then post the output from:

locate rt2870.bin

Can you also make sure rt2870sta IS blacklisted, and rt2800usb ISN’T blacklisted … then reboot and post the output from:

lsmod
15

here you go:

locate rt2870.bin

/home/poetic/2010_0709_RT2870_Linux_STA_v2.4.0.1/common/rt2870.bin (First installation Folder)
/home/poetic/rt2800/2010_0709_RT2870_Linux_STA_v2.4.0.1/common/rt2870.bin (Second Installation Folder)
/lib/firmware/rt2870.bin

poetic@poetic-upstairs ~ $ lsmod

Module Size Used by
ndiswrapper 192638 0
rfcomm 37420 0
bnep 17669 2
bluetooth 202232 10 bnep,rfcomm
snd_via82xx 24326 2
snd_mpu401_uart 13865 1 snd_via82xx
snd_ac97_codec 105692 1 snd_via82xx
binfmt_misc 17260 1
ac97_bus 12670 1 snd_ac97_codec
gameport 15016 1 snd_via82xx
snd_pcm 80890 2 snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec
snd_page_alloc 14230 2 snd_via82xx,snd_pcm
snd_seq_midi 13132 0
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 25114 2 snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_midi
ppdev 12817 0
rt2870sta 566782 1
ir_lirc_codec 12739 0
snd_seq 51280 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
lirc_dev 18670 1 ir_lirc_codec
ir_mce_kbd_decoder 12635 0
ir_sanyo_decoder 12465 0
snd_seq_device 14137 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
ir_sony_decoder 12462 0
snd_timer 24411 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
ir_jvc_decoder 12459 0
ir_rc6_decoder 12459 0
snd 56485 12 snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_device
ir_rc5_decoder 12459 0
ir_nec_decoder 12459 0
soundcore 12600 1 snd
rc_rc6_mce 12454 0
dm_multipath 22402 0
ite_cir 24704 0
shpchp 32129 0
i2c_viapro 12935 0
psmouse 81065 0
scsi_dh 14427 1 dm_multipath
rc_core 21266 11 ir_lirc_codec,ir_rc5_decoder,ir_nec_decoder,ir_sony_decoder,ir_mce_kbd_decoder,ir_jvc_decoder,ir_rc6_decoder,ir_sanyo_decoder,ite_cir,rc_rc6_mce
lp 13299 0
mac_hid 13037 0
serio_raw 13031 0
parport_pc 27504 1
parport 40753 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
btrfs 774622 0
zlib_deflate 26445 1 btrfs
libcrc32c 12543 1 btrfs
dm_raid45 75357 0
xor 26062 1 dm_raid45
dm_mirror 21621 0
dm_region_hash 16012 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 18137 3 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror,dm_raid45
hid_generic 12484 0
usbhid 41805 0
hid 87001 2 hid_generic,usbhid
pata_acpi 12886 0
radeon 875304 3
i2c_algo_bit 13197 1 radeon
ttm 71289 1 radeon
drm_kms_helper 47545 1 radeon
via_rhine 27005 0
drm 228489 5 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon
firewire_ohci 35292 0
firewire_core 61718 1 firewire_ohci
pata_via 13407 3
floppy 55441 0
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core

16

You didn’t blacklist rt2870sta as it got loaded …
(or you didn’t reboot after blacklisting it)

–

17

The previous output should be disregarded as I forgot to modify the blacklist.conf file before issuing the lsmod command. Here’s the correct output after modifying the blacklist.conf file as you requested:

Module Size Used by
rt2800usb 22366 0
rt2x00usb 19979 1 rt2800usb
rt2800lib 60947 1 rt2800usb
rt2x00lib 48570 3 rt2x00usb,rt2800lib,rt2800usb
mac80211 526519 3 rt2x00lib,rt2x00usb,rt2800lib
cfg80211 436243 2 mac80211,rt2x00lib
crc_ccitt 12627 1 rt2800lib
ndiswrapper 192638 0
bnep 17669 2
rfcomm 37420 0
bluetooth 202232 10 bnep,rfcomm
binfmt_misc 17260 1
snd_via82xx 24326 2
snd_mpu401_uart 13865 1 snd_via82xx
snd_ac97_codec 105692 1 snd_via82xx
ppdev 12817 0
ac97_bus 12670 1 snd_ac97_codec
gameport 15016 1 snd_via82xx
snd_pcm 80890 2 snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec
snd_page_alloc 14230 2 snd_via82xx,snd_pcm
snd_seq_midi 13132 0
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 25114 2 snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_midi
ir_lirc_codec 12739 0
snd_seq 51280 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
lirc_dev 18670 1 ir_lirc_codec
ir_mce_kbd_decoder 12635 0
ir_sanyo_decoder 12465 0
snd_seq_device 14137 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
ir_sony_decoder 12462 0
snd_timer 24411 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
ir_jvc_decoder 12459 0
dm_multipath 22402 0
scsi_dh 14427 1 dm_multipath
ir_rc6_decoder 12459 0
snd 56485 12 snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_device
ir_rc5_decoder 12459 0
psmouse 81065 0
ir_nec_decoder 12459 0
soundcore 12600 1 snd
serio_raw 13031 0
rc_rc6_mce 12454 0
ite_cir 24704 0
shpchp 32129 0
rc_core 21266 11 ir_lirc_codec,ir_rc5_decoder,ir_nec_decoder,ir_sony_decoder,ir_mce_kbd_decoder,ir_jvc_decoder,ir_rc6_decoder,ir_sanyo_decoder,ite_cir,rc_rc6_mce
i2c_viapro 12935 0
lp 13299 0
mac_hid 13037 0
parport_pc 27504 1
parport 40753 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
btrfs 774622 0
zlib_deflate 26445 1 btrfs
libcrc32c 12543 1 btrfs
dm_raid45 75357 0
xor 26062 1 dm_raid45
dm_mirror 21621 0
dm_region_hash 16012 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 18137 3 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror,dm_raid45
hid_generic 12484 0
usbhid 41805 0
hid 87001 2 hid_generic,usbhid
pata_acpi 12886 0
radeon 875304 3
i2c_algo_bit 13197 1 radeon
ttm 71289 1 radeon
via_rhine 27005 0
drm_kms_helper 47545 1 radeon
firewire_ohci 35292 0
floppy 55441 0
firewire_core 61718 1 firewire_ohci
drm 228489 5 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon
pata_via 13407 3
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core

The adapter did not light up after this modification to the blacklist.conf file.

18

can you unpllug the adapter, wait ten seconds, replug it, then post the output from:

dmesg | tail -n 40

[EDIT]

can you also post the output from:

md5sum /lib/firmware/rt2870.bin

Just noticed you also have a bluetooth adapter … can you also post the output from:

rfkill list

–

19

dmesg | tail -n 40

[ 223.076267] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9823e80, 16000, 5
[ 223.076270] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9827d00, 16000, 5
[ 223.076273] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f982bb80, 16000, 5
[ 223.076277] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f982fa00, 16000, 5
[ 223.076280] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9833880, 16000, 5
[ 223.076283] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9837700, 16000, 5
[ 223.076286] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f983b580, 16000, 5
[ 223.076290] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f983f400, 16000, 5
[ 223.076293] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9843280, 16000, 5
[ 223.076297] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9847100, 16000, 4
[ 223.076300] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f984af80, 16000, 5
[ 223.076304] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f984ee00, 16000, 5
[ 223.076307] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9852c80, 16000, 5
[ 223.076311] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9856b00, 16000, 5
[ 223.076314] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f985a980, 16000, 5
[ 223.076317] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f985e800, 16000, 5
[ 223.076320] ndiswrapper (MmBuildMdlForNonPagedPool:1864): f9862680, 16000, 5
[ 223.098000] ndiswrapper (ndis_encode_setting:383): unknown type: 3
[ 223.399254] wlan0: ethernet device 20:4e:7f:e7:7c:8c using NDIS driver: bcmwlhigh5, version: 0x564442e, NDIS version: 0x501, vendor: ‘NDIS Network Adapter’, 0846:9011.F.conf
[ 223.405519] wlan0: encryption modes supported: WEP; TKIP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2-PSK; AES/CCMP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2-PSK
[ 223.492498] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 223.500492] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 223.509187] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 223.509837] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
[ 244.475561] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
[ 1238.130598] usb 1-5: USB disconnect, device number 5
[ 1238.152513] ndiswrapper: device wlan0 removed
[ 1249.288027] usb 1-5: new high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci-pci
[ 1249.460215] usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=2870
[ 1249.460225] usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[ 1249.580080] usb 1-5: reset high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci-pci
[ 1249.727566] phy1 → rt2800_init_eeprom: Error - Invalid RF chipset 0xffff detected.
[ 1249.727576] phy1 → rt2x00lib_probe_dev: Error - Failed to allocate device.
[ 1306.782337] usb 1-5: USB disconnect, device number 6
[ 1335.868042] usb 1-5: new high-speed USB device number 7 using ehci-pci
[ 1336.040294] usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=148f, idProduct=2870
[ 1336.040303] usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[ 1336.160021] usb 1-5: reset high-speed USB device number 7 using ehci-pci
[ 1336.343514] phy2 → rt2800_init_eeprom: Error - Invalid RF chipset 0xffff detected.
[ 1336.343521] phy2 → rt2x00lib_probe_dev: Error - Failed to allocate device.

md5sum /lib/firmware/rt2870.bin
36c944c3138125605d28c0a3a1338be9 /lib/firmware/rt2870.bin

I get nothing back from rfkill list

20

can we remove the ndiswrapper module, and replug the device

sudo modprobe -r ndiswrapper

now unplug/replug the adapter and post the output from:

dmesg | tail -n 20