wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

Llama · 2008-05-21 19:13:31

Hi, everybody,

My laptop is Toshiba Satellite L40-14G. The WiFi chipset is supposed to be 3945. I tried iwl3945 instructions from wiki - no error messages, no wlan0 interface. I've got no experience with WiFi at all. To my knowledge, my D-Link router is not configured for wireless ("wireless" box left unchecked in the provider's script). Is it relevant to the absence/presence of the wlan0 interface? Any further suggestions?

Edited:

No, its RTL8187B, see below

Last edited by Llama (2008-06-07 18:13:11)

bender02 · 2008-05-21 19:47:18

If you don't see the interface, router does not matter at all.

'lspci' will list your hardware, so check if you really have 3945. After 'modprobe iwl3945', check 'dmesg' output for errors/warnings. Use 'iwconfig' to check if the driver loaded fine and created the interface.

kilolima · 2008-05-22 00:43:46

I have the same problem.. dmesg reports a intel 3945, and I am using the iwl3945 driver to load it. However, there is no wlan0 or any other wireless interface listed in iwconfig.

Llama · 2008-05-22 06:32:25

lspci shows:

05:07.0 Ethernet controller: Realtec semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)

hwdetect --show-net shows (entire output):

NET : 8139cp 8139too mii

I don't know what to do with this information

A label at the laptop bottom says "contains radio device RTL8187B"

Ah! There is rtl8187 page in Wiki!

I tried to follow the instructions:

# zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CONFIG_RTL8187
CONFIG_RTL8187=m success
# modprobe rtl8187
# dmesg | grep rtl8187
usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187 success
# ifconfig wlan0 up
wlan0: unknown interface: No such device
# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0 interface doesn't support scanning

Last edited by Llama (2008-05-22 06:59:59)

Llama · 2008-05-22 07:28:32

# lsusb shows:

Bus 006 Device 002: ID 0bda:8197 Realtek Semiconductor Corp

No reference anywhere to 8197 chipset

bangkok_manouel · 2008-05-22 07:32:04

see following threads if it can help:
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=331641
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=48476

_Marco_ · 2008-05-22 07:40:35

excuse me for the question..
have you run 'iwconfig' ?
(this has been already suggested but I didn't see it's output in your last topic)

Llama · 2008-05-22 08:14:47

I have.

# iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.

Llama · 2008-05-22 16:12:26

I've got a bit of good news. By blacklisting rtl8187 and setting up ndiswrapper I got a wlan0 interface.

Very important and hard to find howto:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions … er-610613/

Now I got the following output:

[alexey@rimfirebox ~]$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.
wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.457 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:54 Mb/s Tx-Power:20 dBm Sensitivity=0/3
RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

What then ? About WiFi I know that it is useful as a means to get rid of the wires, that's all. I've got a D-Link DSL 2640U router, with the aerial on and WiFi disabled, for all I know (?). The router is plugged into the big computer and working, my hard-won wlan0 interface is up on my laptop . What am I to do now?

_Marco_ · 2008-05-22 16:21:45

well now I'd suggest installing 'netcfg'
and follow the wiki:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Netcfg

Llama · 2008-05-22 16:38:07

Thanks! Is there a usable GUI tool around?

_Marco_ · 2008-05-22 16:44:22

I don't know.. searching in the forum result only a very old project (2006) for netcfg
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=24251

Last edited by _Marco_ (2008-05-22 16:45:19)

Llama · 2008-05-22 17:16:05

Thanks! My provider suggests the following security protocols: WPA, PSK WPA-2 PSK and WEP. What would be a reasonable choice (ordinary home network)?

_Marco_ · 2008-05-22 18:02:53

don't use WEP it is a very weak protection..
I don't know the difference between WPA and WPA2, but WPA is really more secure than WEP.. just use a reasonably long key.

Misfit138 · 2008-05-22 18:36:06

_Marco_ wrote:

don't use WEP it is a very weak protection..
I don't know the difference between WPA and WPA2, but WPA is really more secure than WEP.. just use a reasonably long key.

I personally use WEP, but it is true; it is easy to crack for any experienced hacker. WPA requires more time, but is possible too. Wireless is just not that secure.

Llama · 2008-05-22 18:42:10

I don't seem to need paranoid heavy-duty security .

I don't know.. searching in the forum result only a very old project (2006) for netcfg

I tried NetworkManager mentioned in Wiki, and discovered it to be an old acquaintance from more than one "user-friendly" distro. Why not?

_Marco_ · 2008-05-22 18:58:52

well NetworkManager is not KISS
no, seriously NetworkManager works well.. so if you want to have a GUI it works fine, but I always hated it...

Llama · 2008-05-23 10:43:46

well NetworkManager is not KISS

That's right . The log files look hairy. Besides, it conflicts somehow with the openntpd, so I uninstalled the Manager. This isn't the point, though.

[root@rimfirebox examples]# ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:1E:8C:FC:1D:06
inet addr:192.168.1.4 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::21e:8cff:fefc:1d06/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:1582 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:548 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:538783 (526.1 Kb) TX bytes:85558 (83.5 Kb)
Interrupt:16 Base address:0xc00
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:117 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:117 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:8917 (8.7 Kb) TX bytes:8917 (8.7 Kb)
wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:16:44:89:D8:18
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)
[root@rimfirebox examples]# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0 No scan results
[root@rimfirebox examples]#

No scan results, no matter how close I get to the router. I did everything as per provider instructions, updated the router firmware; the network for the time being an open one. Nothing. This is a problem: it can be a router radio hardware malfunction, for all I know. So far I never used it wireless style; now I can't place the fault with any certainty. Any ideas how to locate the source of trouble?

Last edited by Llama (2008-05-23 10:45:26)

Llama · 2008-05-24 15:58:19

Any ideas about how to test the laptop/router situation short of bringing the hardware where there is a working wireless LAN?

Llama · 2008-05-30 14:26:15

There is quite a possibility... Someone's pointed out that ways are provided to turn the wireless on/off. One thing's been pointed out to me: FN+F8 (there is an antenna sign on F8), another I discovered myself: a switch and a LED near the bottom of the laptop. I tried to play with them, unsuccessfully. It's possible, though, I just don't know the ropes. I tried [# iwlist wlan0 scan] before and after FN+F8, with the hardware switch on and off (wlan0 always up). No scan results. No LED activity, regardless of the driver (rtl8187, ndisrapper; they both successfully provide wlan0). I've just seen once a red light flicker while rebooting. Does it ring any bell?

bgc1954 · 2008-05-30 14:48:49

Hi there.

You're going to have to check the router and setup wireless section of the admin interface (with dlink usually by typing 192.168.0.1 into your browser on a ethernet cable connection with admin the user and no password or admin for password too). It's a good idea to setup a new password on your router admin as well. As others have said you should set up some sort of encryption, preferably WPA, and then follow this wiki: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ndi … supplicant

Llama · 2008-05-30 15:02:36

Of course. I've paid some attention to the router. At least the wireless indicator on the router is on . I tried my laptop on somebody else's WLAN; no success, so the router is off the top of the suspect list.

Let me remind that I see no access points; security later .

Last edited by Llama (2008-05-30 15:05:27)

bgc1954 · 2008-05-30 15:47:21

If we go back to one of your first posts your lspci showed 8139 Realtek. I think that is your actual wireless interface. The rtl8187 is for usb card/dongle wireless according to the wiki and you didn't mention you had a usb wireless plugged in. You also said hwd showed 8139too, 8139cp, mii. Have you tried putting those into your /etc/rc.conf MODULES line and bang out ! ndiswrapper or try ndiswrapper with 8139 driver as that is what your pci bus is showing as your Ethernet Controller wireless device. lsusb doesn't say that the Realtek 8197 is an Ethernet controller so I don't know what that one really is.

Edit: Sorry, don't know what I was thinking, of course your 8139 ethernet controller is for your wired ethernet connection. Ignore all I posted.

Last edited by bgc1954 (2008-05-31 00:15:21)

Llama · 2008-05-30 16:24:10

lsusb doesn't say that the Realtek 8197 is an Ethernet controller so I don't know what that one really is.

But it does say:

[alexey@rimfirebox ~]$ lsusb
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0bda:8197 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002
[alexey@rimfirebox ~]$

I'd be very surprised to learn that one can set up wlan0 with an absolutely wrong driver (actually, two wrong drivers).

bgc1954 · 2008-05-31 00:24:35

Sorry about that last post, really don't know where my head was at. Have you tried to use any of these drivers with ndiswrapper? http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com/ … service=EU

Arch Linux

#1 2008-05-21 19:13:31

wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#2 2008-05-21 19:47:18

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#3 2008-05-22 00:43:46

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#4 2008-05-22 06:32:25

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#5 2008-05-22 07:28:32

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#6 2008-05-22 07:32:04

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#7 2008-05-22 07:40:35

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#8 2008-05-22 08:14:47

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#9 2008-05-22 16:12:26

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#10 2008-05-22 16:21:45

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#11 2008-05-22 16:38:07

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#12 2008-05-22 16:44:22

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#13 2008-05-22 17:16:05

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#14 2008-05-22 18:02:53

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#15 2008-05-22 18:36:06

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#16 2008-05-22 18:42:10

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#17 2008-05-22 18:58:52

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#18 2008-05-23 10:43:46

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#19 2008-05-24 15:58:19

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#20 2008-05-30 14:26:15

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#21 2008-05-30 14:48:49

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#22 2008-05-30 15:02:36

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#23 2008-05-30 15:47:21

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#24 2008-05-30 16:24:10

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

#25 2008-05-31 00:24:35

Re: wireless: wlan0's up, but no access points visible (RTL8187B)[SOLVED]

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