Wireless network adapter installation problems

Grieverheart · 2017-07-28 17:55:01

I wanted to install arch linux on my pc. I have an AVM Fritz ac 860 USB wireless adapter, which unfortunately does not work with linux. I then went ahead and bought a new adapter. I wanted a speedy adapter, so my choice was between ASUS and TP-Link and I went with the TP-Link one because it doesn't come with a huge antenna. The one I bought is the Archer T9E. I got really excited I could finally get rid of my windows installation, but to my amazement, I had not done a good enough research and this card is also not supported by the latest kernel!

What are my options right now? Did I just waste my money?

V1del · 2017-07-28 19:39:33

Post the output of

lspci -k

On a quick googler, this should be a Broadcom chip, so you will want to look at https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Br … roadcom-wl

jasonwryan · 2017-07-28 19:40:48

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_T9E says to use the AUR package.

headkase · 2017-07-28 19:47:51

jasonwryan wrote:

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_T9E says to use the AUR package.

And how to get the internet to install a system where you can then build an AUR package?

A wireless bridge is a good candidate for the solution. When the bridge is set up it plugs into your ethernet jack and for all intents and purposes to the computer your internet connection looks like a standard wired one.

Edit: JWR, for the Arch installation medium. Has it ever come up to have GCC build tools, makepkg (you provide the source files yourself - on a USB stick or equivalent), kernel headers, and DKMS on it? For the express purpose of covering cases where you need to build a package before having a fully installed system?

Last edited by headkase (2017-07-28 19:54:17)

jasonwryan · 2017-07-28 19:55:34

Generally, you build the package on a machine with Arch installed and then copy it across. You'd have to look at flyspray to see if someone has ever opened a request.

headkase · 2017-07-28 19:59:54

jasonwryan wrote:

Generally, you build the package on a machine with Arch installed and then copy it across. You'd have to look at flyspray to see if someone has ever opened a request.

Usually when a new installation medium comes out it has the same kernel as an installed system for at least a few days. It doesn't seem like the best solution to have to have an installed Arch system to build a package for another system so it can install. You could have a virtual machine for those few days but setting that up within a host you do have that has internet seems like a lot of work to accomplish what build tools on the installation medium could also do with a lot less work.

jasonwryan · 2017-07-28 20:02:14

headkase wrote:

the installation medium could also do with a lot less work.

Yes. But someone has to do the work to make that possible.

headkase · 2017-07-28 20:05:00

jasonwryan wrote:

headkase wrote:
the installation medium could also do with a lot less work.
Yes. But someone has to do the work to make that possible.

A person can use an installed Arch system to build the specific things they want, like this wireless driver. Build tools on the installation medium would cover all cases (optimally) where a package needs to be built from the AUR. Which do you think would be better? Requiring a lot of work from the user for their case or having a general solution on the installation medium that covers all cases?

Last edited by headkase (2017-07-28 20:05:25)

jasonwryan · 2017-07-28 22:34:27

Personally, I don't care. I like the current setup. I can see merit in your proposal, but it would require patches being submitted, or convincing one of the devs to do the work. In either case, it won't happen just because it is a good idea...

Grieverheart · 2017-07-29 05:21:23

The chipset is indeed a broadcom 4630. Can I somehow install the driver before installing arch on my system so I can test it? E.g. I've found in forums that the broadcom-wl drivers on AUR support only 802.11 a/b/c/g/n and not 5GHz 802.11ac, which would make it quite slow. It's annoying that an internet connection is needed to download and compile kernel drivers, although I can get around it using my smartphone via tethering.

I didn't think of getting a wireless access point before. Quickly looking online, I see I can get an access point from TP-Link for the same money and the same bandwidth. Then again, my ethernet adapter is 1Gbps.

EDIT: Would it be possible to install the kernel driver and remaster the iso?

Last edited by Grieverheart (2017-07-29 12:52:56)

V1del · 2017-07-29 14:42:33

That should work, if you have enough RAM you could also update the live system and install the driver then. But remastering the ISO would likely be a bit more convenient should you have to install on another system with the same predicament

Grieverheart · 2017-08-02 18:48:10

I was able to remaster the ISO with the broadcom-wl AUR drivers after a few trials. I am now able to connect to my router successfully.

Unfortunately, I cannot connect to the 5GHz frequency in DSF channels (although I did iw reg set EU), see also here. Changing the channel to e.g. 48 lets me connect to the 5GHz frequency, but the link speed maxes out at 877.5 Mbps. From searching around the web, it seems this was also a problem with older broadcom drivers for Windows.

Here's hoping the drivers will get updated some time in the near future .

ewaller · 2017-08-02 20:05:01

Grieverheart wrote:

... but the link speed maxes out at 877.5 Mbps. ... .

As someone he started on a 110 Baud ASR 33 Teletype, then graduated through 300, 1200, 2400 and 9600 Baud modems, then through 10-Base 2 coaxial networks, ^^^ That makes me want to cry.

What does iw phy say about the system's capabilities?

Last edited by ewaller (2017-08-02 20:05:16)

Grieverheart · 2017-08-24 16:40:17

Is there any guide to debugging kernel drivers like broadcom-wl with e.g. gdb ? I would like to step into the code when the driver is scanning for 5G networks to hopefully find out what is causing the problem.

ewaller · 2017-08-24 17:08:56

https://lwn.net/Kernel/LDD3/
Chapter four.

NOT for the faint of heart.

Arch Linux

#1 2017-07-28 17:55:01

Wireless network adapter installation problems

#2 2017-07-28 19:39:33

Re: Wireless network adapter installation problems

#3 2017-07-28 19:40:48

Re: Wireless network adapter installation problems

#4 2017-07-28 19:47:51

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#5 2017-07-28 19:55:34

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#6 2017-07-28 19:59:54

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#7 2017-07-28 20:02:14

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#8 2017-07-28 20:05:00

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#9 2017-07-28 22:34:27

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#10 2017-07-29 05:21:23

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#11 2017-07-29 14:42:33

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#12 2017-08-02 18:48:10

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#14 2017-08-24 16:40:17

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#15 2017-08-24 17:08:56

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