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I'm new to linux, and I decided to put Linux Mint on my Gateway laptop when Vista died on it. The wireless worked on install, but the signal is greatly ...
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  1. 10-04-2009 #1
    The_Explanation
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    Wireless not working in Mint

    I'm new to linux, and I decided to put Linux Mint on my Gateway laptop when Vista died on it. The wireless worked on install, but the signal is greatly diminished compared to what it was Windows (it used to work all over the house without problem but now I have to be really close to the router). I've tried an Ubuntu live cd in it before as well as Backtrack, and neither one worked on install, so I'm assuming it's using some sort of odd driver. Can I fix this, or will I be stuck with diminished range? Here's my card info:
    Code:
    00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub [8086:2a00] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
	Kernel modules: intel-agp
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a02] (rev 03)
	Kernel modules: intelfb
00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a03] (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:2834] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 [8086:2835] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 [8086:283a] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller [8086:284b] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
	Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:283f] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 [8086:2843] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.5 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 6 [8086:2849] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:2830] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:2831] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:2832] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 [8086:2836] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller [8086:2815] (rev 03)
	Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt
00:1f.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller [8086:2850] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
00:1f.2 SATA controller [0106]: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller [8086:2829] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:283e] (rev 03)
	Kernel modules: i2c-i801
06:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 01)
	Kernel driver in use: r8169
	Kernel modules: r8169
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  2. 10-04-2009 #2
    waterhead
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    I don't see any wireless device in that output. Maybe it is a USB wireless.

    You are better off if you provide us with all of the information, that this post describes how to find:

    Wireless Setup - Start Here

    It is best to run the script that is provided in the second section.
    Paul

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  3. 10-05-2009 #3
    The_Explanation
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    It's not a usb, so I don't know why it wouldn't be in that output. Here's the output of the script.
    Code:
    ============ lspci ============
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub [8086:2a00] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
	Kernel modules: intel-agp
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a02] (rev 03)
	Kernel modules: intelfb
00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a03] (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:2834] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 [8086:2835] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1a.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 [8086:283a] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller [8086:284b] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
	Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:283f] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 [8086:2843] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.5 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 6 [8086:2849] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:2830] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:2831] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:2832] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 [8086:2836] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller [8086:2815] (rev 03)
	Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt
00:1f.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller [8086:2850] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
00:1f.2 SATA controller [0106]: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller [8086:2829] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:283e] (rev 03)
	Kernel modules: i2c-i801
06:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 01)
	Kernel driver in use: r8169
	Kernel modules: r8169

============ lsusb ============
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0bda:0158 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Mass Stroage Device
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8189 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187B Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Adapter
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

============ lsmod ============
Module                  Size  Used by
i915                   65540  2 
drm                    96296  3 i915
binfmt_misc            16776  1 
ppdev                  15620  0 
bridge                 56340  0 
stp                    10500  1 bridge
bnep                   20224  2 
input_polldev          11912  0 
joydev                 18368  0 
lp                     17156  0 
parport                42220  2 ppdev,lp
arc4                    9856  2 
ecb                    10752  2 
snd_hda_intel         435636  3 
rtl8187                53376  0 
snd_pcm_oss            46336  0 
snd_mixer_oss          22656  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                82948  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy          10756  0 
snd_seq_oss            37760  0 
psmouse                61972  0 
serio_raw              13316  0 
pcspkr                 10496  0 
snd_seq_midi           14336  0 
snd_rawmidi            29696  1 snd_seq_midi
mac80211              217208  1 rtl8187
snd_seq_midi_event     15104  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                56880  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer              29704  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device         14988  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
eeprom_93cx6           10240  1 rtl8187
snd                    62628  15 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
cfg80211               38032  2 rtl8187,mac80211
iTCO_wdt               19108  0 
soundcore              15200  1 snd
video                  25360  0 
iTCO_vendor_support    11652  1 iTCO_wdt
intel_agp              34108  1 
snd_page_alloc         16904  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
output                 11008  1 video
agpgart                42696  3 drm,intel_agp
usb_storage            82880  0 
r8169                  40836  0 
mii                    13312  1 r8169
fbcon                  46112  0 
tileblit               10752  1 fbcon
font                   16384  1 fbcon
bitblit                13824  1 fbcon
softcursor              9984  1 bitblit

============ dmesg-firmware ============

============ kernel version ============
2.6.28-11-generic
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  4. 10-05-2009 #4
    waterhead
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    Quote Originally Posted by The_Explanation View Post
    It's not a usb, so I don't know why it wouldn't be in that output. Here's the output of the script.
    I guess you haven't heard of internal USB connections. Here's the wireless.
    Code:
    ============ lsusb ============
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8189 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187B Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Adapter
    And here is the driver module, and it's related modules:
    Code:
    ============ lsmod ============
Module                  Size  Used by 
rtl8187                53376  0 
mac80211              217208  1 rtl8187
eeprom_93cx6           10240  1 rtl8187
cfg80211               38032  2 rtl8187,mac80211
    It looks like everything is OK. Post the output of these commands:
    Code:
    ifconfig
    Code:
    iwconfig
    Last edited by waterhead; 10-05-2009 at 02:19 AM.
    Paul

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  5. 10-12-2009 #5
    The_Explanation
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    Sorry it took me awhile to reply. I confirmed that it is definately some sort of issue with the laptop; none of the internet would work at a hotel I was staying at even though it had decent signal. Here is the output for ifconfig:
    Code:
    eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:e0:b8:e1:ac:35  
          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:251 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:24 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:24 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:1632 (1.6 KB)  TX bytes:1632 (1.6 KB)

wlan0     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:16:44:6c:3b:08  
          inet addr:192.168.1.115  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::216:44ff:fe6c:3b08/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:2535 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:2483 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:1586612 (1.5 MB)  TX bytes:521510 (521.5 KB)

wmaster0  Link encap:UNSPEC  HWaddr 00-16-44-6C-3B-08-62-30-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00  
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING 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)
    and iwconfig:
    Code:
    lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wmaster0  no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11bg  ESSID:"Tim Watson Family"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: 00:1B:5B:7C:BB:51   
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr=2352 B   
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=62/100  Signal level:-40 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

pan0      no wireless extensions.
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  6. 10-12-2009 #6
    waterhead
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    Thanks again.

    This is what I was looking for:
    Code:
    wlan0     IEEE 802.11bg  ESSID:"Tim Watson Family"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: 00:1B:5B:7C:BB:51   
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm   
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr=2352 B   
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality=62/100  Signal level:-40 dBm  
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0
    It looks like the bit rate is already at the maximum. If it wasn't you could manually set it:
    Code:
    iwconfig wlan0 rate 54M
    The link quality isn't the greatest either. You could move around and check it to see how it changes. If the bit rate changes, then manually set it to 54 Mb/s.

    The only other option is to disable the native driver, and use NDISwrapper. NDISwrapper uses a WinXP driver to connect, so you would need that. No Vista or combo WinXP/Vista driver will work, but a Win2k/WinXP driver would be OK.
    Paul

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  7. 10-12-2009 #7
    The_Explanation
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    I'll probably try NDISwrapper to see if that helps. I should be able to find a copy of the driver without too much trouble.

    Thanks for the help!
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  8. 10-13-2009 #8
    waterhead
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    You will need to blacklist the rtl8187 module to prevent it from loading at boot.
    Code:
    sudo echo blacklist rtl8187 > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtl8187.conf
    Paul

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