Ubuntu won't connect to WEP WiFi

[Ubuntish]

Hello,

I have been struggling with this problem for a while now, did a lot of search about it and all the solutions suggested online failed.

The problem:

Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) starting connection 'Auto Streamyx_Mobility_B678B8'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 3 -> 4 (reason 0)
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 4 -> 5 (reason 0)
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless): access point 'Auto Streamyx_Mobility_B678B8' has security, but secrets are required.
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 5 -> 6 (reason 0)
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 6 -> 4 (reason 0)
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 4 -> 5 (reason 0)
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0/wireless): connection 'Auto Streamyx_Mobility_B678B8' has security, and secrets exist. No new secrets needed.
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: added 'ssid' value 'Streamyx_Mobility_B678B8'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'NONE'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: added 'auth_alg' value 'OPEN'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: added 'wep_key0' value '<omitted>'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: added 'wep_tx_keyidx' value '0'
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Activation (wlan0) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> Config: set interface ap_scan to 1
Sep 11 00:58:11 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant connection state: disconnected -> scanning
Sep 11 00:58:14 Pavilion wpa_supplicant[1201]: Trying to associate with 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 (SSID='Streamyx_Mobility_B678B8' freq=2452 MHz)
Sep 11 00:58:14 Pavilion kernel: [ 1330.575505] wlan0: direct probe to 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 (try 1)
Sep 11 00:58:14 Pavilion NetworkManager[1048]: <info> (wlan0): supplicant connection state: scanning -> associating
Sep 11 00:58:14 Pavilion kernel: [ 1330.772033] wlan0: direct probe to 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 (try 2)
Sep 11 00:58:14 Pavilion kernel: [ 1330.972076] wlan0: direct probe to 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 (try 3)
Sep 11 00:58:15 Pavilion kernel: [ 1331.172131] wlan0: direct probe to 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 timed out

As you can see, it times out and then it keeps asking me for the password again..

My search found that some people got it working by doing:

options iwlagn 11n_disable=1 11n_disable50=1 disable_hw_scan=1 swcrypto50=1 swcrypto=1

in modprobe options.conf, that did not solve it for me.

Disabling IPv6 didnt help either.

Updating kernel, backporting wireless, all have been tried.. nothing works

It would actually connect after a few hundred tries, but then it disconnects after that very fast.

I attached wireless_setup.txt, let me know if there is anything else you need to solve this..

P.S: The router is unknown, it gets distributed by the ISP, they put there stickers and logos all over it and remove any brand name..

P.S.S: The connection works perfect with windows, iPod touch, even my phone can connect to this WiFi..

[Rubberman]

What Linux distribution+version+kernel-version are you running? A common mistake is to try to use a WEP passphrase instead of the complete 48 character hexadecimal key. Some systems will support a passphrase for WEP (that's standard for WPA-PSK), but some won't. You need to go into your router and note down the (up to 4) keys. Use that when configuring your wireless for WEP.

In any case, trying all that you did was not productive, and may have caused you more problems than you otherwise needed. Remember the KISS principle. If it seems too complicated to do, you probably are taking the wrong approach.

[Ubuntish]

I am using Ubuntu 10.04

Linux Pavilion 2.6.32-24-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Fri Aug 20 14:24:04 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux

I am using my WEP HEX key now, which is actually 26 characters for me.. and still nothing.

What do you advise me to do in this case? should I return everything to the way it was?

I updated wpa_supplicant, network-manager to the latest version from debian repos, that solved one bug that was in network-manager and kept spamming my syslog on connecting, but now all I get is time outs at authentication :\

I can connect to any other network, even another WEP router which is a netgear router, I can connect to that normally, no time outs, altho the speed is very low on that for some odd reason.

[Rubberman]

The fact that it connects to another router (using WEP?) indicates that the fundamental wireless stuff is working. Is this an 802.11a/b/g/n (which) router? IE, is it a so-called 802.11n (draft) device? What happens if you change it from WEP to WPA-PSK (either TKIP or AES encryption)?

[Ubuntish]

Sorry for the late reply.

It can connect to another device, an AZTECH router with WEP security no problem, but on that router and WEP the speed is very slow.

As for the other router, which is provided by my ISP (StreamyX), it does not connect at all for a very long time, after a lot of trials it would connect but then disconnect again :\

I just restored everything to normal, removed modprobe blacklists, removed the backport and starting from scratch to find a solution for the problem.

I am going to try now with different security on the same router, until then - can you tell me how would I know if the router is a/b/g or n?

Here are some information from the web interface "device info":

Board ID: 96333AW2G
Software Version: W3400V-4.02L.03-TM
CFE Version: 1.0.37-5.12
Wireless Driver Version: 5.10.85.0.cpe4.402.0

Ok I just tried to remove the security, and change it, same result!

Sep 18 04:19:00 Pavilion kernel: [ 2108.524550] wlan0: direct probe to AP 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 (try 2)
Sep 18 04:19:00 Pavilion kernel: [ 2108.724058] wlan0: direct probe to AP 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 (try 3)
Sep 18 04:19:00 Pavilion kernel: [ 2108.924064] wlan0: direct probe to AP 00:1f:a4:b6:78:b9 timed out


Sep 18 04:19:20 Pavilion NetworkManager[1012]: <warn> Activation (wlan0/wireless): association took too long, failing activation.
Sep 18 04:19:20 Pavilion NetworkManager[1012]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 5 -> 9 (reason 11)
Sep 18 04:19:20 Pavilion NetworkManager[1012]: <warn> Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (Streamyx_Mobility_B678B
Sep 18 04:19:20 Pavilion NetworkManager[1012]: <info> Marking connection 'Auto Streamyx_Mobility_B678B8' invalid.
Sep 18 04:19:20 Pavilion NetworkManager[1012]: <warn> Activation (wlan0) failed.
Sep 18 04:19:20 Pavilion NetworkManager[1012]: <info> (wlan0): device state change: 9 -> 3 (reason 0)

p.s: I can connect to the same router with an iPod touch and a blackberry and a windows laptop just fine.

[Rubberman]

I tend to keep away from HP Pavilion systems since they use a lot of proprietary hardware that does not play nice with Linux. I've helped you just about as much as I can at this point. Sorry I can't do more for you. Have you gone onto the HP web site to see what they say about Linux drivers and support?

[Ubuntish]

I tend to keep away from HP Pavilion systems since they use a lot of proprietary hardware that does not play nice with Linux. I've helped you just about as much as I can at this point. Sorry I can't do more for you. Have you gone onto the HP web site to see what they say about Linux drivers and support?

Thanks a lot for your help, I will check with HP then.

What about Acer and Linux? do they play nice? I am planning on getting an Acer Ferrari One

[Etna]

Thanks a lot for your help, I will check with HP then.

What about Acer and Linux? do they play nice? I am planning on getting an Acer Ferrari One

It has nothing to do with the OEM, but the particular WiFi card used in the PC.

Heck, even Intel and Atheros wifi cards can cause all kinds of problems, and they are supposed to be the most Linux-friendly cards of the bunch.

If i were you, i'd personally dismantle the PC/notebook to find out what kind of wireless card is being used, and then scout around for updated drivers or buy a cheap compatible $10 card off eBay.

[Rubberman]

Thanks a lot for your help, I will check with HP then.

What about Acer and Linux? do they play nice? I am planning on getting an Acer Ferrari One

I've had good luck with Dell laptops (they tend to have better Linux support than most mainstream vendors), but there is a site you might want to check out, ZaReason, Inc. :: Laptops, Desktops, Servers, and Peripherals Designed for Ubuntu Linux that only sells Linux systems - laptops, desktops, netbooks, and servers. You can get them with Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Mint, etc. Their pricing is pretty competitive, and they really know their Linux (support). All hardware is guaranteed to work "out-of-the-box".