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Idea #6589: [WiFi] Support for Atheros chipsets like the AR5418

Written by P44T the 7 Apr 08 at 19:01. Category: Hardware support. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
Ubuntu should have better native support for the Atheros wifi chipsets, which give huge problems in Ubuntu at the moment.

For example, MadWifi does not work properly/stable with the popular AR5418-chipset.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #6589
Written by P44T the 7 Apr 08 at 19:01.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #6589 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Auzy wrote on the 8 Apr 08 at 00:39
Yeah, this is a big one. I have a DWA-556 pci-express wireless card (802.11n), and because people here say that ndiswrapper should not be installed by default, I need to do some dodgy stuff to get ndiswrapper installed, and the card working.

fluo wrote on the 8 Apr 08 at 16:32
I would give you a hundred points if I could.
Meanwhile: +1

kevmitch wrote on the 9 Apr 08 at 16:28
Agreed, this is a huge pain in the ass. Unfortunately, its out of Ubuntu developers' hands. The AR5418 driver in madwifi is only available as an alpha tester (though it has seen some significant improvement of late). Since all official Ubuntu packages must be from "released" software, we'll have to wait on the madwifi people to polish the edges a bit more before its ready to include in the distribution.

Who you should really send your feedback to however is Atheros who can't be bothered to offer a Linux driver at all let alone an open source one. Better yet give the FCC or your local radio frequency regulator an earful on their draconian policies which stifle open source. Atheros cannot however defer responsibility to regulatory agencies when Intel has managed to implement their own open source drivers. Though these admittedly use dubious firmware blobs, it could be argued that this is better than running mystery code on your actual CPU.

nicedude wrote on the 28 May 08 at 08:25
If you asked me a month ago I would say yes it needs to be better supported by default since my AR5007 caused me pains to install in both Gutsy & in Hardy was even worse. But now I would say that it forced me to learn several important subjects like building drivers & installing them manually ( especially in Hardy as I now just rip out the restricted driver manager "Jockey" & Restricted modules so I do my own Nvidia drivers too ). So I learned more about Ubuntu and linux in general in my little trial by fire in a month then I probably would have in 6 months if it was MS Windows easy Click Click. And also since I wanted to use aircrack with my card I needed drivers patched for that as well and I wouldn't think the Ubuntu developers will be using those anytime soon ( someone correct me if I am wrong ). So I actually enjoyed the forced learning in this case as I now don't have to choose from what is standard or in the repositories and can roll my own :-)

Auzy wrote on the 31 Jul 08 at 11:26
Done.. refer to http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/11585/


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