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linux:installing_rt2500_wifi_adapter [2009/02/14 15:38] Joel Dare |
linux:installing_rt2500_wifi_adapter [2020/06/01 22:53] (current) |
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+ | ====== Installing RT2500 WiFi Adapter ====== | ||
+ | I have an Averatec 5500 series laptop with a WiFi card that uses the Ralink RT2500 chipset. Here are some instructions for getting this card to work correctly in Debian and Ubuntu 8.04. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Although this chipset works fine in Linux, I found that my built-in card was too weak. When connecting to my downstairs wifi router, it got very slow speeds. So, I put down $50 for a Netgear WPN511 PC Card (PCMCIA). I'm just starting to use it, and I'll try to update this page when I have a feel for how well it works (2009-02-16). | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Debian ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Under Debian I have had trouble with lockups, and I suspect the RT2500 drivers. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Today, a new Debian kernal was released. When I boot it, I've lost my WiFi adapter. So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to manually install the latest (legacy) RT2500 driver. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Here's a quick overview of the process I went though. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * List the interfaces, take note | ||
+ | |||
+ | ifconfig | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Grab the latest source | ||
+ | * Unpack it | ||
+ | * Change to //Modules// directory | ||
+ | * Compile | ||
+ | |||
+ | make clean | ||
+ | make | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Copy the file | ||
+ | |||
+ | cp rt2500.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/net/wireless | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Load the module | ||
+ | |||
+ | depmod | ||
+ | modprobe rt2500 | ||
+ | |||
+ | * List the interface. What's new? | ||
+ | |||
+ | ifconfig | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Load the interface. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ifup eth2 | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Under Ubuntu linux, I also had to do the following, which I got from http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=784031. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Edit the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file and add the following lines. | ||
+ | |||
+ | # blacklist included rt2500 drivers | ||
+ | blacklist rt2x00lib | ||
+ | blacklist rt2x00pci | ||
+ | blacklist rt2500pci | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Become root. | ||
+ | |||
+ | sudo su | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Now compile with the following. | ||
+ | |||
+ | make clean; make; make install | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Then set the kernel to use our preferred modules. | ||
+ | |||
+ | dpkg-reconfigure usplash | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Reboot | ||
+ | |||
+ | At this point, my wireless LED was not on. To turn it on I simply loaded the interface with the following. | ||
+ | |||
+ | sudo ifconfig ra0 up | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Ubuntu 8.04 Speed Problems with RT2500 ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note: This might not work. It certainly didn't work in Ubuntu 8.10. You might want to try my instructions for Ubuntu 8.10 first (even in Ubuntu 8.04). See below. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When using the RT2500 under Ubuntu 8.04, I was getting very slow speeds. I right-clicked on the wireless icon in the system tray and selected //connection information//. There, I found a value of only 1 Mb/s. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To correct that speed problem, I opened /etc/rc.local and added the following two lines. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ifconfig wlan0 up | ||
+ | iwconfig wlan0 rate 54M | ||
+ | |||
+ | After suspending and then resuming, the 1 Mb/s speed comes back. To solve that, I run the iwconfig command above than then stop and start the wireless by right-clicking the icon and selecting //Disable// then //Enable//. | ||
+ | |||
+ | You might be able to add the iwconfig command to /etc/ph/sleep.d in order to prevent this work-around. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Ubuntu 8.10 Speed Problems with RT2500 ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Place a file called sleep.d in /etc/pm/. Put the following lines in that file. | ||
+ | |||
+ | iwconfig wlan0 rate 54M | ||
+ | |||
+ | That should automatically be executed when the computer wakes up. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Another Ubuntu Option ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | When using the RT2500 under Ubuntu 8.10 (Ibex), I was getting very slow speeds. I right-clicked on the wireless icon in the system tray and selected //connection information//. There, I found a value of only 1 Mb/s. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To correct that speed problem, I created a script at /etc/acpi/resume.d/40-rt2500.sh and added the following lines. | ||
+ | |||
+ | #!/bin/bash | ||
+ | iwconfig wlan0 rate 54 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Make sure that the script is exacutable with the following command. | ||
+ | |||
+ | sudo chmod +x /etc/acpi/resume.d/40-rt2500.sh | ||
+ | |||
+ | The script should now run automatically on wake. |