Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- linux:installing_rt2500_wifi_adapter [2009/02/16 19:07]
Joel Dare
+++ linux:installing_rt2500_wifi_adapter [2020/06/01 22:53] (current)
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== 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.