- This topic has 11 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated Nov 23-7:45 am by BobC.
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aspire3023
Hello!
I have installed Antix on my old Acer 3023WLMi, and I am quite happy with the OS performance. The laptop had been previously running Debian 11 with LXQT and it was visibly slower.
There is one major problem though, and it is the Broadcom BCM4318 WiFi. Connman says it is connected, but I can not access anything. I have to say that the last official 32bit Puppy linux works well with the laptop’s WiFi.During the Antix installation, the b43-fw_cutter, firmware-b43-installer, firmware-b43legacy-installer have been installed. I have removed firmware-b43legacy-installer, as it is not relevant for the 4318.
After a re-scan, Network assistant has shown the following loaded drivers: b43,r8169,mii,fjes
ping 8.8.8.8 fails, with message “Destination Host Unreachable”. The same message appears whenever I try to use a browser to access Internet.
ping 192.168.1.1 works fine.
I have attached the output of several commands.
==========================================================$ rfkill list 0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN Soft blocked: no Hard blocked: no 2: phy0: Wireless LAN Soft blocked: no Hard blocked: no==========================================================
sudo lshw -C network *-network:0 description: Wireless interface product: BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries physical id: 5 bus info: pci@0000:06:05.0 logical name: wlan0 version: 02 serial: 00:0e:9b:c4:99:77 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: bus_master ethernet physical wireless configuration: broadcast=yes driver=b43 driverversion=4.9.0-326-antix.1-486-smp firmware=784.2 ip=192.168.1.5 latency=64 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11 resources: irq:9 memory:c0204000-c0205fff *-network:1 description: Ethernet interface product: RTL8169 PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. physical id: 7 bus info: pci@0000:06:07.0 logical name: eth0 version: 10 serial: 00:0a:e4:e1:35:d6 size: 1Gbit/s capacity: 1Gbit/s width: 32 bits clock: 66MHz capabilities: bus_master rom ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt 1000bt-fd autonegotiation configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=full ip=192.168.0.3 latency=64 link=yes maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 multicast=yes port=MII speed=1Gbit/s resources: irq:23 ioport:a000(size=256) memory:c0209400-c02094ff memory:84000000-8401ffff==========================================================
$lspci -nn -vv .... 06:05.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4318] (rev 02) Subsystem: AMBIT Microsystem Corp. Aspire 3022WLMi, 5024WLMi, 5020 [1468:0311] Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx- Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx- Latency: 64 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 9 Region 0: Memory at c0204000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge Kernel modules: ssb, wl==========================================================
$lsmod Module Size Used by ccm 20480 2 b43 389120 0 bcma 53248 1 b43 mac80211 606208 1 b43 cfg80211 442368 2 b43,mac80211 ssb 57344 1 b43 rng_core 16384 1 b43 pcmcia 49152 1 ssb hid_generic 16384 0 8021q 28672 0 garp 16384 1 8021q stp 16384 1 garp mrp 20480 1 8021q llc 16384 2 garp,stp bnep 20480 2 bluetooth 442368 7 bnep nfsd 307200 2 auth_rpcgss 53248 1 nfsd nfs_acl 16384 1 nfsd nfs 192512 0 lockd 81920 2 nfsd,nfs grace 16384 2 nfsd,lockd fscache 69632 1 nfs sunrpc 262144 6 auth_rpcgss,nfsd,nfs_acl,lockd,nfs parport_pc 32768 0 ppdev 20480 0 lp 20480 0 parport 40960 3 lp,parport_pc,ppdev dm_crypt 24576 0 dm_mod 94208 1 dm_crypt arc4 16384 2 radeon 1400832 3 snd_atiixp_modem 20480 0 snd_atiixp 20480 1 snd_ac97_codec 118784 2 snd_atiixp,snd_atiixp_modem ttm 77824 1 radeon ac97_bus 16384 1 snd_ac97_codec acer_wmi 20480 0 snd_pcm 86016 3 snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec,snd_atiixp_modem drm_kms_helper 118784 1 radeon snd_timer 28672 1 snd_pcm snd 61440 7 snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec,snd_timer,snd_atiixp_modem,snd_pcm soundcore 16384 1 snd drm 258048 6 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper powernow_k8 24576 0 i2c_algo_bit 16384 1 radeon edac_mce_amd 28672 0 fb_sys_fops 16384 1 drm_kms_helper edac_core 40960 0 syscopyarea 16384 1 drm_kms_helper sysfillrect 16384 1 drm_kms_helper sysimgblt 16384 1 drm_kms_helper wistron_btns 16384 0 sparse_keymap 16384 2 wistron_btns,acer_wmi input_polldev 16384 1 wistron_btns evdev 20480 12 input_leds 16384 0 joydev 20480 0 serio_raw 16384 0 rfkill 20480 6 bluetooth,acer_wmi,cfg80211 tifm_7xx1 16384 0 k8temp 16384 0 wmi 20480 1 acer_wmi yenta_socket 36864 0 pcmcia_rsrc 20480 1 yenta_socket shpchp 32768 0 ac 16384 0 video 40960 1 acer_wmi battery 20480 0 button 16384 0 btrfs 1069056 0 xor 28672 1 btrfs raid6_pq 106496 1 btrfs psmouse 118784 0 r8169 81920 0 mii 16384 1 r8169 firewire_ohci 36864 0 firewire_core 57344 1 firewire_ohci pcmcia_core 20480 3 yenta_socket,pcmcia,pcmcia_rsrc uas 24576 0 usb_storage 53248 4 uas i2c_piix4 20480 0 thermal 20480 0 rtc_cmos 20480 0 fjes 28672 0==========================================================
$ iwconfig lo no wireless extensions. eth0 no wireless extensions. wlan0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"OUR_NET" Mode:Managed Frequency:2.447 GHz Access Point: 50:A9:DE:79:52:26 Bit Rate=1 Mb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm Retry short limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off Power Management:off Link Quality=57/70 Signal level=-53 dBm Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0 Tx excessive retries:21 Invalid misc:1146 Missed beacon:0==========================================================
The file /etc/resolv.conf has only two lines:# Generated by Connection Manager nameserver 192.168.1.1==========================================================
The file /etc/network/interfaces has also just two uncommented lines:auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
==========================================================
I have also followed the steps advised on B43 thread found in the Antix Forum:1. sudo rfkill unblock all
2. sudo apt purge firmware-b43-installer
3. sudo apt update
4. sudo apt install –reinstall firmware-b43-installer
5. sudo modprobe -r b43
6. sudo modprobe b43Unfortunately, nothing has changed.
Have to say that my laptop has been working relatively fine for several years with Debian. After the last Debian update the Wifi stopped working and this was the reason to move to Antix.
Another detail is that when I move my Wifi connection to the top of the Connman list of Services, the connection begins to work for a while, albeit at a really slow speed. After about 1 minute, the connection is lost again.
This problem is way outside my experience and I would be grateful for any help.
Brian Masinick
I wonder if the Ceni network manager would have different results.
I’ve had a few cases where it’ll solve things and sometimes switching between connman and ceni help; the switching network topl can be helpful for this kind of switching back and forth; sometimes it helps identify or magically solve networking issues.
As far as the Broadcom commands, yes, those are accurate.
If you can throw a few dollars at this, sometimes grabbing a removable USB wireless antenna/adapter helps but be careful to choose one that has a well supported card that works well with Linux so that you have a working solution.
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Brian Masinickmadibi
Dear aspire3023,
I experimented your issue in December 2021 when installing antiX on an Acer from 2007, and I found that the solution proposed in the top of the forum was optimal for me.
The same issue was detected in a lot of Debian derivatives such as Mx, Q4OS, Sparkly, etc and NOT on the *buntus => the issue lies in Debian and not in antiX.
The forum solution worked both on antiX 19 and in 21.
In some cases, with antiX 22, some problems with Connman are reported, and @Brian Masinick in the previous post pointed you to a solution.As a 1st step: I’d search using a live with 21, to verify if the forum solution works.
Don’t forget to do : “sudo apt update” before following the 6 steps.
In this case you need another way to be connected to internet: in case your internet connection is done with another wifi dongle or an eth cable, you can immediately test if the forum solution is good for you.
In case your internet connection is done using your mobile phone, usb connection, unfortunately you should reboot your Acer in order to see if your b43 now works. In this case you should make your live try, using the root persistence.As a 2nd step: now you know if your b43 is working or not, if it works now you can try on antiX 22 as now you will have located your problem.
Good luck 🙂
mEDIT
A member of the forum named @lefti, pointed out another solution that you can find here:
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/split-fix-broadcom-b43-problems-discussion/ ==> see feb the 1st
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/split-linux-live-kit/page/2/ ==> see jan the 31st- This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by madibi.
BobC
Did you look at the thread up near the top about Broadcom WiFi?
Maybe you didn’t notice it above. Here is a link…
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/fix-broadcom-b43-problems/
my bad, I bet that is the thread you referred to…
PS: I fired up the old Dell D620 laptop I have, and it has a Broadcom 4311, so everything isn’t identical.
- This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by BobC.
- This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by BobC.
I am guessing Debian (or upstream of them) maybe changed something which affected your card, and that code is used by antiX as well. I would suggest you try an older version of antiX, but don’t update it before you install. My 4311 had trouble running from antiX off the flashdrive, but worked ok once installed to the hard drive. Maybe the 4318 will have the same issue.
PS: If you get it working at good speeds let us know, please. My 4311 has gotten much slower. BTW, the best answer I found so far was to add a separate wifi adapter.
Thanks.
- This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by BobC.
Hello,
Many thanks for all of your helpful replies.I have bought a TP-Link TL-WN722N wireless USB adapter. It began working immediately after I had plugged it in. There was a user panic after the first reboot, as the adapter was shown as connected to my wireless service, but again there was no internet connection. Luckily, moving the connection to the top of the Connman services solved the problem. The connection was fast and stable. So the only minor annoyance left is that after every reboot, I have to manually start the Wifi connection, which is OK with me. This was not an option with the latest version of the b43 driver, as the laptop was losing connection shortly after gaining it.
Then, I have removed completely b43 related software from my laptop and reinstalled an older version of the firmware-b43-installer.
$sudo apt purge *b43* $sudo apt list -a *b43* $sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer=1:019-3After that, I have rebooted my laptop and manually pushed my WiFi network to the top of Connman services. This time, the connection provided by the BCM4318 was stable and its speed was acceptable. Still, the TL-WN722N USB adapter seems faster, than the old BCM4318.
Many thanks again!
Glad to hear it worked. Thanks for posting the solution. I’ll give it a try on my 4311. Its pretty similar.
Dear aspire3023,
I’m happy that you could find a solution.Still, the TL-WN722N USB adapter seems faster, than the old BCM4318
To me happened the same: using the native B43, the max speed arrived to 20Mbps (average 10), while with the TP-link it was easy to arrive > 35 Mbps.
In any case, my needs are not so high, so I ended up using the internal wifi, being happy that way.
mI downloaded Debian 11.5 and tried to install it on my Dell D620 with the Brcm4311 wifi, and B43 does come up on the list to select it, but it doesn’t recognize the card, and won’t install.
Brian Masinick
Isn’t it interesting; a decade ago that same hardware could run almost anything and in it’s prime it was an excellent laptop.
Dell, IBM/Lenovo and HP equipment has always worked well for me and I have had pretty good results with Gateway and Acer too.
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Brian MasinickHi BobC,
You may have already checked it and tried it, but BCM4311 is also supported by the wl driver in broadcom-sta-dkms package.
Also, during my first Debian installations, I had to complete the installation without the WiFi drivers. I had to download the drivers on another computer, and then I have copied and installed them on my acer 3023.I have followed the installation procedures for the bcm 43xx drivers shown here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/bcm43xxAnd the for the wl driver you may check this link as well:
https://wiki.debian.org/wlAs we had already commented above, after the last Debian 11 update, I had to use the previous version of b43 package 1:019-3, because the latest 1:019-7 provided by the installer didn’t work. It may be the same with the broadcom-sta-dkms package. I do not know how you can choose a previous/older version of a specific driver during the Debian installation though.
I will look into it and also try the solution you used. I was looking, and there was a bug reported in 2012 that affected machines with 2 Broadcom adapters, which mine has, and it doesn’t look like it was ever fixed.
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