[SWLUG] Wireless USB Dongle Help

[P.G. Richardson]

Could have done with viewing your iwconfig but no worries ;)

Well if iwconfig shows the ESSID, Access Point MAC Address then good.

Next stop encryption key...
Have you tried connecting without encryption?

If that works then ...

Havent picked up your distro but most seem to use wpa_supplicant for
encryption.

Is wpa_supplicant running? Check by ps -ef | grep wpa_supplicant
Its normally run in the background using the -B switch. This is the
command run by the startup scripts on mine:

/usr/sbin/wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf -D wext

You can remove the -B to run in the terminal and view its output and
increase debugging by adding -d or -dd or -ddd (increases amount of
debugging)

See how far that gets you...

Oh does your router indicate what machines are connected to it? Does it
consider your computer connected?

PGR


> Hiya,
>
> Running iwconfig (as I have already tried) does indeed show up my
> network just like in your example below. everything 'seems' to be
> working as it should. But it just won't quite get there when I tell it
> to connect.
>
> But hopefully you are able to suggest some further investigative methods
> for me to try so we can narrow down th problem as this is where my
> knowledge runs dry...
>
> Have you seen my previous postings about what I have done so far?
>
> Thanks for your input!
>
> Jon Reynolds
>
> On Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 08:20:18PM +0100, P.G. Richardson wrote:
>> I am gonna recommend the command line at this point ...
>>
>> The wireless tools of iwconfig, iwlist and wpa_supplicant will tell you
>> more about where the problem lies than any of the gui tools imho.
>>
>> Firstly, as root (su to root or use sudo depending on your distro), run
>> iwconfig.
>>
>> This will display text like the following if connected:
>> wlan0     IEEE 802.11bg  ESSID:"BUZZARD"
>>           Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.457 GHz  Access Point:
>> 00:EE:EE:EE:EE:BA
>>           Bit Rate=11 Mb/s   Tx-Power=20 dBm
>>           Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr=2352 B
>>           Encryption key:EEEE-EEEE-EEEE-EEEE-EEEE-EEEE-EEEE-EEEE [2]
>> Security mode:open
>>           Power Management:off
>>           Link Quality=70/70  Signal level=-23 dBm
>>           Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
>>           Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0
>>
>> If failing to connect then ESSID maybe unknown/blank, Access Point will
>> say "Not Associated" and Encryption Key may lack a value.
>>
>> Lets start there ...
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> PGR
>>
>> > Hiya,
>> >
>> > Yes it is picking up the USB Device no problem. I am as far as it is
>> > working and detecting networks in network-manager but when I say
>> > 'connect' and enter the passkey it just hangs at the 'connecting...'
>> > stage and never gets anywhere (neither success nor failure).
>> >
>> > Jon Reynolds
>> >
>> > On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 10:00:25PM +0000, Michael Johnson wrote:
>> >>  You could try looking for the 'Plug and Play-Aware OS' option in the
>> >> BIOS. The distro should at least be picking up a USB device.
>> >>
>> >> --
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>> >>
>> >
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>>
>> --
>> Laws are partly formed for the sake of good men, in order to instruct
>> them
>> how they may live on friendly terms with one another, and partly for the
>> sake of those who refuse to be instructed, whose spirit cannot be
>> subdued,
>> or softened, or hindered from plunging into evil. [The Laws, Plato]
>>
>> You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded
>> perversity? Have you ever considered a career in the church?
>> Bishop of Bath and Wells (Blackadder II)
>>
>> A clear conscience? When did you acquire such luxuries, Bernard? (Sir
>> Humphrey, Yes Prime Minister)
>>
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-- 
Laws are partly formed for the sake of good men, in order to instruct them
how they may live on friendly terms with one another, and partly for the
sake of those who refuse to be instructed, whose spirit cannot be subdued,
or softened, or hindered from plunging into evil. [The Laws, Plato]

You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded
perversity
 Have you ever considered a career in the church?
Bishop of Bath and Wells (Blackadder II)

A clear conscience? When did you acquire such luxuries, Bernard? (Sir
Humphrey, Yes Prime Minister)