Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Steven Wheeler]

I am attempting to resurrect my old Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop
Installed Slackware 12.2 on it and all is working well except for my
WG511v1.
Last time I used it several years ago, I remember it working fine.

I believe I have everything configured in the wireless startup scripts, it
all seems to run (as shown below), although I have to manually enter
ifconfig wlan0 up before it shows up
It appears to me that the card is working except for the fact that it shows
no Single Strength (even though it is sitting within 10 ft of my wireless
AP)
Iwlist wlan0 scan returns with
wlan0    no scan results

I have reached my knowledge limit and if anyone has a suggestion to try I
would appreciate it.  I am really hoping I can use this card since money is
tight right now

iwconfig wlan0
wlan0     IEEE 802.11bg  ESSID:"tew639"  
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated   
          Tx-Power=27 dBm   
          Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr=2352 B   
          Encryption key:32B2-5821-0A   Security mode:open
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

Extract from /var/log/messages after card pulled and inserted.
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: pccard: CardBus card inserted into slot 0
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: pci 0000:01:00.0: PME# supported from D0 D1
D2 D3hot D3cold
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: pci 0000:01:00.0: PME# disabled
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: prism54pci 0000:01:00.0: enabling device
(0000 -> 0002)
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: firmware: requesting isl3886
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: p54: LM86 firmware
Mar 21 21:29:00 PopsLT kernel: p54: FW rev 2.13.1.0 - Softmac protocol 5.5
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x3
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1905
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1007
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1008
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1100
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: phy1: hwaddr 00:09:5b:45:40:05, isl3890
Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: firmware: requesting isl3886
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0
mode Managed
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0
nick PopsLT
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0
channel auto
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0 key
************
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0 key
restricted
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0
rate 54M auto
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0
essid "tew639"
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/iwconfig wlan0
essid "tew639"
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/dhcpcd -d -t 30
wlan0
Mar 21 21:29:05 PopsLT dhcpcd[2940]: MAC address = 00:09:5b:45:40:05

Thanks
Steven Wheeler

Re: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Pavel Roskin]

On Sun, 2010-03-21 at 21:45 -0500, Steven Wheeler wrote:
> I am attempting to resurrect my old Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop
> Installed Slackware 12.2 on it and all is working well except for my
> WG511v1.

Sorry for being blunt, but please don't expect anyone who is busy
hacking wireless drivers to pull Slackware 12.1 and see what kernel
version it has.

> I have reached my knowledge limit and if anyone has a suggestion to try I
> would appreciate it.  I am really hoping I can use this card since money is
> tight right now

Understood.

> Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1
> Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x3

If I remember correctly, it's harmless.

Since you are using a softmac driver, and you kernel is likely old, you
have basically two options.

1) Try the fullmac driver (prism54).
2) Try compat-wireless.

-- 
Regards,
Pavel Roskin

RE: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Steven Wheeler]

Sorry, meant to include it: Kernel is 2.6.27.7

I thought about trying the prism54 driver but was unable to download the
firmware from the links in the P54 site.
No matter what I did I kept getting the html page back as a text file to be
saved, very weird.

-----Original Message-----
From: Pavel Roskin [mailto:proski@gnu.org] 
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 11:36 PM
To: Steven Wheeler
Cc: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

On Sun, 2010-03-21 at 21:45 -0500, Steven Wheeler wrote:
> I am attempting to resurrect my old Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop
> Installed Slackware 12.2 on it and all is working well except for my
> WG511v1.

Sorry for being blunt, but please don't expect anyone who is busy
hacking wireless drivers to pull Slackware 12.1 and see what kernel
version it has.

> I have reached my knowledge limit and if anyone has a suggestion to try I
> would appreciate it.  I am really hoping I can use this card since money
is
> tight right now

Understood.

> Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x1
> Mar 21 21:29:01 PopsLT kernel: p54: unknown eeprom code : 0x3

If I remember correctly, it's harmless.

Since you are using a softmac driver, and you kernel is likely old, you
have basically two options.

1) Try the fullmac driver (prism54).
2) Try compat-wireless.

-- 
Regards,
Pavel Roskin

Re: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Christian Lamparter]

On Monday 22 March 2010 09:43:55 Steven Wheeler wrote:
> Sorry, meant to include it: Kernel is 2.6.27.7
that's ancient.

you should give compat-wireless a try:
http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download
and keep your finger crossed...

> I thought about trying the prism54 driver but was unable to download the
> firmware from the links in the P54 site.
> No matter what I did I kept getting the html page back as a text file to be
> saved, very weird.

First things first, are you really sure you got an WG511v1 and not the v1.02?
Take a look at: http://daemonizer.de/prism54/wg511/ there you'll see
several pictures of different WG511 versions.

I can give you a working link, but first I need to know if this is a genuine
v1.

Regards,
	Chr

RE: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Steven Wheeler]

Interesting, this link is broken too, but only for IE (I am using my desktop
right now)
I re-installed FireFox (long story behind that) and it works just fine.

OK, from the pictures it appears to be the WG511 V2 or V3, the front and
back labeling matches the label positions in the V3 pic
But, an lspci shows that it has the isl3890 chipset

I just downloaded the latest kernel (2.6.33.1), will build this afternoon
I already have the P%$ firmware for kernels above 2.6.28, so I can test
Will update later

Thank you very much

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Lamparter [mailto:chunkeey@googlemail.com] 
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 10:48 AM
To: Steven Wheeler
Cc: 'Pavel Roskin'; linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

On Monday 22 March 2010 09:43:55 Steven Wheeler wrote:
> Sorry, meant to include it: Kernel is 2.6.27.7
that's ancient.

you should give compat-wireless a try:
http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download
and keep your finger crossed...

> I thought about trying the prism54 driver but was unable to download the
> firmware from the links in the P54 site.
> No matter what I did I kept getting the html page back as a text file to
be
> saved, very weird.

First things first, are you really sure you got an WG511v1 and not the
v1.02?
Take a look at: http://daemonizer.de/prism54/wg511/ there you'll see
several pictures of different WG511 versions.

I can give you a working link, but first I need to know if this is a genuine
v1.

Regards,
	Chr

Re: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Christian Lamparter]

On Monday 22 March 2010 17:37:44 Steven Wheeler wrote:
> OK, from the pictures it appears to be the WG511 V2 or V3, the front and
> back labeling matches the label positions in the V3 pic
> But, an lspci shows that it has the isl3890 chipset
It almost certainly isn't a ISL3890. Because they only
featured in (dual band) APs and early evaluation/development boards.
(But as things usually go, some could have ended up in customer products...)

>From my stash of p54pci hardware only one manufacture bothered to fix the
Chip and PCI ID... (Zcom XG-603). Netgear on the other hand managed to ship
WG511v2 batchs with broken rssi<->dbm conversion parameters.
Therefore, don't be surprised if you see some odd signal readings.

(Note: This bug does not affect range or performance.
Rhe conversion is done in the driver and so far the dBm signal is
only a indicator for the user about signal strength...)
 
> I just downloaded the latest kernel (2.6.33.1), will build this afternoon
> I already have the P%$ firmware for kernels above 2.6.28, so I can test
> Will update later

here is the link: (also has fullmac firmwares)
http://daemonizer.de/prism54/prism54-fw/

Regards,
	Chr

RE: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

[Steven Wheeler]

Update: I rebuilt my system with the latest Slackware (v13.0) which has
kernel 2.6.29.6
I installed the firmware (Thanks Christian), did a little configuration and
wireless came up without an issue using prism54
I intend to try out P54pci later when I build the latest kernel. 

Thank you very much

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Lamparter [mailto:chunkeey@googlemail.com] 
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 12:08 PM
To: Steven Wheeler
Cc: 'Pavel Roskin'; linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Problems with Netgear WG511v1 PCMCIA

On Monday 22 March 2010 17:37:44 Steven Wheeler wrote:
> OK, from the pictures it appears to be the WG511 V2 or V3, the front and
> back labeling matches the label positions in the V3 pic
> But, an lspci shows that it has the isl3890 chipset
It almost certainly isn't a ISL3890. Because they only
featured in (dual band) APs and early evaluation/development boards.
(But as things usually go, some could have ended up in customer products...)

>From my stash of p54pci hardware only one manufacture bothered to fix the
Chip and PCI ID... (Zcom XG-603). Netgear on the other hand managed to ship
WG511v2 batchs with broken rssi<->dbm conversion parameters.
Therefore, don't be surprised if you see some odd signal readings.

(Note: This bug does not affect range or performance.
Rhe conversion is done in the driver and so far the dBm signal is
only a indicator for the user about signal strength...)
 
> I just downloaded the latest kernel (2.6.33.1), will build this afternoon
> I already have the P%$ firmware for kernels above 2.6.28, so I can test
> Will update later

here is the link: (also has fullmac firmwares)
http://daemonizer.de/prism54/prism54-fw/

Regards,
	Chr