[SOLVED] LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

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nixIT

[SOLVED] LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by nixIT »

Hello all,

I'm been pulling my hair out on this one for quite some time. My HP Probook 6555b ran LM 12 with wifi no problem. I recently upgraded to LM 14 cinnamon, and now I can't get my wifi working. I've read many posts on this forum, I commented out bcm43* from blacklists, performed:

sudo modprobe bc43

added bc43 to /etc/modules,

Tried Software Sources/Additional Drivers and enabled the broadcom driver there.

I just can't get my broadcom wireless working. The Wifi light on my laptop stays blue until LM loads, and then it turns amber. The latest post I followed was this one:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=128326

No help.

I'm stuck, and I'd love to get wifi working.

I can't remember it being this hard to get the wifi working, then again, I've always disliked broadcom wireless with linux.

Any ideas what to try next?

--nixIT
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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karlchen
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Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by karlchen »

Hello, nixIT.

Mint 13 inherited the bugs affecting Ubuntu 12.04 (no service pack). One of the bugs was likely to cause Broadcom 43xx adapters from functioning.
Nonetheless some of them work out of the box on Mint 13.

Code: Select all

inxi -Nx
Network:   Card-1: Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet driver: atl1c ver: 1.0.1.0-NAPI port: 5000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: wl bus-ID: 02:00.0
(cf. here)
This means my Broadcom BCM4313 worked out of the box on Mint 13, live system as well as installed on the harddisk.
So I do not quite understand why it should fail on Mint 14. (Will try the Mint14 live system later on on this machine.)
Are you sure you have followed the steps given in the thread BCM4311 wlan b43 driver always must restart... carefully enough?

Kind regards,
Karl
--

Code: Select all

inxi -Fx
System:    Host: paulchen Kernel: 3.2.0-39-generic i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.6.3) 
           Desktop: Xfce 4.10.0 (Gtk 2.24.10) Distro: Linux Mint 13 Maya
Machine:   System: Acer (portable) product: AOD260 version: V1.08_Vodafone
           Mobo: Acer model: AOD260 version: V1.08_Vodafone Bios: Acer version: V1.08_Vodafone date: 06/29/2010
CPU:       Single core Intel Atom CPU N450 (-HT-) cache: 512 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 3325.19 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1000.00 MHz 2: 1000.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel N10 Family Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0 
           X.Org: 1.11.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1024x600@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel IGD x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 1.4 Mesa 8.0.4 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Intel N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: 1.0.24
Network:   Card-1: Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet driver: atl1c ver: 1.0.1.0-NAPI port: 5000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: 1c:75:08:38:86:61
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: wl bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth1 state: up mac: 5c:ac:4c:8f:d7:4f
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 250.1GB (25.9% used) 1: /dev/sda TOSHIBA_MK2565GS 250.1GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 24G used: 5.5G (25%) fs: ext4 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 150 Uptime: 1:02 Memory: 300.6/991.0MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.6.3 Client: Shell inxi: 1.7.33 
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karlchen
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Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by karlchen »

Hello, nixIT.

Just booted the Linux Mint 14 32-bit live system, Cinnamon desktop, without applying any modifications to the startup entries. The Broadcom 4313 wifi adapter has been detected without problems and activated, The default driver has been loaded. (On Mint 13 I had replaced it by the offered STA driver later on).

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ inxi -Fx
System:    Host: mint Kernel: 3.5.0-17-generic i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.7.2) Desktop: Gnome Distro: Linux Mint 14 Nadia
Machine:   Mobo: Acer model: AOD260 version: V1.08_Vodafone Bios: Acer version: V1.08_Vodafone date: 06/29/2010
CPU:       Single core Intel Atom CPU N450 (-HT-) cache: 512 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 3325.13 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1000.00 MHz 2: 1000.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Atom Processor D4xx/D5xx/N4xx/N5xx Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0 
           X.Org: 1.13.0 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1024x600@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel IGD x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 1.4 Mesa 9.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: 1.0.25
Network:   Card-1: Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet driver: atl1c ver: 1.0.1.0-NAPI port: 5000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: 1c:75:08:38:86:61
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: bcma-pci-bridge bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 5c:ac:4c:8f:d7:4f
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 266.1GB (4.8% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MK2565GS size: 250.1GB temp: 36C 
           2: USB id: /dev/sdb model: Transcend_16GB size: 16.1GB temp: 0C 
Partition: ID: / size: 497M used: 47M (10%) fs: overlayfs 
RAID:      No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 146 Uptime: 3 min Memory: 160.0/992.5MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.7.2 Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4 
If you boot your machine with the Mint 14 live system, does it detect the Broadcom wifi adater? Does it load a driver? Which one? What does "inxi -Fx" display?

Kind regards,
Karl
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nixIT

Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by nixIT »

Here is the output from the already installed system. I will boot to live cinnamon 64-bit and post the results.

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Nx
Network:   Card-1: Marvell Yukon Optima 88E8059 [PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controller with AVB] 
           driver: sky2 ver: 1.30 port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: bcma-pci-bridge bus-ID: 07:00.0

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fx
System:    Host: doit Kernel: 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.7.2) Desktop: Gnome Distro: Linux Mint 14 Nadia
Machine:   System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP ProBook 6555b
           Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 1455 version: KBC Version 75.12
           Bios: Hewlett-Packard version: 68DTM Ver. F.08 date: 03/10/2011
CPU:       Dual core AMD Phenom II N660 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4a svm) bmips: 11969.3 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 800.00 MHz 2: 800.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RS880M [Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series] bus-ID: 01:05.0 
           X.Org: 1.13.0 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD RS880 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.0.2 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RS880 HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 4200 Series] driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:05.1
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: 1.0.25
Network:   Card-1: Marvell Yukon Optima 88E8059 [PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controller with AVB] 
           driver: sky2 ver: 1.30 port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 64:31:50:92:32:d4
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: bcma-pci-bridge bus-ID: 07:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: down mac: ac:81:12:66:dc:0d
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (5.8% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MK3256GS size: 320.1GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 38G used: 4.5G (13%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 4.10GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
RAID:      No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 55.6C mobo: 26.0C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 149 Uptime: 12 min Memory: 421.9/3693.8MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.7.2 Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4 
nixIT

Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by nixIT »

karlchen wrote:Hello, nixIT.

If you boot your machine with the Mint 14 live system, does it detect the Broadcom wifi adater? Does it load a driver? Which one? What does "inxi -Fx" display?

Kind regards,
Karl
here is from the live CD 64-bit cinnamon

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fx
System:    Host: mint Kernel: 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.7.2) Desktop: Gnome Distro: Linux Mint 14 Nadia
Machine:   System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP ProBook 6555b
           Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 1455 version: KBC Version 75.12
           Bios: Hewlett-Packard version: 68DTM Ver. F.08 date: 03/10/2011
CPU:       Dual core AMD Phenom II N660 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4a svm) bmips: 11971.3 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 800.00 MHz 2: 800.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RS880M [Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series] bus-ID: 01:05.0 
           X.Org: 1.13.0 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD RS880 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RS880 HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 4200 Series] driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:05.1
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: 1.0.25
Network:   Card-1: Marvell Yukon Optima 88E8059 [PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controller with AVB] 
           driver: sky2 ver: 1.30 port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 64:31:50:92:32:d4
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: bcma-pci-bridge bus-ID: 07:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: down mac: ac:81:12:66:dc:0d
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (-) 1: id: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MK3256GS size: 320.1GB temp: 0C 
Partition: ID: / size: 1.9G used: 66M (4%) fs: overlayfs ID: swap-1 size: 4.10GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
RAID:      No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 58.8C mobo: 27.8C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 136 Uptime: 7 min Memory: 371.6/3693.8MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.7.2 Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4 
wifi does not get detected from a straight boot of the live CD. do you think the 32bit would work any better?
nixIT

Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by nixIT »

karlchen wrote:Hello, nixIT.
Are you sure you have followed the steps given in the thread BCM4311 wlan b43 driver always must restart... carefully enough?
yes, went back through the steps on that page, and I don't have b43 blacklisted, and I do have b43 in /etc/modules so it starts on bootup.

When I first power on my laptop, the wifi light is blue, and when I'm at the grub menu, the light is still blue. However, by the time I'm at the login screen, the wifi light is amber.

--nixIT
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karlchen
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Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by karlchen »

Hello, nixIT.

The live system as well as the installed system agree that they do see your Broadcom wifi adapter and they both do load an appropriate driver:

Code: Select all

           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller driver: bcma-pci-bridge bus-ID: 07:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: down mac: ac:81:12:66:dc:0d
But then I do read this information about your wired adapter:

Code: Select all

Network:   Card-1: Marvell Yukon Optima 88E8059 [PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controller with AVB]
           driver: sky2 ver: 1.30 port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 64:31:50:92:32:d4
If I am not totally mistaken your wired adapter is up and running and the cable is connected to your DSL router. Right?

Have you ever tried to disconnect the cable and wait a few seconds and then see whether you can connect to your DSL router using the wifi adapter?
(Provided wireless access has been enabled on the router side.)

If I connect my wired card to my router I will get a wired connection. And my wifi adaper will not be used.
If I disconnect my wired card, Mint will switch and offer me the available wireless networks. I will select my DSL router and Mint will connect to it using the wireless adapter.

Could this be the issue?
You either use a wired connection or you use the wireless connection, but not both at the same time.

Kind regards,
Karl
--
P.S.:
Though you can never be sure without trying, I have not piece of evidence that the 64-bit network manager on Mint behaves differently from the 32-bit network manager. So I would not go back to 32-bit. (You may always use a 32-bit live system to make sure.)
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nixIT

Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by nixIT »

@karlchen,

I will give this a shot on Monday. I've never seen this behavior that you mention, either/or card not both.

--nixIT
nixIT

Re: LM14 Broadcom 4313 no wifi

Post by nixIT »

karlchen wrote:Hello, nixIT.

...Have you ever tried to disconnect the cable and wait a few seconds and then see whether you can connect to your DSL router using the wifi adapter?
(Provided wireless access has been enabled on the router side.)

If I connect my wired card to my router I will get a wired connection. And my wifi adaper will not be used.
If I disconnect my wired card, Mint will switch and offer me the available wireless networks. I will select my DSL router and Mint will connect to it using the wireless adapter.

Could this be the issue?
You either use a wired connection or you use the wireless connection, but not both at the same time.

Kind regards,
Karl
--
Unplugging the LAN cable gave me the ability to fire up the wireless, it work. I've never seen a laptop do this. I also have access to a 6465b, so I tested LM14 on that, and was able to have both wired and wireless active.

Good to know that the wireless on the 6555b isn't dead.

Thanks for your help. solving thread.
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