Weird wireless trials, Part 2

Well I already talked about losing the wireless on my laptop. Well of course I'm not just going to sit there, I saved up for a bit and tried to get one of those PCI wifi cards to reinstate wifi powers in my laptop. Last time the other laptop lost wifi, I bought another PCI wifi card but it was a Linksys which used the Broadcom chip so while it worked I had to use ndiswrapper which was lame. ndiswrapper was cool of course but it's the principle. And then the card stopped working as well, presumably it also overheated (or the wifi fairies took it to a magical kingdom for wifi cards for all I know. I've no idea why my wifi woes are so arbitrary). So this time I google around to see which one works in Linux and find that the Edimax card uses the Ralink chipset for which there are open source drivers that work in Linux. So I get it. It doesn't work.

I turn around and try it in the old laptop whose wifi also doesn't work, and it works!! So I've inadertently reinstated wifi in the old laptop. Actually that old laptop is looking more and more useful again as time goes by. As long as I stick to XFCE and Xubuntu it works great. Too bad it's 7 pounds. But that doesn't help my actual laptop. So I turn around and buy the USB Edimax wifi stick. and it works. once. I plug it in and everything's great, and then I unplug it and plug it into the usb extension cord and then it stops working. I try it in the vista partition on the laptop and it doesn't work. It shows up in Device Manager but there's no network connection. I try it on the old laptop and it mostly works. It was usable but it couldn't see the full name of the wifi controller in network manager so something clearly was up. I try it in the gaming desktop and it shows up with the name but can't connect. So all very strange stuff going down.

I ask for a replacement at newegg. The first usb stick did seem a bit flimsy. Maybe I'll get a better one. I get it, try it in the laptop. no change. try on the gaming desktop and it works flawlessly! It's like I've added wifi to everything in the house except what I actually wanted wifi for.

So for now I wait. I'll probably get a different brand of usb wifi stick like another Broadcom one and see if there's a change. With the new Broadcom drivers and the maturity of the open source bcm drivers, it will probably be easier.

I get the following error messages in /var/log/syslog when I plug it in

device descriptor read/64, error -71

Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.508717] Time: hpet clocksource has been installed.
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.580344] usb 2-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.605556] usb 2-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.644724] usb 2-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.663338] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: AHCI 0001.0100 32 slots 4 ports 1.5 Gbps 0xf impl SATA mode
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.663347] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: flags: 64bit ncq pm led clo pio slum part
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.663358] PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:1f.2 to 64
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.663737] scsi0 : ahci
Sep 29 15:45:24 cgl kernel: [ 24.663973] scsi1 : ahci

lots of unknown symbols and a ieee80211_init: failed to initialize WME (err=-17)

Sep 29 17:06:03 cgl kernel: [ 1070.296702] usb 5-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.568076] usb 5-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl NetworkManager: [1222722364.198364] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_148f_2573_noserial').
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.696588] ieee80211_init: failed to initialize WME (err=-17)
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.721833] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_register_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.721941] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_tx_status_irqsafe
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722081] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_ctstoself_get
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722133] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_start_queues
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722230] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_stop_queues
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722343] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_unregister_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722469] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_rts_get
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722520] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_beacon_get
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722631] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_register_hwmode
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.722687] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_rx_irqsafe
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.723617] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_suspend
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.723668] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_probe_dev
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.723777] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_free_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.723827] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_alloc_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.723882] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_wake_queue
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724016] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_rxdone
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724183] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_remove_dev
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724252] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_txdone
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724302] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_write_tx_desc
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724400] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_stop_queue
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724450] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_get_hdrlen
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.724500] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_resume
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725083] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_add_interface
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725133] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_get_stats
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725232] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_disable_radio
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725282] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_enable_radio
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725337] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request_buff
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725412] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_write_tx_data
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725462] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_config_interface
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725512] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_remove_interface
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725562] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725611] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_probe
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725661] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_config
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725711] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_write_tx_desc
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725760] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_suspend
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725810] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_conf_tx
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725860] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_start
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.725909] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_stop
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726009] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_disconnect
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726059] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_tx
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726121] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_erp_ie_changed
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726193] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_get_tx_stats
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726258] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_resume
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726308] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_uninitialize
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.726358] rt73usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_initialize
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.738298] ieee80211_init: failed to initialize WME (err=-17)
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.770811] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_register_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.771075] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_tx_status_irqsafe
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.771423] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_ctstoself_get
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.771554] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_start_queues
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.771796] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_stop_queues
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.772077] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_unregister_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.772392] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_rts_get
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.772517] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_beacon_get
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.772807] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_register_hwmode
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.772947] rt2x00lib: Unknown symbol ieee80211_rx_irqsafe
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.775067] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_suspend
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.775193] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_probe_dev
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.775463] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_free_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.775587] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_alloc_hw
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.775725] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_wake_queue
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.776059] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_rxdone
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.776474] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_remove_dev
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.776660] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_txdone
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.776784] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_write_tx_desc
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.777030] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_stop_queue
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.777154] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol ieee80211_get_hdrlen
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.777278] rt2x00usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_resume
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl NetworkManager: [1222722364.452726] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_148f_2573_noserial_if0').
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.778649] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_add_interface
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.778774] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_get_stats
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779019] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_disable_radio
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779143] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_enable_radio
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779267] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request_buff
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779390] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_get_ring
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779722] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_write_tx_data
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779846] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_config_interface
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.779970] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_remove_interface
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780093] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_vendor_request
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780217] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_probe
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780341] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_config
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780464] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00lib_write_tx_desc
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780604] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_suspend
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780728] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_conf_tx
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780851] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_start
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.780974] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_stop
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.781223] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_disconnect
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.781347] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_tx
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.781501] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_erp_ie_changed
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.781680] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00mac_get_tx_stats
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.781843] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_resume
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.781967] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_uninitialize
Sep 29 17:06:04 cgl kernel: [ 1070.782090] rt2500usb: Unknown symbol rt2x00usb_initialize