Ubuntu/Debian: 14e4:43b1 Broadcom Corporation Device 43b1 (rev 03)

[Leon]

Hi,

This guide will show you howto get the BCM4352 card working in Ubuntu/debian.

Pre-guide stuff:
 1. Dont install the STA driver, that one wont work


Step 1)
Install required packages: apt-get install fakeroot dkms

 

 

Process:

 

64 bits:

cd
mkdir b43b1-6.30.223.141
wget http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/hybrid-v35_64-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_141.tar.gz
tar xvzf hybrid-v35_64-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_141.tar.gz -C b43b1-6.30.223.141

32bits:

cd
mkdir b43b1-6.30.223.141
http://www.broadcom.com/docs/linux_sta/hybrid-v35-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_141.tar.gz
tar xvzf hybrid-v35-nodebug-pcoem-6_30_223_141.tar.gz -C b43b1-6.30.223.141

For 64 & 32 bits:

cd b43b1-6.30.223.141
touch dkms.conf
pico dkms.conf o gedit dkms.conf

Paste this (without lines) :
----------------------------------------------
PACKAGE_NAME="b43b1"
PACKAGE_VERSION="6.30.223.141"
CLEAN="make clean"
MAKE="make"
BUILT_MODULE_NAME="wl"
BUILT_MODULE_LOCATION="./"
DEST_MODULE_LOCATION="/updates"
----------------------------------------------
save and exit

cd ..
sudo mv b43b1-6.30.223.141 /usr/src/b43b1-6.30.223.141
cd /usr/src/b43b1-6.30.223.141
sudo dkms add -m b43b1 -v 6.30.223.141
sudo dkms build -m b43b1 -v 6.30.223.141
sudo rmmod wl
sudo dkms install -m b43b1 -v 6.30.223.141
sudo modprobe wl

 

Reboot computer

Add module wl in /etc/modules to load it at boot time if it doesn't work at reboot.

Enjoy

[grey.owl86]

Nicely done! Worked like a charm for me on reboot.

This seesm to be my only road-block to an otherwise sucessful instal

Cheers

[Zackptg5]

The STA driver works for my bcm4352

[lookone77]

Hi Leon,

 

I am quite new to the Linux word and I have some problem connecting with the WiFi card BCM4352 on Ubuntu 14.04 64bit.

Even if the password is 100% correct, the system continue to ask me for the password in order to get the access to the wireless network.

Looking on the web it seems to be a problem related to the Broadcom driver, so I would like to test your solution.

 

Since I have already installed the STA, have I to disable from the "additional sofware" or is there a different way to do this?

 

Thanks for your help.

Luca

[Pupilliam]

Just go into the proprietary section in additional drivers and install the STA from there. much easier with a GUI

[Leon]

The STA driver does not work good with all cards.

To remove the STA driver, look here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2123176

In other words.. try: sudo apt-get purge broadcom-sta

[lookone77]

Hi Leon, following your instruction I have an error during the process, after the dkms built commad.

 

This is the result of the command:

luca@Dell-Precision-M4800:/usr/src/b43b1-6.30.223.141$ sudo dkms build -m b43b1 -v 6.30.223.141

Kernel preparation unnecessary for this kernel.  Skipping...

Building module:
cleaning build area....
make KERNELRELEASE=3.13.0-29-generic....(bad exit status: 2)
ERROR (dkms apport): binary package for b43b1: 6.30.223.141 not found
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.13.0-29-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/b43b1/6.30.223.141/build/make.log for more information.
luca@Dell-Precision-M4800:/usr/src/b43b1-6.30.223.141$ 

It seems that the system does not find the binary packge, but I do not understand if it is looking in the wrong dyrectory.

Could you help me?

Luca

[sacrif]

Hi Leon!

Thank you for your clear instructions. I followed your guide an my basic WLAN works right now.
However I need to switch between multiple Access Points with my wlan card. Therefore I want to adjust the sensitivity value to optimize the timing for switching the AP.
In this context I miss certain functionalities using this driver:
 

• The command "sudo iwconfig eth2 sens -60" does not seem to be supported and results in the following output:

    inc@os-22:~/robotics/scripts$ iwconfig eth2 sens -60
    Error for wireless request "Set Sensitivity" (8B08) :
        SET failed on device eth2 ; Operation not permitted.

 

 

•  When I use the command "iwconfig eth2" (eth2 is the wlan) I  miss informations such as "Signal level" and "Link Quality" which are usually displayed:

    inc@os-22:/usr/src/b43b1-6.30.223.141/src$ iwconfig eth2
    eth2      IEEE 802.11abg  ESSID:"inc-5G"
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:5.18 GHz  Access Point: B0:C7:45:22:86:D8  
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off

 

 

• Interestingly the command "iwlist et2 scan" shows "Quality=51/70" and  "Signal level=-59 dBm"

 

So my questions are:

•   Is this missing functionality a general issue of this driver or is more likely to be a problem with my wlan card?
•   Do you have any suggestions to make this functions work?

Regards,

Mark

[Leon]

Since its still a rather new card i would think its a driver issue - and by that try and track down the people behind the driver and ask them.