Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network

Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - Printable Version

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Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - D. Schetselaar - 10-16-2014

I have a Dell Inspiron 1501 running Linux Lite 2.0. I'm very happy with how fast it is (much better than when it was brand new running Windows Vista!). However i cannot connect to wireless LAN. It finds the network, but doesn't connect (password is correct, signal strength is excellent, power management is off, bluetooth is off, wifi works on other devices). The wireless adapter is Broadcom with BCM 4311 chipset.

I know many people have trouble with Broadcom wireless adapters, and i've tried some ' standard' stuff that seems to work in many cases but not in mine. I see that there are also some more complicated solutions around, but since I'm new to Linux it feels like I would be randomly trying without having any idea if it could help in my situation. So I'm hoping someone could give some more specific support.

What I tried (at least since the last time I reinstalled) was this https://www.freecinema2022.gq/forums/index.php?topic=1021.0 (reinstal, update but don't reboot, install additional driver, reboot). After that I didn't have any wireless nor ethernet anymore so I entered this in the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --purge bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo modprobe b44
sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree
sudo modprobe -r b43 && sudo modprobe b43

Which if I understand correctly removes the wrong driver that is installed through the ' Additional drivers' procedure and installs the firmware driver for the network adapter.

This got me my ethernet back but still no wifi so i entered this in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

Which I think installs an open source driver for the adapter.
Now the wifi light is on and it finds wireless networks but when I try to log on it doesn't connect.

Help is much appreciated!

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - rokytnji - 10-17-2014

Just to rule out one thing

Code:
rfkill list all

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - anon222 - 10-17-2014

Broadcom again Smile

Code:
sudo apt-get update

update list of PCI IDs

Code:
sudo update-pciids

The key to finding the correct driver for any network card is what is known as the PCI ID.
You can find the PCI ID with this command:

Code:
lspci -nn -d 14e4:

The ID 14e4 is in most cases is used for a Broadcom Wireless Card.
The output will look like this:
Broadcom Corporation BCM4306 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter [14e4:4320] (rev 03)
You are searching for something like this [14e4:4320] (rev 03)
Purge the packages you installed and find the one you need from the list.

PCI.ID 14.04 LTS
-------------------------------------------------------
14e4:0576 Special Case #1
14e4:4301 firmware-b43legacy-installer
14e4:4306 firmware-b43legacy-installer
14e4:4306 rev 02 firmware-b43legacy-installer
14e4:4306 rev 03 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4307 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4311 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4312 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4313 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4315 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4315 rev 01 firmware-b43-installer
14e4:4318 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4318 rev 02 firmware-b43-installer
14e4:4319 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4320 rev 02 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4320 rev 03 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4324 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4325 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4328 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4329 bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:432a bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:432b bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:432c bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:432d bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:4331 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4335 linux-firmware-nonfree
14e4:4353 Special Case #1
14e4:4357 Special Case #1
14e4:4358 bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:4359 bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:4365 bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:43a0 bcmwl-kernel-source
14e4:4727 Special Case #1
14e4:a962 linux-firmware-nonfree
---------------------------------------------------------

Special Case #1 - This device uses the driver combination bcma and brcmsmac. It shouldn't be necessary to install anything at all. Required firmware is installed by default in the package linux-firmware.

IMPORTANT NOTE - After September 2014, if you follow this answer and still you have problems installing the correct driver, please try the firmware-b43-installer package. There were some changes and some drivers will only work with this package. Remember to have a clean system before installing it:

Code:
sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

After you install the correct driver, reboot.

Try to connect. If it doesn't work try the rokytnji command.
That will check if the OS has blocked the wireless card.

Code:
rfkill list all

0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN

    Soft blocked: no

    Hard blocked: no

1: brcmwl-0: Wireless LAN

    Soft blocked: no

    Hard blocked: no

To unblock use:

Code:
rfkill unblock all

Sometimes, just turning the WiFi switch on your laptop off and then on again (Physical switch available on laptops) works.

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - waynebob - 10-17-2014

I did a fresh install, updates, driver check and install Broadcom driver, wireless was gone before the reboot. Reboot and wired was gone as well. Did some of the stuff from D. Schetselaar and got wired back, then did the firmware b43 installer and got the wireless back. Yay. Thanks guys. Smile

Oops, Dell Inspiron 1501.

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - Scott(0) - 10-17-2014

Thanks Misko, another great post.

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - D. Schetselaar - 10-17-2014

Thanks for your replies. I (think I) did exactly what you said, but it did not solve the problem.

PCI.ID = 14e4:4312

Then I did:
rfkill list all
the card was not blocked.

Then i did:
sudo apt-get remove --purge linux-firmware-nonfree
sudo apt-get remove --purge firmware-b43-installer

to remove the packages that I previously installed.

Then I did:
sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree
Reboot
Didn't work

So next I did:
sudo apt-get remove --purge linux-firmware-nonfree (is this what you mean by starting with a clean system?)
sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

reboot

Now it said: wifi disabled by hardware switch (or something like that) so i pressed fn f2 and the wifi light came on, it finds the network, but still doesn't connect

rfkill list all shows that the card is not blocked.

Anything else I can do?

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - anon222 - 10-17-2014

To see which driver is being used:

Code:
lsmod | grep -e wl -e brcm -e b43

If you are using propriatary 'wl' driver

Code:
sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source

and reboot

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - D. Schetselaar - 10-27-2014

Thanks for the help. I'm using a usb network adapter now and that works fine. When I have some spare time, I will try your suggestion misko_2083

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - mrmksm - 11-26-2014

Had similar problem with dell inspiron 2200, lost WiFi when I updated. (Found this on a post). On a Linux lite, while connected with hard wired for internet, click "Menu" - "system" - "install/remove software". Once in, check "ALL" at top left, then enter in search for "firmware-b43-installer", when it comes up, check the box to "mark for installation", then "OK" if asked, then click "apply, at top. When it is finished, disconnect hard wire, ya should be wireless! It worked instantly for me.
Hope that works for ya also. Good Luck

Re: Broadcom network card doesn't connect to wireless network - Scott(0) - 11-27-2014

Hi Mrmksm. Good information and thanks for sharing. Smile

~Scott