broadcom BCM4312 connects w/ WPA but not open networks

[Trio3b]

I have usually had issues where a device will connect to open or WEP network but not WPA  but in this case  running 2010 LXDE  on HP mini1000 with Broadcom BCM4312 802.11 b/g LP-PHY connects at home( WPA preshared key) but not at open wifi at corner coffee shop/hotels. w/l adapter works with Wxp but had to try twice.

Am assuming they probably run an n-router but wouldn't it be backward comnpatible w/ b/g? I have other b/g laptops that connect fine at this open network.

The following may or may not be relevant since these outputs are from the system when IT IS workoing at home network. WIll have to see if these outputs change when at the open wifi spot and post back.



uname -r:

2.6.33.7-pclos6.bfs

lspci gives:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY (rev 01)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller

iwconfig gives:

lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth1      IEEE 802.11  Nickname:"localhost.localdomai"
          Access Point: Not-Associated   
          Link Quality:5  Signal level:218  Noise level:166
          Rx invalid nwid:0  invalid crypt:1  invalid misc:0

Obviously the wireless is working from home network as I am posting from this network device (eth1). This is the first time I see a w/l device referrred to as eth instead of wlan

module loaded according to PCC is "wl"

[user01@localhost ~]$ cat /etc/modprobe.conf
install scsi_hostadapter /sbin/modprobe ata_piix; /sbin/modprobe ahci; /bin/true
install usb-interface /sbin/modprobe ehci_hcd; /sbin/modprobe uhci_hcd; /bin/true
alias sound-slot-0 snd_hda_intel
alias eth1 wl
options snd-ac97-codec power_save=1
alias pci:v000014E4d00004315sv0000103Csd00001507bc02sc80i00 wl
alias eth0 sky2

[user01@localhost ~]$ cat /etc/modprobe.preload
# /etc/modprobe.preload: kernel modules to load at boot time.
#
# This file should contain the names of kernel modules that are
# to be loaded at boot time, one per line.  Comments begin with
# a `#', and everything on the line after them are ignored.
# this file is for module-init-tools (kernel 2.5 and above) ONLY
# for old kernel use /etc/modules
fuse
raw1394
sbp2
ohci1394
pciehp
nvram
evdev

I can post other outputs but not sure how to ping an open w/l network at a commercial establishment. Not sure if they would be using 192.168.1.1 like a consumer router.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

[muungwana]

that kernel is too old, all who are using it are advised to update to a more recent one, preferred the most recent one. The first thing you should do is updating your kernel

you can set your home wireless network to be an open network for a minute or and check to see if you can connect to it. This will rule out of confirm your suspicion that the card cant connect to an open wifi.

when you are connected to a network, open the terminal and type "route -n". The last line will show you the default gateway address of that network

[Trio3b]

I also have a toshiba netbook running pclos 2011 KDE with latest kernel.
w/l fine at home but acting funny around open networks.

Kind of new to coffe shop open networks and noticed that connections are much more iffy than home networks.

Thanks. Will try  out your suggestions  and post back.

[sonic20]

Will follow this thread as this also happens to me on my Toshiba Satellite with Intel 3945ABG.
I can log on to any secure network when I enter the password, but cannot connect to any open network such as in airports.

I do not travel often but was able to log on to open networks at airports a few updates ago. I have the latest kernel installed.

[Trio3b]

UPDATE: as of today I can  only say that this is happening both on this HP mini and a Toshiba NB305 netbook / atheros AR9285 running pclos 2011.6

I seem to recall managing wifi connections in the past (pclos 2009.1) using the net applet in panel, selecting the open network, hitting "connect" and all was fine. Now however trying to connect to open network at local coffee house via net applet in panel gives "connection failed". I need to open PCC and create a new connection and follow the wizard. I also let the DHCP auto-assign the hostname.  I then receive the following error in PCC:

"Problems occured during the network connectivity test.

This can be caused by invalid network configuration, or problems with your modem or router.

You might want to relaunch the configuration to verify the connection settings."

... however, net applet shows connection and wifi is up and running.

Apparently I can connect to open networks if I create a new wifi connection via PCC and ignore the error message. Maybe need to rename this thread.


I will try to post output of ifconfig and iwconfig before and after connection attempts when I get the chance.

[muungwana]

Its a bad idea to allow DHCP server to set a hostname. X is tied to a hostname and changing it after X is started may cause all GUI applications to not run.

Info on those two commands may prove useful, system log entries may also shed some light to the problem

Log in as root from the terminal and run this command after the connection attempt and post its result

tail -n 30 /var/log/syslog