[TriLUG] Failing at Ubuntu Wireless Adapter Crap Shoot

[matt at noway2.thruhere.net]

Nah, you aren't doing anything wrong.  Wireless networking seems to be the
bane of Linux.

A couple of options I can think of:

1 - can you get a compatible card from a place like Newegg?  If one is in
stock, you could have it in as little as a day if your willing to pay.

2 - search the forums, such as ubuntuforums.org and linuxquestions.org and
see if anyone has had any success with a newer model or can suggest an OSS
driver or procedure.

3 - can you (obtain and) connect the ubuntu PC to a wireless router via
cat-5 cable and use it as a wireless bridge to the rest of your network by
way of the two wireless routers?  Caution, subnetting may be required.

> Hi Folks,
>
> I am doing something wrong.  Wrong, I tell you!
>
> I have a system at home that has Ubuntu Karmic installed.  There's no
> reasonably sane way to bring a cat 5 cable to it where it is upstairs,
> and I need to get it networked.
>
> We happen to already have a wireless network, so I thought I'd buy a USB
> wireless network adapter for it and go online.  Ha!  This, of course, is
> the part that's not working.
>
> Since it's Ubuntu, I knew there was a list of compatible devices.  And
> here it is:
>
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported
>
> With this in hand, I started looking up all of the local stores online
> to see what they had in stock.  Intrex, PC Warehouse, Buy it On Demand
> (that place in Cary Town Center), Staples, Office Despot, Office Max, HH
> Gregg, ...  I looked up the brand and model of each WLAN adapter these
> stores had, wrote down the supported version numbers (and bar codes,
> where applicable), and started driving to stores to acquire the objective.
>
> Net result?  Zilch!  Four stores hit so far, and I got nothin'.
>
> That's because in every case, the supported versions are NOT the ones
> they have in the stores.  The versions in the stores are ALWAYS NEWER
> than the ones on the supported versions list!  Or at least different
> versions.  But never the same ones that have been tested and reported,
> because (of course) those are no longer new.  They've been around more
> than three months, and heaven forfend they should still be on any retail
> shelf!
>
> So what do more savvy, knowledgeable Linux users do when they need a
> compatible wireless adapter?  I've already tried the "buy one and wait
> for it to be fully supported" approach, but I'd like something that
> works sooner if possible.
>
> Thanks loads!
>
> Scott C.
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