ar9271 firmware-ath9k-htc getting new packages?
In order to get an ar9271 usb wifi card to work on debian 9 64bit I have to install a package
called
firmware-ath9k-htc
Last time I installed the package it was version firmware-ath9k-htc (1.4.0-81-gf206e56+dfsg-2).
Now the version is firmware-ath9k-htc (1.4.0-97-g75b3e59+dfsg-1).
You download from
https://packages.debian.org/sid/firmware-ath9k-htc
I was unaware that the package gets updates. Can I install the newest version without
uninstalling the already installed version of the package?
Does the newest version still require to edit
/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf
such that it says
[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no
Thank you.
If you use Debian testing or unstable, it will be automatically updated whenever you run
# apt update
and subsequently
# apt upgrade
Otherwise you may need to manually update it whenever a newer version is available. Removing old version may be necessary. (Because I don't use Debian stable, I cannot test it right now.)
I did not install the newest version because I cannot
find a debian package to download.
Here is the package that will be in the upcoming Trisquel 9: https://packages.ubuntu.com/bionic/all/firmware-ath9k-htc/download
The same package from Debian's servers: https://packages.debian.org/buster/all/firmware-ath9k-htc/download
The Atheros-htc free/libre firmware is still not in "stable" (Stretch) branch. However, it can be found in either "testing" (buster) or "unstable" "sid" branch.
Go to packages.debian.org, search "firmware" only in "main" repository and you can find it. Then click either "testing" or "unstable" to download it. (This is how I obtain most Debian packages.)
Or bypass the Debian gatekeepers and go to the source:
https://github.com/qca/open-ath9k-htc-firmware