WiFi with latest Linux-Kernel
I recently installed Linux-libre-3.9.2-gnu.
WiFi only works with the Trisquel default kernel (3.2.0) but not with the latest version of Linux.
lspci lists the following network card.
02:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
It is not the same chipset that the "Penguin Wireless N USB Adapter for GNU / Linux (TPE-N150USB)" uses. I guess that the free firmware is included in the Trisquel kernel but not yet in the upstream linux-libre kernel.
Only the Atheros AR9170/AR9271 has a released FLOSS firmware, which are both used in either wireless USB keys or routers. All the other wifi chips that works with Trisquel are driven only by driver, in your case the ath9k.
No idea why your device doesn't want to work on the generic Linux-libre, but I have always faced problems after installing the bleeding-edge kernel versions, so I decided not to use them at all.
I recommend you to rather use the backported 3.5 Belenos kernel, available right from the Trisquel repositories:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install linux-image-generic-lts-belenos
In short, "Belenos" is the codename of Trisquel 6.5. Like Ubuntu LTS has its backported STS kernels, from Toutatis on, also Trisquel joined the club. There was a need to name it, and the choice was made for "Belenos". Of course, the next Trisquel version will be 8.0 codename "Unknown", so there isn't and never be any 6.5 release, just the kernel.
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/big-trouble-blender#comment-32459
I am a member!
Unless something changed my understanding of it is there will be a 6.5 release. It just won't be based off Ubuntu 12.10. It's going to continue to be based off the 12.04 stable base. There will be a number of newer packages. One of these will be the kernel.
No, there will be point releases, e.g. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and maybe 6.4 (like on Taranis, which was later upgraded to 4.1).
I found this one https://trisquel.info/de/forum/linux-libre-and-ath9k
Then I checked the Kernel Config - Atheros Cards are disabled by default
Linux-libre has a bad habit of blocking/blacklisting wireless driver modules, so you cannot use your wireless card/key even if you have installed the required firmware. People can argue that it's neccessary evil because without this precaution, people can be easily fooled, because they will think that the particular device is FLOSS compatible, while in fact, it requires a proprietary binary firmware in able to make it work. If you ask me, I think it's just a bullsh** to limit the users freedom to do on his/her computer whatever they want.
> Linux-libre has a bad habit of blocking/blacklisting wireless driver
> modules, so you cannot use your wireless card/key even if you have
> installed the required firmware.
They accept patches; loading such firmware without recommending it to
users is a missing feature of a very low priority.
(This is completely unrelated to PCI cards supported by ath9k, since
they don't use loadable firmware.)
> They accept patches; loading such firmware without recommending it to
> users is a missing feature of a very low priority.
>
> (This is completely unrelated to PCI cards supported by ath9k, since
> they don't use loadable firmware.)
Indeed. This whole thing seems that it's simply the original poster
needs to enable the ath9k kernel module in their .config when
compiling the kernel.
The other option is to use mine, as ath9k is already enabled:
http://jxself.org/linux-libre/
what about this wifi card:
Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller
will this be supported in trisqul?
I'm afraid it needs non-free software
http://h-node.org/wifi/view/en/201/Broadcom-Corporation-BCM4313-802-11b-g-n-Wireless-LAN-Controller--rev-01-
I'm afraid the answer is no. At least not apparently by openfwwf.
Also, this lists it as no go http://h-node.org/wifi/view/en/201/
I am a member!
There is actually PCI broadcom chipset that is compatible with Trisquel. Not sure if it is this one. I've spoken with the developer (I think) and (even if I'm mistaken) I know he says that its not advisable to use the driver. It's alpha quality. That said some users have had no problem with it. Long story short is to go with Atheros because they do a good job at supporting GNU/Linux and free software.
I solved the problem by running make menuconfig and recompiling the kernel.
> I recently installed Linux-libre-3.9.2-gnu.
You should be more accurate when you ask for help. I thought you installed (not compiled) Linux-libre through PPA like most people here do.