Ubuntu wireless SUCCESS!! (Re: cheap ubuntu laptop with wireless that works right "out of the box".)

[Default User]

On Fri, 2008-02-01 at 19:44 -0600, Default User wrote:
> On Fri, 2008-02-01 at 18:51 -0600, Chris Mohler wrote:
> > On Feb 1, 2008 11:15 AM, Default User <xyzzyx at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > > I'm glad it works for Chris, but I just got one, a Belkin F5D7050 usb
> > > adapter, version 5.000. Box says (c)2007.  I tried it on an old desktop
> > > pc Ubuntu 7.10, updated) with usb 1.0 sockets.  It absolutely would not
> > > work plugged into a usb hub.
> > 
> > Ugh.  This one is a v4.000.  For posterity: the version 4.000 F5D7050
> > uses the ZyDAS ZD1211 chipset and functions beautifully.  Apparently,
> > the version 5.000 no longer uses the same chipset...  I happened to
> > still have the box - I don't see any other way of determining the
> > version.  Here is relevant lsusb info for the v 4.000:
> > 
> > Bus 007 Device 004: ID 050d:705c Belkin Components
> > Device Descriptor:
> >   bLength                18
> >   bDescriptorType         1
> >   bcdUSB               2.00
> >   bDeviceClass          255 Vendor Specific Class
> >   bDeviceSubClass       255 Vendor Specific Subclass
> >   bDeviceProtocol       255 Vendor Specific Protocol
> >   bMaxPacketSize0        64
> >   idVendor           0x050d Belkin Components
> >   idProduct          0x705c
> >   bcdDevice           48.10
> >   iManufacturer          16 Belkin
> >   iProduct               32 USB2.0 WLAN
> >   iSerial                 0
> >   bNumConfigurations      1
> > 
> > 
> > Chris
> > 
> 
> Chris, thanks for the clarification. The adapter I got is version 5.000,
> which may indeed use a different chipset.  Per sudo lsusb -v, 
> 
> "iProduct                2 RTL8187B_WLAN_Adapter". 
> 
> Anyway, if I can get a version 4.000, I'll try that and report back.  
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> BTW, has anyone gotten wireless connectivity to work at all with the
> Toshiba Satellite laptop, model A205-S5804, running Ubuntu 7.10?  If I
> can find out how to do that, I can use the Toshiba, which is really at
> the upper limit of my budget right now.  
> 
> I have been checking this forum thread: 
> 
> http://ubuntu-utah.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4191499
> 
> no definitive answer yet.
> 
> 
> 
> 

As promised, I am reporting back on wireless connectivity using the 

Belkin F5D7050 usb wireless adapter, VERSION 4.000

with Ubuntu 7.10 (32-bit for i386).  

SUCCESS!!  I just stuck the adapter into a usb hub, cold booted my old
desktop '586, and prepared for more disappointment. But no! Starting up
the Gnome desktop, Network Manager showed the normal ethernet
connection, eth0 as usual.  I right clicked NM, networking and wireless
were both showing enabled. Good.  I left-clicked NM, and clicked the
entry for my wireless network connection.  A window popped up asking for
the encryption type and key, which I entered, and then clicked OK.
After several seconds the NM icon showed a good strong connection!  

Right-clicking and selecting "Connection Information" showed that the
eth0 connection had been replaced by eth1, the wireless connection.  I
then did sudo ifconfig -a. Both eth0 and eth1 showed as "up".  I did
sudo ifconfig eth0 down.  Connection stayed on.  I pinged my network.
No problems.  I then unplugged the ethernet cable from the eth0 network
card.  Connection still up.  Again pinged the network.  Still no
problems.  I then browsed and check email, using the wireless
connection.  I works fine!  Then took a half-hour off to watch the news.
Came back, connection still good. [Note: in a series of 23 pings to the
network connection, the times varies significantly, from a high of
58.061 ms to a low of 2.255 ms.  Not necessarily indicative of a
problem, but...  interesting.

So, If you use Ubuntu and need wireless connectivity, and you see this
adapter in a store or online, grab it, before the Microsoft MIBs have
them quietly disappear forever.  Even if you don't need it now, you just
might in the future.  Or some one else might. You never know. (I thought
my adapter-hunting days were over when I found a Cardbus type wireless
adapter, less than a year ago.  Now it's obsolete already.)   
Just look for the box that says Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter,
and Part #F5D7050 on the bottom of the box. 

And BE SURE that the box says:

"ver. 4.000" 

on a white bar-coded label on the bottom of the box.  The box may also
say (c) 2005 Belkin Corporation, again on the bottom of the box.  

Note: "ver. 5000" does NOT work correctly, even using ndiswrapper.  I
have also seen ver. 4001 and ver. 3002, I have not tried them, so I
don't know if they work.  

Chris Mohler, Thank You Very Much for tipping us off to this wireless
adapter.  I really appreciate it!