Edgy Wifi Howto

ubuntu, broadcom bcm43xx/ndiswrapper howto! assumes a clean install of edgy or one of its derivitives. this, as written, has worked in (x/k)ubuntu 6.06; 6.10, and several others. this assumes no attempt to use wpa but works with wep (see below). use of dhcp is assumed. do everything as root. download ndiswrapper with system -> administration -> synaptic package manager search for ndiswrapper install "ndiswrapper-utils-1.8" and "ndiswrapper-common" blacklist any native bcm43xx drivers. in terminal type: sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist add the line: blacklist bcm43xx, etc. save after saving type at the terminal: sudo rmmod bcm43xx get windows drivers and install them in ndiswrapper: sudo ndiswrapper -i /location_of_new_drivers/bcmwl5.inf check to see if driver and hardware are found: sudo ndiswrapper -l if an alternate bcmwl5 shows up, kill it and reinstall: ndiswrapper -e bcmwl5 ndiswrapper -i /location_of_new_drivers/bcmwl5.inf whether or not alternate bcmwl5 showed up continue with: ndiswrapper -m setup ndiswrapper to load driver (and itself) at startup: edit the following file: sudo gedit /etc/modules add a line which says: ndiswrapper save restart during restart the "wireless on" light for your laptop should turn on. if light doesn't try pressing wireless button in case in off mode. setup wireless system -> administration -> networking. enable wireless connection and configure all the settings. use dhcp. enter frequency used. set to start at boot. don't try to use this with wpa. if using wep, enter essid and key in hex, not asci. disable wired connection (wireless and wired don't work simultaneously). use the internet, hopefully! it has always worked for me and, with only very slight variation, it has worked in several other distros.