lucky13
Group: Members
Posts: 1478
Joined: Feb. 2007 |
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Posted: April 21 2008,19:15 |
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If you try to scan or take advantage of similar options, you'll likely get error messages related to wireless tools version and limitations from that. That's because support for 2.4 ended several iterations back. Hence the roadblock in DSL, not to mention the problems with the older ndiswrapper version which would require newer gcc, etc., to compile. Lots of work, not much reward (imo).
These are your options...
1. Anything with kernel 2.6.17 and higher works much better with bcm43xx and should have much better wifi support. I'm presently using Vector 5.9 with its stock kernel (2.6.22.14 with novmsplice patch) on my laptop and I've been happy with its wifi support even though I expressed a few points of displeasure about Vector on my blog this morning.
2. DSL will have a new 2.6 option shortly. If you want to wait for that, you might try the third option in the interim.
3. Buy or trade for a card that's better supported and/or has open (or distributable) drivers.
4. OpenBSD 4.3 and DragonFlyBSD 1.12+ have a bwi driver for bcm43xx. I've tested neither yet.
Broadcom-based cards are excellent, but Broadcom chooses to play by their own rules when it comes to open source for various reasons. That's their right. It's also your right to buy hardware from companies that allow users to choose their own operating systems.
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"It felt kind of like having a pitbull terrier on my rear end."
-- meo (copyright(c)2008, all rights reserved)
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