Unable to active wireless

Hy!

It soesn't really matter in which way these devices are connected to the system but if you have already all the basic necessary stuff on your system. First install "wireless-tools" and if required "pcmcia-cs" via "sudo apt-get install <packetname>".

As already descruibed you're using the "Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter" for communication. for the last step it's important to me to know which GUI you're using.

Also see:

1] http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=5047061
2] http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&q=%2BUbuntu+%2BAR242x&btnG=Suche&meta=

I have tried the techniques described in the links and neither was sucessful, in resolving my issue.

What more can I do, or information should I provide.

Cheers

Bob

1] Check the HCL (http://www.ubuntuhcl.org/) if your hardware is supported.

2] Search for bug reports containing the keywords "AR242x" on Launchpad.

I have the same model of laptop (Siemens Fujitsu Amilo LI 2727) and suffered the exact same problem. I've struggled with it for 3 days until I figured out the problem. THe wireless card is fine in the laptop and it is supported by the latest release of MadWiFi so that isn't your problem strange as it may be to say.
What's really happening is that the Wireless card is turned off and there is no easy way to turn it on from Ubuntu as the hot keys on the laptop are not supported.
Fear not!!
Help is on the way. THe Li2727 uses an Acer derived keyboard which can be enabled using some magic (at least that's what it looks like)

You need to compile and install the ACERHK module for this laptop which should enable the wireless card, which will then be seen be MadWiFi and which then will be visible to the OS.

Are you with me so far? Good, well here goes:

Here is the thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=644899

I've taken the liberty of paraphrasing the instructions and presenting them here for you.
Open a Terminal window:

1. Prepare the system.
 sudo apt-get update
 sudo apt-get upgrade
 sudo apt-get install build-essential

2. Obtain the latest code for acerhk and madwifi
 wget http://www.cakey.de/acerhk/archives/acerhk-0.5.35.tgz
 wget http://snapshots.madwifi.org/special/madwifi-ng-r2756+ar5007.tar.gz

3. Build MadWiFi to support your card. (Atheros AR5007EG)
 tar xfvz madwifi-ng-r2756+ar5007.tar.gz
 cd madwifi-ng-r2756+ar5007
 make
 sudo make install

4. Now we build acerhk in order to switch on the wireless card. (It has recently been patched to work properly for Ubuntu)
 cd ..
 tar xfvz acerhk-0.5.35.tgz
 cd acerhk-0.5.35
 wget http://www.edbl.no/tmp/acerhk.Makefile.patch
 patch -p0 < acerhk.Makefile.patch
 make
 sudo make install

5. Create a file which tells the computer what to do when it starts up.
 sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/amilo_special_keys.modprobe

add the following to the file and then save and close gedit.
 # set up kernel module acerhk to enable Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Li1718 special keys
 # and enable wireless when the module is inserted.
 # NOTE: to have the wireless hardware disabled until you press the wireless key on the laptop,
 # simply replace "echo 1" with "echo 0" in the command below.

 install acerhk /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install acerhk force_series=6805 autowlan=1; echo 1 > /proc/driver/acerhk/wirelessled

6. We must then remove the acerhk module which came with your Ubuntu distro (it's the wrong one)
 sudo rm /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/ubuntu/misc/acerhk.ko

7. Rebuild the modules.
 sudo depmod -a

8. Now you must force the laptop to load the acerhk module at boot up.
 sudo gedit /etc/modules

add the following line to the bottom of the file, save and close.
 acerhk

Now if all has gone well when you next reboot there will be a working Atheros wireless thingie connecting you to the world!!!!

Quick and easy solution that worked in Intrepid on an Li2727 notebook:

1. Install the linux-backports-modules-intrepid package

2. Add acerhk to the bottom of the /etc/modules.conf file (no need to install it -- acerhk is already there and works fine)

3. Create a new text file and add the following:

echo on > /proc/driver/acerhk/wirelessled

Save it as S19wifiactivate in your /home directory, then type the following to move it to the boot script directory:

sudo mv ~/S19wifiactivate /etc/rc2.d/
sudo chmod +x /etc/rc2.d/S19wifiactivate

Reboot. Everything should work OK. It did for me, anyway.

Unfortunately I do not have the powers to change the state of this question to SOLVED, EXPIRED or INVALID. Someone here at Launchpad either grant me that permission or simply apply the change in state to this question, please.