Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

joseph · 2017-08-02 19:31:58

Hello everyone.

Very new linux user here. Haveing issues trying to get this wifi adapter working, the Netgear WNA3100 usb. I've searched everywhere on how to get this working. I simply lack the know-how of getting it to connect. Hopefully someone can walk me step by step on how to correctly install what is needed for the device to function.

Please don't hold back in your explanations but please be thorough. I am as new as it gets when it comes to linux but I have in interest in acually learning something. Thanks anyone who replies!

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-08-02 19:44:03

joseph wrote:

I've searched everywhere on how to get this working

Did you see https://askubuntu.com/questions/839947/ … untu-16-04?

Lots of steps there

If that doesn't work, post any errors and also run this command:

sudo update-usbids

Then plug the USB adapter in and post the full output of

lsusb

EDIT: welcome to the forums!

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2017-08-02 19:44:27)

joseph · 2017-08-02 21:10:24

Following the steps in the link, at "Activate the ndiswrapper:" it fails in the console. Entering the command

sudo modprobe ndiswrapper

returns

modprobe: FATAL: Module ndiswrapper not found.

lsusb returns

Bus 005 Device 007: ID 0846:9020 NetGear, Inc. WNA3100(v1) Wireless-N 300 [Broadcom BCM43231]
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 093a:2510 Pixart Imaging, Inc. Optical Mouse
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 004: ID 1c4f:0002 SiGma Micro Keyboard TRACER Gamma Ivory
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 058f:9540 Alcor Micro Corp. AU9540 Smartcard Reader
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 058f:6254 Alcor Micro Corp. USB Hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

edit: thanks for the welcome!

Last edited by joseph (2017-08-02 21:11:34)

stevep · 2017-08-03 03:15:09

You need to have a kernel module build environment set up first for the build triggered by the install of ndiswrapper-dkms to complete successfully. No doubt it showed an error, but it's in a lot of other output. Just

sudo apt-get install module-assistant
sudo m-a prepare
sudo apt-get install --reinstall ndiswrapper-dkms

And this time the output for the last command should show success.

joseph · 2017-08-03 12:24:19

Loaded the drivers into the ndiswrapper and seems to be working now! I tried a reboot and no connection. How do I make the ndiswrapper start up on boot?

edit: hmmm seems to be showing connection in wifi but doesn't seem to be able to surf the internet.

Last edited by joseph (2017-08-03 15:42:29)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-08-04 07:03:23

Did you remember to add the ndiswrapper modules to the boot configuration?

sudo ndiswrapper -m

joseph · 2017-08-05 19:31:59

Entering the command

sudo ndiswrapper -m

returns

module configuration already contains alias directive

but I still have to enter "sudo modprobe ndiswrapper" at start to see any wifi connections.

I'm also connected to a wifi network but cannot display webpages. The browser doesn't take any time to search, it simply says "server not found" when the address is entered. I know the usb device is working because it shows my wifi network and others. I just don't know where to go from here.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-08-05 19:33:52

joseph wrote:

I just don't know where to go from here.

Buy a better adapter, perhaps?

I would never consider purchasing computer hardware without first checking compatibility with my favoured operating system.

joseph · 2017-08-05 20:49:50

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

joseph wrote:
I just don't know where to go from here.
Buy a better adapter, perhaps?

Well, it seems that may just have to be the case. I appreciate everyone's effort.

Anyone know of any usb wifi adapters that work good with Linux or BL specifically?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-08-05 21:10:05

joseph wrote:

Anyone know of any usb wifi adapters that work good with Linux or BL specifically?

I have an adapter that works fine with Debian (once the firmware is installed, already included with BunsenLabs):

run0 at uhub3 port 2 configuration 1 interface 0 "Ralink 802.11 g WLAN" rev 2.00/1.01 addr 3
run0: MAC/BBP RT3070 (rev 0x0201), RF RT2020 (MIMO 1T1R), address 00:08:10:73:31:10

Seems to be a Ralink RT3070 device:

https://wiki.debian.org/rt2800usb

damo · 2017-08-05 21:34:40

In the past I found that ASUS dongles worked OOTB with Crunchbang.

DeepDayze · 2017-08-05 22:47:00

Oops my bad, device @Joseph has appears to be a Broadcom device. There are broadcom devices that do work on Linux but that needs special firmware as well as either b43 or b43-legacy package. As I have little experience with these devices I'd go with something like a Ralink based dongle like what HoaS mentioned in his post.

Others may shed more light on this, but it is true many old Broadcom devices there is no Linux support for the chipsets these adapters use.

Last edited by DeepDayze (2017-08-05 23:01:58)

#1 2017-08-02 19:31:58

Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#2 2017-08-02 19:44:03

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#3 2017-08-02 21:10:24

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#4 2017-08-03 03:15:09

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#5 2017-08-03 12:24:19

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#6 2017-08-04 07:03:23

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#7 2017-08-05 19:31:59

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#8 2017-08-05 19:33:52

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#9 2017-08-05 20:49:50

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#10 2017-08-05 21:10:05

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#11 2017-08-05 21:34:40

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

#12 2017-08-05 22:47:00

Re: Netgear WNA3100 usb wifi adapter (not working)

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