The story is...
I've moved from 2.6.25.x using BCM43XX with a Broadcom 4306 (rev3) 802.11
chipset to 2.6.26.6 using the B43 and appropriate firmware. This on a COMPAQ
Presario R3000 P4 and a gig of memory and ATI graphics.
I followed the install (upgrade) directions at linuxwireless.org. Piece of
cake! However... I find that I've gone from "bulletproof" BCM43XX wifi
connections to "bullethole" connections with B43.
Under the old BCM43XX the handshake and connections were flawless and
unfaltering. Now with the new B43, handshakes with AP's are perfect, but the
connections randomly and silently fail. There are no debug messages, no
complaints what-so-ever in /var/log/messages...
To gt wireless back, I have to reinitialize the connection. I've gotten so
good at it, that I can recite by heart the appropriate commands...
It's killling me! I've got to get this ironed out... it's not just my laptop,
it's happening quite regularly with people I know with similar chips and
laptops.
Trying 2.6.27-rc's and now 2.6.27 and the situation is no better.
So I ask... Who is the B43/B43LEGACY maintainer and would you be interested in
debugging this mess? I'll bend over backward to help you... Email me
direct... I'm very willing.
SHORT STORY:
-- Kernel 2.6.25.x with BCM43XX, firmware 4.80.53.0.. just perfect.
-- Kernels 2.6.26 or higher with B43 and firware 4.150.10.5 good negotiations,
but fragile connections that drop randomly and without complaint. B43LEGACY
does nothing.
Any help would be appreciated. I'd really like to get this ironed out. I
highly desire to use current kernels.
Feel free to email me direct.
--
*****************************************************************************
From the desk of:
Jerome D. McBride
19:17:28 up 15 days, 23:35, 5 users, load average: 0.33, 0.11, 0.03
*****************************************************************************
Yes I can confirm this problem.
I have bcm4318 card and my connection frequently and unexpectidely is
dropping with b43 (I had no problem with bcm43xx module). It did not
differ at all which firmware I used.
dmesg gives:
b43-phy1: Loading firmware version 410.2160 (2007-05-26 15:32:10)
Registered led device: b43-phy1::tx
Registered led device: b43-phy1::rx
Registered led device: b43-phy1::radio
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
wlan0: deauthenticating by local choice (reason=3)
input: b43-phy1 as /devices/virtual/input/input10
b43-phy1: Loading firmware version 410.2160 (2007-05-26 15:32:10)
Registered led device: b43-phy1::tx
Registered led device: b43-phy1::rx
Registered led device: b43-phy1::radio
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
wlan0: authenticate with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84
wlan0: authenticated
wlan0: associate with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84
wlan0: RX AssocResp from 00:73:05:10:a0:84 (capab=0x471 status=0 aid=2)
wlan0: associated
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
...
wlan0: No ProbeResp from current AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84 - assume out of range
wlan0: authenticate with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84
wlan0: authenticate with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84
wlan0: authenticate with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84
wlan0: authenticate with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84
wlan0: authentication with AP 00:73:05:10:a0:84 timed out
Please help...