PCBSD and the Dell 1400 series WiFi NICs

[sqlpython]

I have been following and using PCBSD since version 1.3.
One of my biggest gripes has always been the lack of support for my Broadcom WiFi 43xx chips.
These are WiFi Nics in my Dell Inspirons 5100, 1501 & D600.
They work just fine in Linux and of Course WinBlows as they were designed for that OS.
So the workaround has always been to use ndisgen and make usable Drivers from the Windows Drivers.
However since PCBSD 5 these ndisgen made Drivers have become unstable and drop the WiFi signal every 10 to 20 minutes and that is no fun.
I continued to follow the HCList and noted that as of FreeBSD 8 the bwi driver would be supporting Dell 1400 & 1470 Wifi.
I bought and installed a WiFi from the 1400 family a 1490 which is the same chip.
Of course it works in Linux. However just as with the Dell 1300 family of WiFi the Wifi doesn't even light up nor is the device listed in the system settings. The only NIC in the list for a Live PCBSD CD is the BCM 4400 which is my Cat5 NIC for hardwire connections. So nothing has changed.

Any experiences, comments or suggestions regarding the WiFi that are suppose to run under the bwi driver which I believe is the 1400 series compatible?

[NaX]

When it comes to Broadcom WiFi drivers I would have a look at bwi(4)or bwn(4).

Also see the following FreeBSD Status Report, bwn(4) is replacing bwi(4) driver.
http://www.freebsd.org/news/status/repo ... 09-12.html

Also, I think WiFi setup has changed in FreeBSD8, have a look here.
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/net ... eless.html

I have not had the need to setup wifi yet, so I can’t be any more help than that.

Porst:
http://www.freshports.org/net/bwi-firmware-kmod/
http://www.freshports.org/net/bwn-firmware-kmod/

[sqlpython]

Thanks for the Reply NaX
I have seen the first set of links you have posted.
I had not played with bwn as a wifi driver yet though.

What I had not seen yet though were the firmware ports that you provided in the very last links. I am interested to take a look a that. Problem is that I no longer have a PCBSD laptop install as all my laptops have some form of a Broadcom 43xx wifi. So my PCBSD installs are hardwired Boxes. I have been trying to effect a wifi through a Live PCBSD DVD but that is really a mistake to do so. I guess I will have to bite the bullet and give a Laptop Partition back to PCBSD 8 to successfully experiment with the bwi and bwn on my Laptops. Although I have found some reference stating that the bwi is also dropping the WiFi signal every X number of minutes just as I experience with my ndisgen install of the bcml5w drivers.

Kris & Team have put together such a compelling BSD with PCBSD that I continue to come back and I am willing to struggle with this issue now for over 3 years running. However PCBSD will not be able to replace LINUX/Debian running on my 7 various Dell work laptops until WiFi is reliable with bcm 43xx. I realize that I could solve the issue by replacing all the Laptops but that is not budgeted for in the Near Future. Maybe in 2 years.