ubuntu 8.10 wireless setup

[Delta Blue]

Problem getting connected to the internet using ubuntu 8.10.
I have a wireless network interface from T-Mobile.
It's a wireless network connection called Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN.
Also use a GlobeTrotter GI4xx mass storage network interface.

I'm new to the Linux world so if you do know the answer could you let me/us know in laymans terms on how it's done.

Thanks

Clive

[Hammer]

The network manager in ubuntu can be a bit sketchy and perceived wisdom is to use an alternative to the one bundled with it.

Good step by step instructions here

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WICD

[fo3nix]

Yea, Linux and wifi don't always go together. Even more so if you're trying to use a 3G internet dongle.

I would also suggest trying to use WICD instead of NetworkManager (just a different program to handle your networking). The link above should handle that.

Not to divert you from this site or anything, but the guys at ubuntuforums.org really know their stuff. Worth signing up and asking there.

[Delta Blue]

Thanks for the pointer.
Hit a problem at the first hurdle.

I did change gutsy for Intrepid then tried Intrepid Ibex both did not work.

The response I got after hitting the reload button was;
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/intr epid/Release.gpg Could not resolve �gb.archive.ubuntu.com�

Whatever the problem is, I'm sure it's an easy one, just can't find it though :-(

[fo3nix]

So you can connect to your wifi, just not browse the web?

Try going into your web browser and entering this in the address bar:

http://74.125.79.147

Does it show anything?

[Delta Blue]

Whoops, sorry, I'm switching between window$ and my non-connecting, non-browsing ubuntu.8.10

I changed my ISP from mynow.co.uk which ubuntu worked to T-Mobile (dongle).

I'm persevering because ubuntu is so clean and responsive to use and does everything it says on the lable first time every time.
I'm so sure there is one piece of the jig-saw missing, find it and it'll all fall into place.

[fo3nix]

When you say T-Mobile dongle, do you mean a wifi dongle, or a 3G dongle (i.e., using your router's connection, or using T-Mobile's network)?

[Delta Blue]

I'm using the T-Mobile dongle network. It's not 3G.
When I check what dongle I had it came back as; Wireless Network Connection 4 Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN.
And it has a mass storage called GlobeTrotter GI4xx - That bit pops up when I connect to the internet on window$

Thanks for your patience

Clive

[fo3nix]

OK.

Since you're using wifi, that means you must have a wifi router.

So I suggest that you connect to the router via ethernet at first, to download and install WICD, and then try wifi dongle again.

[Delta Blue]

The signal uses the T-Mobile phone network so I don't think it has or uses a router?

Clive

[fo3nix]

So, it is a 3G dongle! It's not wifi!

These dongles are not supported all that well in Linux right now. The manufacturers don't write drivers for Linux, like they do for Windows.

As I'm far from an expert in this area, I'd strongly suggest you ask at the Ubuntu Forums:

http://ubuntuforums.org/index.php

I suspect you may have to hunt down some drivers online, and unmount it so that it doesn't treat it as a storage device. But I'm not sure.

[Delta Blue]

thanks for the attempt.

Linux themselves don't know the answer.
They must do some thing to sort this problem out as it seems it's not so user friendly in the wireless department.
I know people are asking how to connect, so I'm not the only one and the answers have always been different the only thing that was consistent was none of the answers worked.

But if and when I find the answer I'll let you know, but don't hold your breath.