3945ABG WiFi not working

[jseb]

Hello,

I couldn't get 3945ABG wifi working on my Dell D630 laptop.

lspci output :
* Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02)

uname -r:
2.6.24.4

I followed the procedure described here: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HARDWARE_ipw3945
I use iwlwifi , as it's built-in in 2.6.24 kernels.

modules built:
* mac80211
* iwl3945

microcode:
emerge -va iwl3945-ucode #emerge the 2.14.1.5 version


~# modprobe mac80211 #ok, no problems
~# modprobe iwl3945 #wait a long time before going back to prompt

dmesg:
iwl3945: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG/BG Network Connection driver for Linux, 1.1.17k
iwl3945: Copyright(c) 2003-2007 Intel Corporation
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:0c:00.0[A] -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:0c:00.0 to 64
iwl3945: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
iwl3945: iwlwifi-3945-1.ucode firmware file req failed: Reason -2
iwl3945: Could not read microcode: -2
iwl3945: probe of 0000:0c:00.0 failed with error -2

I don't understand this last error (when it said it can't load microcode)
I got the microcode:

~# ls /lib/firmware/
iwlwifi-3945-1.ucode

For the moment, i don't have anymore ideas.

Thank you.

[pappy_mcfae]

Try a different kernel version. The .24 kernel family has many issues with wireless connectivity. The .22 and the .25-gentoo kernels support wireless much better. I'd recommend starting with the .22 version, and moving to .25 once you get things working right.

Blessed be!
Pappy
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[wjb]

I used ipw3945 on a Dell laptop a few weeks back and its cuurently working fine with 2.6.24-gentoo-r4 kernel. More or less as per the wiki.

I had no particular reason for using ipw over iwl (other than missing the deprecated warning)

[jseb]

Ok, thank you for the advice.

I tried the same .config with vanilla 2.6.25 and it works.

Just copy the previous .config, and then: make oldconfig, make, make modules_install, reboot, ok.

BUT! There's something strange (who you gonna call ?). When i do only