Is it common for wireless connections to be a pain in Linux? I've struggled with that for months trying to get it to connect and i can't even get it to see the LAN. I've checked my USB wireless bransnd model and it's supported, I have ndswrapper installed and I think working. The light on the USB module is on, the driver is installed. I just can't see any wireless networks. In Windows, it's simple, you enter your SSID and the WEP key and you're set. In Linux there are 120,000 settings involved. More or less.

Worked out of the box on my PC. But if you are looking for Wifi Linux experts, there are better forums

Assuming you have actual hardware support (some wireless cards require you to install firmware for linux since they are proprietary and not possible to include in the distribution), it is usually not very difficult. A USB one is not necessarily easier, it depends on what drivers you have available for it.
Once the hardware is known to talk to the kernel, I have had lots of luck with the Wicd daemon program. It runs fine from commandline, but also has a graphical interface for setting up the wifi, find networks etc.
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Griatch

I'm a Mint user and will be for a while. I had to cable in to get the wireless to work. I have been trying natty for a couple days now. And that was the first distro that connected wirelessly within a minute or so of starting up from liveusb. Had to install the driver, but natty did that from the iso I was using. Only had to type in my key and there it was. I was impressed.

mine worked immediately. as I recall I just typed in my WEP key. my laptop is new (as of last fall, anyway). I don't know if that helps or not.

I would suggest connecting the Ethernet cable to make sure it connects that way first.

of course, in my situation I have FIOS (that's fiber optics). This is the first time I have connected Ubuntu via wireless so as I've never had any problems I can't help much. sorry

http://openubuntu.com/
has great people who can help

Wireless never worked well on linux for me ( the same signal that is sufficent for Win was too seen in Ubuntu as too weak ) , i m upgrading now to ubuntu 11.10 , maybe will help

Hit ans miss for me. Highly depends what distro I try. Even the same version of Kunbuntu and Ubuntu makes a difference???

Found that linux Mint 10 had the highest success rate.

Been there done that. I got a lot of the 'I'm an expert, you're an idiot and that's a stupid question' type mentality. And I got some sincere answers. I tried them all and did ton's of research but still the best I've gotten so far is now the USB module lights up.

This one is a Belkin F7D1101, one of the things I researched was whether that was on the supported device list, and it said it is.

I tried Natty but the second time I booted it the desktop disappeared and I couldn't get it back so I put Julia back on, it just seems easier for me to get along with.

I have it on ethernet now, it's the only way I can connect to anything. I had wanted to put it in another room in the house but I have to have my linux and Windows machines sitting right next to each other, monitors, next to each other, meeses next to each other, keyboards next to each other. At least until I can get this wireless things worked out.

Yes, I read that somewhere, it makes me feel even more foolish. 55 years old and can't connect to a wireless network. It was so embarrassing that I tried to do myself in. First I jumped off a bridge but the river was dry, then I stuck my head on the oven but it was an electric oven and all I did was singe my beard. It would have been a total loss had there not been a pie in there.

Some of the advice I found on the Mint forum suggested that. I gather it's not built into mint so i plan to find and install it and try again.

If you'd had worded that a little bit differently it could have been a poem.

The kernel has to be compiled with support for anything that you want to hook up to your box.
If you don't mind to do a little typing it's possible to find out if yours has, provided the .config file is available.
That file is the "recipe" used to compile it.
Then you'll need to know what the usb wireless thingy is.
You can find that by typing "lsusb" in a terminal while it is inserted.
Once you know what it is you can open the .config in an editor and search for what you got with lsusb.
Gerard.

I am occasionaly a poet. I have quite a few that I wrote, Interesting story behind it sometime.

I'll try that tonight, I have about 50 CDs to burn for a friend and I'll have spare time, lots of it.

Hi Gms9810,
Once you have found out what Belkin adapter you have you can check here if it's supported.
http://linux-wless.passys.nl/query_part ... ame=Belkin
Gerard.

That was one of the first places I was directed to, and it says mine is fully supported. I think the problem is me putting the keys and numbers in the wrong places. Even in Windows I must confess that LANs and especially wireless ones are a weak area for me.

Maybe these pictures will help.
This is how I enter it on my modem/router whatever.
I have a FritzBox.
Tomorrow the provider will install a new one which will include TV.
I enter this thing by typing fritzbox in the address space of my browser.
How you enter yours I don't know but assume it's similar.
My own box is connected wired,my wife's lappy uses wireless.
I use WEP because installing a driver that will allow WPA is too much bother.
Unless someone parks his car close to our home no one will receive our signals.
Gerard.