Ubuntu: bcm43xx with ndiswrapper on Fiesty

I have a laptop with a built-in bcm43xx wireless. As everybody already knew, broadcom doesnt have linux driver that was really compatible and work out of box. So i think the best way to maximize your bcm43xx chipset is by using the windows driver itself.

Linux has an application that allows Windows driver to be use in linux, the application name is Ndiswrapper. In this tutorial, I will make a complete step to install your bcm43xx driver by using ndiswrapper.

Lets start:

You have to make sure that you are using the right driver as I am. Please check your chipset:

• lspci | grep BCM (copy and paste this in terminal)
• if you see this output then you may proceed.
  
• 0a:06.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)But if your rev number is different, I'll suggest you to download a working driver for your wireless. The default driver given with the puchase will be good enough.

I consider your broadcom chipset is the same one with what i have here. Next step you have to do is to blacklist your current bcm43xx driver to prevent it from loading when your start your ubuntu. To blacklist the bcm43xx you need to apply this command:

• echo 'blacklist bcm43xx' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Then we need to install ndiswrapper. And for this tutorial, i will use apt-get to install the ndiswrapper.

• sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper-utils-1.9

After finished installing ndiswrapper, make directory called bcm43xx at your home folder and go into that folder. Copy and paste this command if you unsure what to do:

• mkdir ~/bcm43xx; cd ~/bcm43xx

After that, you need to download the driver for your bcm43xx.

• wget http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/WL-100g-03/Driverv3100640.zip

unzip the zip file, and copy file in the winxp folder to folder bcm43xx

• unzip Driverv3100640.zip; cp Driver/WinXP/* ./

After unzipping the driver, you just need to follow instruction below to install the driver into ndiswrapper. Copy and paste line by line.

• sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
• ndiswrapper -lsudo depmod -a
• sudo modprobe ndiswrapper
• sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.orig
• echo -e 'auto lo\niface lo inet loopback\n' | sudo tee /etc/network/interfaces
• sudo ndiswrapper -m
• echo 'ndiswrapper' | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
• echo 'ENABLED=0' | sudo tee -a /etc/default/wpasupplicant

And we are done!! Now reboot your ubuntu by typing:

• sudo reboot
  

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