NetGear WAG511

[hil]

I heard rumors about netgear changing their wireless adapter chipset without changing the model name. It happens to Linksys and D-Link. A version 4.0 (Ralink) for Linksys WPC11 has totally different chipset from a version 3.0 (Prism). I researched on the web and decided to buy Netgear WAG511. It worked excellently with a little work in Fedora Core 4. If you want to buy a wireless pcmcia card for your laptop, here are the steps:
1. Realize that Atheros chipset uses MADWiFi (http://madwifi.sourceforge.net/) driver
2. Buy NetGear WAG511 (It did not have any version number until the time I bought it) from online stores such as JustDeals (http://www.justdeals.com/)
3. Add Livna to your yum repo. Follow the instructions from the links:
http://stanton-finley.net/fedora_core_4_installation_notes.html
http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-fc4.shtml
4. install kernel 2.6.12-1.1398_FC4. Here is what I did:
yum install kernel.i686 kernel-module-madwifi-2.6.12-1.1398_FC4
yum -y install kernel-devel.i686 # not necessary
5. When you receive the NetGear WAG511, do not waste your time reading the instructions for Win32 installation. Insert the card directly to the PCMCIA slot and boot the laptop to Fedora Core 4. After boot, you should see one of the LCD light is on. Go to the command line as root. In my case, iwlist ath0 scan somehow did not work directly. I had to ifconfig ath0 192.168.3.3 to give it an IP address first and then iwlist ath0 scan could work. Make iwlist ath0 scan work. You should see both Light blinking (according to the spec, both link blinking means weak signal connection). Now you can use the GUI network configuration tool to set up the device ath0 which is the Netgear WAG511 card

[srios]

Hi. HIL!!
This post was very usefull!!.. I Have F4 kernel 2.6.13-1.1532, and install the madwifi very straightforward
yum install madwifi

The Card now is has 2 lights green OK!!... and Kwifimanager detect it OK.. have signal.. However, the problem that i have is that I can not connect .

First, i just started kwifimanager, and try to scan... i couldn see any network, i just enterd my SSID and My wep encription Key and then no prob. It conected .. strong sign. But no IP !!...

Then.. i did what you said .. I give an IP to the nectwork card with ifconfig... but same situation.. the card stablish the wep connection (i gues.. green ligth indicators in anthena sign.) but no internet conection!

My router is NETGEAR also, is a/b/g .. i also try in my g network.. the same happens, the card is made in China!!!...

Here I give you more info>

[root@localhost srios]# iwlist scanning
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.

eth0 Interface doesn't support scanning.

Warning: Driver for device ath0 has been compiled with version 18
of Wireless Extension, while this program supports up to version 17.
Some things may be broken...

ath0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:0F:B5:0B:91:B8
ESSID:"NETGEAR_11a"
Mode:Master
Frequency:5.18 GHz (Channel 36)
Quality=54/94 Signal level=-41 dBm Noise level=-95 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rate:6 Mb/s
Bit Rate:9 Mb/s
Bit Rate:12 Mb/s
Bit Rate:18 Mb/s
Bit Rate:24 Mb/s
Bit Rate:36 Mb/s
Bit Rate:48 Mb/s
Bit Rate:54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100

sit0 Interface doesn't support scanning.


Thanks for your time!
Sebastian