Tl-wn722n on Backtrack 5 problem

[gnorr]

Hello everyone, I am new both to Linux and Backtrack so I apologise if I am missing something obvious regarding my problem. I am glad that there is a forum like this to help us =)

I am having trouble with the tl-wn722n wireless usb adapter. For some reason the device is labelled as unresponsive, as the log below shows:

(dmesg)
[ 280.332694] usb 2-4: USB disconnect, device number 3
[ 280.386825] usb 2-4: ath9k_htc: USB layer deinitialized
[ 280.628182] usb 2-4: new high-speed USB device number 4 using ehci_hcd
[ 281.032431] hub 2-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 4
[ 281.424175] usb 6-2: new full-speed USB device number 2 using uhci_hcd
[ 281.590289] usb 6-2: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
[ 281.991291] usb 6-2: ath9k_htc: Transferred FW: htc_9271.fw, size: 51272
[ 282.992167] ath9k_htc 6-2:1.0: ath9k_htc: Target is unresponsive
[ 282.992182] Failed to initialize the device
[ 283.065385] ath9k_htc: probe of 6-2:1.0 failed with error -22

My internal adapter is working fine:

root@bt:~# ifconfig
lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:79 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:79 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:20509 (20.5 KB) TX bytes:20509 (20.5 KB)

wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:3d:5c:8b:xx:xx
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:5 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:11 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:1424 (1.4 KB) TX bytes:2098 (2.0 KB)


And Tl-wn722n is correctly plugged:

root@bt:~# lsusb
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 0cf3:9271 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR9271 802.11n
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 04f2:b016 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd VGA 30fps UVC Webcam
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

I have backtrack installed on my pc, and I have tried with several versions (gnome, kde, 32 and 64 bit) although I know that this was futile perhaps, I also tried powering the computer with the adapter already in place, and other methods, like rebooting. I also tried reinstalling the latest drivers, although backtrack 5r3 was fully was fully up to date regarding the drivers.

I also know that the problem does not come from either the adapter or backtrack as I have tried it on another computer running backtrack.

Could the problem be from the usb port? The fact is that I only have one working usb port left in this computer, as the other ones are broken. If that's the case, do you think it is worth it to try installing windows and see if the device works?

I really appreciate your help in solving this issue, thank you.

[maverik35]

Download the compat-driver (used to be compat-wireless) from here: https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/ker...s/stable/v3.8/

You can pick any of them, I suggest to download the .tar.gz file. But again, any will do it.

I recommend you to install linux headers before installing it: http://www.backtrack-linux.org/wiki/...Kernel_Headers

Unpack the tar.gz file and install it.

Your device has a atheros chipset athk9 (atheros 9271) and it requires a firmware besides the driver ath9k_htc which is by the way included in compat-driver package. Download firmware, look for the htc_9271.fw here: http://wireless.kernel.org/download/htc_fw/1.3/

Install it..

Then disconnect UBS wifi device, reboot and after startx, connect USB wifi and start wicd..It should see it...

Luck.

[gnorr]

Thank you for your help maverik, I actually had already tried that method in my searched to try and solve this issue, and it still didn't work. Nonetheless, I tried it again with your specifications, but unfortunately it remains the same.


Edit: To confirm if it was in fact a hardware problem I installed windows 7 and after installing the adapter's drivers it worked like a charm, so I guess it isn't a hardware problem :S I'm using a hp pavillion dv2700, what do you think could be the issue?

[maverik35]

Please post the output of dmesg...

We can try something else, but need to know if you will keep trying or you decided to let go..

The compat-drivers staes the chipset is supported, but again, we can try something else..

[gnorr]

I am please to say that by chance I have found the solution for my problem: It seems that when I plug the adapter through a cheap usb hub that I just bought it works fine! Strange! And the irony of it is that I bought this device for better signalling and my stone age internal wireless adapter gets better signal than the Tl-wn722n "high gain" adapter. Anyway, it's a bit uncomfortable to walk around with a usb hub, so in case you have a theory of why a direct plug doesn't seem to work I would be glad to hear it, and here it is my dmesg log of a direct usb plug in.


[ 280.332694] usb 2-4: USB disconnect, device number 3
[ 280.386825] usb 2-4: ath9k_htc: USB layer deinitialized
[ 280.628182] usb 2-4: new high-speed USB device number 4 using ehci_hcd
[ 281.032431] hub 2-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 4
[ 281.424175] usb 6-2: new full-speed USB device number 2 using uhci_hcd
[ 281.590289] usb 6-2: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
[ 281.991291] usb 6-2: ath9k_htc: Transferred FW: htc_9271.fw, size: 51272
[ 282.992167] ath9k_htc 6-2:1.0: ath9k_htc: Target is unresponsive
[ 282.992182] Failed to initialize the device
[ 283.065385] ath9k_htc: probe of 6-2:1.0 failed with error -22

Thank you

[maverik35]

It seems to me like it is a problem with kernel version and compat-driver..But you can walk around with the hub..The other method I mentioned before has to do with versions, but I'll step aside since you want to walk around wit hub..

Luck.

[gnorr]

Actually, If you don't mind sharing I would like to hear your method very much, because it's not very practical to walk around with the hub.