Ubuntu 9.10 on Xplora E16... wireless internet? Help!!!!! [Archive]

rach

13-11-2009, 12:25 PM

Hi

I have just bought this laptop (Xplora E16) and install Ubuntu 9.10 onto it and everything works except the wireless Internet!! Can anyone help me to solve this problem? Because my partner (who normally helps me with this stuff) has just moved to China and I need my wireless to work so I can speak to him!!!!

would be very grateful for any advise/suggestions!!

Thanks,
Rach

norm.h

13-11-2009, 02:13 PM

Have a look at this thread: http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15068
Read the last two sentences of the procedure first, then it'll make sense!
BTW your machine is 64 bit.
As a matter of interest, did it come without an operating system, or are you dual booting?
norm

rach

14-11-2009, 08:29 AM

norm.h

14-11-2009, 09:41 AM

norm.h

14-11-2009, 10:09 AM

Hi
I have just bought this laptop (Xplora E16) and install Ubuntu 9.10 onto it and everything works except the wireless Internet!! Can anyone help me to solve this problem?
Would be very grateful for any advise/suggestions!!Thanks,Rach

Just a thought.
Is it feasible, as a temporary measure, to hard wire your laptop to your router, or are you already doing that?
norm

mrgoose

15-11-2009, 08:26 PM

Thank you for the link, although I am still struggling a bit.... I got to stage 5, but when it came to "Copy the downloaded driver to somewhere sensible" it lost me!! I couldn't copy it as suggested and I have no idea what "cd" means!!! would you be willing to translate/explain it in more detail?!

And it did come without an operating system as it worked out cheaper!!
rach
@ rach, please try my suggestions towards the end of page 1 of ndp's thread on the subject. I think that will fix your problem. Apologies for incorrectly referring to you as the o/p in that thread. I forgot that wasn't actually your thread - I get confused in my old age!

Nevertheless, I think my proposed solution might help you:-

http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showpost.php?p=208517&postcount=10

Best wishes, G.

rach

16-11-2009, 11:03 AM

Thank you for your help norm. I've got it working now. I have another problem now though, the webcam and microphone wont work.... this is getting ridiculous!!!

norm.h

16-11-2009, 11:48 AM

Thank you for your help norm. I've got it working now. I have another problem now though, the webcam and microphone wont work.... this is getting ridiculous!!!

Have a look in your sound settings to see if anything's muted.

What program are you trying to use the webcam on?
I use Skype..
Go to their website and download the Linux version
In Skype options, choose video devices, make sure the webcam is selected and test it there.
I've got the same machine and you, and it works OK
Good Luck
norm

mrgoose

16-11-2009, 01:29 PM

Sound: this is easy...
Select the System|Preferences|Sound menu item. Select Input tab, select Microphone 2 (assuming you want the built-in mic) and turn the volume up a bit. You'll notice there is a sound level meter there to test your sound levels. :thumbs:

Webcam: a bit more complex...
Strangely, this seems to work "out of the box" with the Xplora 16 - I bought one for my mum a couple of weeks ago and tried it. But doesn't seem to work with the more expensive X16 models - like the one I just bought for myself! Seems most webcams are supported by V4L (Video for Linux) and this one should work too - I can't quite see why it doesn't

This may take some time to sort because I don't use built in cams and this is not really my area of expertise anyway. FWIW, I use a small USB camera I bought for five quid in Hong Kong a couple of years ago - which works fine on all modern Linux boxes including the X16. This means that as a stop-gap, you might be able to use a generic USB cam if you have one lying around somewhere? Meantime I will look into this and get back to you if I discover anything useful.

Best wishes, G.

PS @ Norm. If you use Skype, the latest Ubuntu-friendly version tends to live in the Medibuntu repositories, along with loads of other good multimedia stuff. To get it (and include the Medibuntu repositories in your system if you haven't already done so) please see:-

How to make Ubuntu play copy-protected DVD's and... (http://www.garfnet.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126:how-to-make-kubuntu-play-copy-protected-dvds-and&catid=19:technology&Itemid=58)

This is dead easy to do, it only takes a few minutes to set up and it is well worth the effort!

norm.h

16-11-2009, 06:44 PM

[quote=mrgoose;208830]
PS @ Norm. If you use Skype, the latest Ubuntu-friendly version tends to live in the Medibuntu repositories, along with loads of other good multimedia stuff. To get it (and include the Medibuntu repositories in your system if you haven't already done so) please see:-

I know this is going off topic somewhat, perhaps I should have started a new thread, but here goes anyway.
I do have the Medibuntu repo. selected in my Synaptic repo. settings, but Synaptic only shows the 2.0.0.72 version installed (see below).
It doesn't show any more recent version being avalable.
When I tried to install Skype version 2.1 on my E16 (running 9.04) after downloading it from Skype's website I got this:
"Error dependency is not satisfiable: libqt4-dbus (>=4.4.3)"
No way could I find the 2.0.0.72 version to download, (it kept defaulting to the new version) so I copied it from my desktop which installed OK.
Could this be another problem if I upgrade the laptop to 9.10?
norm

mrgoose

16-11-2009, 08:57 PM

That's what one would expect Norm. Ubuntu 9.10 runs the later Skype whereas 9.04 expects the earlier version. If you think about it, yours is a problem that should actually go away, if you upgrade to 9.10.

FWIW, the X-series lappies I bought recently are both running Skype 2.1.0.47, from Medibuntu, on Ubuntu 9.10.

Also, technically 9.04 is no longer supported so you really should be considering an upgrade at some point anyway. I have to add, these lappies run very happily indeed on 9.10 - rather better than 9.04 IMHO.

Best wishes, Garf.

mrgoose

16-11-2009, 09:32 PM

norm.h

17-11-2009, 04:18 PM

@ Rach.
I think I cracked your webcam problem. Well, actually, folks much cleverer than I did the hard work. But I have posted instructions here (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showpost.php?p=209045&postcount=4). It's a bit long-winded I'm afraid. But when it's done it works really well.I'm off to do some video Skyping now! :-)Best wishes, G.

Webcam: a bit more complex...
Strangely, this seems to work "out of the box" with the Xplora 16 - I bought one for my mum a couple of weeks ago and tried it. But doesn't seem to work with the more expensive X16 models - like the one I just bought for myself! Seems most webcams are supported by V4L (Video for Linux) and this one should work too - I can't quite see why it doesn't

Hi, G
Rach has the same lappie as I do, the E16. (see OP)
Your solution APPEARS to be for the X16 models, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
I didn't have to do any of that running 9.04 on my E16, or is it yet another of the 9.10 difficulties?
Have 9.04 updates stopped altogether?
What is FWIW? (excuse my ignorance, please)
norm

mrgoose

17-11-2009, 04:39 PM

Hi, G
I didn't have to do any of that running 9.04 on my E16.
Is it yet another of the 9.10 difficulties?
Have 9.04 updates stopped altogether?
What is FWIW? (excuse my ignorance, please)
norm
The webcam on the Xplora E16 works of the box with 9.10. Ditto the graphics card. The problems occur with the more expensive X16's - these use more sophisticated hardware.

When I put 9.10 on my mum's Xplora E16, the only thing I had to deal with was the wireless. As you know 9.10 supports the native Linux wireless driver. That is dead easy to install and it works really well.

Version 9.04 and 9.10 are not LTS (long term support) editions. This means that they are only current until the next version arrives. Whilst there is an overlap of about twelve months, during which time minor upgrades & security patches are still available, non-LTS editions are intended to be upgraded reasonably shortly after expiry. That is to say, stable releases of Ubuntu are intended to be precisely that, stable.

Let's put it another way. You are not doing anything intrinsically wrong by hanging on to your 9.04 for another year. But on a new bit of kit such as your E16, you may find that support for its hardware (or key pieces of software) relies on a later version of Ubuntu than the one you are currently running.

OK. Grab yourself a beer and have a browse through these at your leisure - it's the perfect excuse to put your feet up for half an hour whilst telling the missus it's actually for her benefit ;)
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/ubuntu/release-cycle
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDevelopment/ReleaseProcess
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates

FWIW=For what its worth.

Hope this helps, best wishes, G.

norm.h

17-11-2009, 06:22 PM

The webcam on the Xplora E16 works of the box with 9.10. The problems occur with the more expensive X16's - these use more sophisticated hardware. Hope this helps, best wishes, G.

Why then doesn't rach's webcam work out of the box?
I think I must have edited my previous post while you were considering the first draft. Sorry for that!
Also, looking at the Ubuntu forums, 9.10 still appears to be anything but stable so I'm VERY reluctant to try upgrading (or a clean install) on my home built desktop, also running 9.04.

"OK. Grab yourself a beer and have a browse through these at your leisure - it's the perfect excuse to put your feet up for half an hour whilst telling the missus it's actually for her benefit ;)"

Good idea. I like your style, but I'd rather a rum and coke!
norm

mrgoose

17-11-2009, 07:01 PM

Why then doesn't rach's webcam work out of the box?
I think I must have edited my previous post while you were considering the first draft. Sorry for that!
Also, looking at the Ubuntu forums, 9.10 still appears to be anything but stable so I'm VERY reluctant to try upgrading (or a clean install) on my home built desktop, also running 9.04.

"OK. Grab yourself a beer and have a browse through these at your leisure - it's the perfect excuse to put your feet up for half an hour whilst telling the missus it's actually for her benefit ;)"

Good idea. I like your style, but I'd rather a rum and coke!
norm
Rum'n'coke it is then! But you must remember to look busy otherwise she might think you are loafing.:)

Good point re Rach's cam. Perhaps her hardware is subtly different? I was surprised hers didn't work when my mum's did. Presumably yours is working? I'll take a closer look at my mum's E16 next time I see her. But out of interest could you open a terminal on the machine and do a:-

dmesg | grep video

and a:-

lsusb

and post the results please?

Best wishes, G

P.s. Perhaps someone @ Novatech who assembles these machines might care to shed some light on the matter?

norm.h

17-11-2009, 07:44 PM

Good point re Rach's cam. Perhaps her hardware is subtly different? I was surprised hers didn't work when my mum's did. Presumably yours is working?
But out of interest could you open a terminal on the machine and do a:-
dmesg | grep video and a:-lsusb and post the results please?

norm@Novatech:~$ dmesg | grep video
[ 0.463397] pci 0000:01:05.0: Boot video device
[ 9.339709] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
[ 9.683103] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device USB2.0 Camera (5986:0200)
[ 9.847867] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo

norm@Novatech:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 5986:0200 Acer, Inc
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
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 002 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 003 Device 002: ID 15d9:0a4d
norm@Novatech:~$

Don't forget my (wife's) lappie is running 9.04, but yes, the webcam worked "out of the box"

norm

norm.h

19-11-2009, 01:44 PM

@ mrgoose
Just in case you missed it, these are the results you asked for:

norm@Novatech:~$ dmesg | grep video
[ 0.463397] pci 0000:01:05.0: Boot video device
[ 9.339709] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
[ 9.683103] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device USB2.0 Camera (5986:0200)
[ 9.847867] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo

norm@Novatech:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 5986:0200 Acer, Inc
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
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 002 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 003 Device 002: ID 15d9:0a4d
norm@Novatech:~$

Don't forget my (wife's) lappie is running 9.04, but yes, the webcam worked "out of the box"
norm

mrgoose

19-11-2009, 02:45 PM

Cheers norm. Much appreciated. Well you shown me yours. So I better show you mine. :D

dmesg | grep video

[ 0.633360] pci 0000:01:00.0: Boot video device
[ 8.207929] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
[ 8.244769] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device BisonCam, NB Pro (5986:0241)
[ 8.248362] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo

lsusb

Bus 002 Device 011: ID 4146:ba65 USBest Technology
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 5986:0241 Acer, Inc
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0bda:8189 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187B Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Adapter
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 008 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 006 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 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

Note the difference in device ID number.

Yours: uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device USB2.0 Camera (5986:0200)
Mine: uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device BisonCam, NB Pro (5986:0241)

In a nutshell, the evidence indicates that the camera in your machine is slightly different from the camera in mine. I reckon that is the reason that yours (and my mum's) worked out of the box, whilst mine required me to compile a more recent kernel module in order to drive it. It has nothing to do with 9.04 vs 9.10.

I must say, I'd be very interested to hear from someone @ Novatech about these subtle differences.

Meantime, pour yourself another run'n'coke. It seems we solved another mystery! :thumbs:

Best wishes, G.

norm.h

19-11-2009, 04:10 PM

Thanks for your explanation, I learn something almost every day!
(Or should that be "almost learn something every day"?)
But your Mum's is an E16, isn't yours an X16?
As you say, the difference is different webcams in different models.
It'd be interesting to see what Rach's dmesg | grep video shows.
Cheers
norm

mrgoose

19-11-2009, 04:19 PM

Correct mine is an X16 not an E16. But I understand the chassis is the same. Rach's dmesg | grep video would be very interesting to see.

Nice if someone from Novatech would comment too! Hint! Hint! ;)

In any event, I think you are pretty safe to upgrade, if/when the mood or inclination takes you.

Best wishes, G.

rach

19-11-2009, 05:07 PM

Hi guys,

Thanks for your suggestion with the webcam, I haven't had chance to try it yet, as my wireless has stopped working AGAIN! So I can only go online when my flat mate leaves her door open as the router is in her room.....

I have no idea what is going on with my wireless, it worked fine when I first installed the driver, but I turned off the laptop to go to work and when I turned it back on that evening, it wouldn't connect wirelessly..... it tried to load and then a box came up saying "wireless network authentication required" but when I typed in the web key nothing happened, it still wouldn't connect and asked me again. Have I done something wrong?!? why am I having all these problems?! Any suggestions on what to do now? :wall:

Sound: this is easy...
Select the System|Preferences|Sound menu item. Select Input tab, select Microphone 2 (assuming you want the built-in mic) and turn the volume up a bit. You'll notice there is a sound level meter there to test your sound levels. :thumbs:

I had already tried what you suggested with the microphone (i'm not THAT stupid ;)) and it didn't make any difference, the sound bar didn't respond! But I have just tried again and it seems to be working.... so fingers crossed, no more problems with that!!

Last thing I wanted to ask is, what version of Skype are you using? because when I went to download it, there was lots of different ones for Linux.... which one works better with ubuntu 9.10?

Thanks,
rach

mrgoose

19-11-2009, 05:10 PM

Are you typing in a password or a key? They are different and make ALL the difference if you are trying to connect.

Best wishes, G.

EDIT:- WRT skype, use the Medibuntu one I suggested. It is already optimised for Ubuntu. Also if you do it this way, then it automatically updates. Also means you get all the multimedia codecs so you can play copy-protected DVD's, MP3's, Windows media files, etc.

http://www.garfnet.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=58

rach

19-11-2009, 05:16 PM

mrgoose

19-11-2009, 05:22 PM

a key as thats what it asks for - "WEP 40/128-bit Key" so (hoping I'm not going to make myself sound too dense now) I have been typing in the wireless key for the router I'm using.....

It also has an option for a passphrase - "WEP 128-bit Passphrase" which I assume is the password I set up on my wireless when it originally connected.....

Am I doing something wrong here then?

rach
That's the 26 digit hex key, right? Also are you typing it or copying & pasting?

Also how close are you to the router? Seems these lappies have a fairly limited range. Its optimal position seems to be between about 1 & 2 metres away - certainly while you are having problems connecting.

Best wishes, G.

rach

19-11-2009, 05:36 PM

mrgoose

19-11-2009, 06:11 PM

you've lost me...... what is the 26 digit hex key? and where do i find that? The only key i know of is the 13 digit wireless key on the bottom of the router..... and i am typing it in....

i'm about a foot away from it at the moment, but my room is a few meters away from it....

rach
Connecting whilst physically next to the router should be fine. By 1 to 2 metres, I am assuming 1 to 2 metres of air. No walls or other obstructions in the way!

Usually when you set the router's wireless password, it will give you a 26 digit hex key. Hex is a base16 number - a format used a lot in the computing world. You might want to Google it - though don't spend too much time on it.

Some more questions...

Has that "13 digit key" ever worked?
What router are you using?
Can you connect if you temporarily switch off your router's wireless security?

Best wishes, G.