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RT73 wireless devices

This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on the Ralink RT73 chipset on Debian systems. ?TableOfContents(4)

Drivers

The Ralink RT73 (RT2571W) USB wireless LAN chipset is supported by three native drivers:

• [http://www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Linux.html rt73] (Legacy driver)

  • Released by Ralink under the GPL.
  • Not generally recommended for use.
• [#rt73 rt73] (Enhanced legacy driver)

  • Source provided by the rt73-source package.

• [#rt73usb rt73usb] (Next-generation driver)
  • The recommended driver to use.
  • Included in the mainline kernel starting from 2.6.24.

  • Source previously packaged in rt2x00-source, removed from Debian to resolve bug 474189.

Both the enhanced legacy and next-generation drivers are maintained by the [http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/ rt2x00 project]. An incomplete list of [#supported-devices supported devices] is listed at the end of this page.

All drivers require non-free firmware for their operation. This can be provided by the firmware-ralink package.

Installation

?Anchor(rt73usb)

rt73usb (next-generation driver)

?Anchor(rt73usb-etch2.6.18)

Etch with 2.6.18 kernel

Although an etch/rt2x00-source package is available, this version is considered experimental and only supports a small number of devices. The devices which are supported are likely to encounter issues.

It is highly recommended to use an [:EtchAndAHalf:] kernel image, which will provide your system with an updated rt73usb driver included as part of the kernel. You will not need to use etch/rt2x00-source.

Install an [:EtchAndAHalf:] kernel image (apt-cache search linux-image-2.6.24-etchnhalf and install a package appropriate for your system), restart your system to boot using this kernel, then follow the [#rt73usb-etch2.6.24 Etch with 2.6.24 kernel] procedure below.

?Anchor(rt73usb-etch2.6.24)

Etch with 2.6.24 kernel

As drivers from the rt2x00 project are included in the mainline kernel, the rt73usb driver is present on your system. Firmware is required to be installed prior to driver operation:

1. Install the etch/wireless-tools package:

   aptitude update
   aptitude install wireless-tools

2. Add the [:Backports:Debian Backports] repository to /etc/apt/sources.list, also including the "non-free" component. For example:

   # Backported packages for Debian Etch
   deb http://www.backports.org/debian etch-backports main contrib non-free

3. Install the etch-backports/debian-backports-keyring package:

   aptitude update
   aptitude -t etch-backports install debian-backports-keyring

   As your system does not yet have the GnuPG archive key of the backports.org repository installed, you will be asked to confirm installation of a package from an untrusted repository. Enter Yes when prompted.

4. Install the etch-backports/firmware-ralink package:

   aptitude -t etch-backports install firmware-ralink

5. The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:

   modprobe rt73usb

   If not already performed, connect the device to your system.

6. Verify your device has an available interface:

   iwconfig

7. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

   ifconfig wlan0 up

8. [:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.

?Anchor(rt73usb-lenny)

Lenny

As drivers from the rt2x00 project are included in the mainline kernel, the rt73usb driver is present on your system. Firmware is required to be installed prior to driver operation:

1. Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:

   # Debian Lenny
   deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian lenny main contrib non-free

2. Install the firmware-ralink and wireless-tools packages:

   aptitude install firmware-ralink wireless-tools

3. The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:

   modprobe rt73usb

   If not already performed, connect the device to your system.

4. Verify your device has an available interface:

   iwconfig

5. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

   ifconfig wlan0 up

6. [:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.

?Anchor(rt73)

rt73 (enhanced legacy driver)

Etch

You are required to acquire and compile the rt2x00 sources, as these are not packaged. This procedure is documented at the rt2x00 project's website: http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/index.php?title=Rt2x00_GIT_instructions

Lenny

While use of the [#rt73usb-lenny next-generation driver] is preferred, the enhanced legacy driver can alternatively be used. This is available as a pre-built module packages made against Debian stock kernels, but can also be generated on your system via [:ModuleAssistant: module-assistant].

Pre-Built Module

1. Add "contrib" and "non-free" components to /etc/apt/sources.list. For example:

   # Debian Lenny
   deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian lenny main contrib non-free

2. Install the firmware-ralink, rt73-common, the relevant enhanced legacy module and wireless-tools packages:

   aptitude install firmware-ralink rt73-common rt73-modules-$(uname -r) wireless-tools

3. Load the enhanced legacy driver:

   modprobe rt73

   This module will be automatically loaded when your system is restarted and the device is inserted. If not already performed, connect the device to your system.

4. Verify your device has an available interface:

   iwconfig

5. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

   ifconfig wlan0 up

6. [:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.

Module Assistant

1. Add "contrib" and "non-free" components to /etc/apt/sources.list. For example:

   # Debian Lenny
   deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian lenny main contrib non-free

2. Install the firmware-ralink, module-assistant, rt73-common and wireless-tools packages:

   aptitude install firmware-ralink module-assistant rt73-common wireless-tools

3. Build and install a rt73-modules-* package within your system:

   m-a prepare
   m-a a-i rt73

4. Load the enhanced legacy driver:

   modprobe rt73

   This module will be automatically loaded when your system is restarted and the device is inserted. If not already performed, connect the device to your system.

5. Verify your device has an available interface:

   iwconfig

6. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

   ifconfig wlan0 up

7. [:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.

?Anchor(supported-devices)

Supported devices

The following list is incomplete.

• Asus WL-167g v2

• Belkin F5D7050 Ver 3

• D-Link DWL-G122 (new rev)
• Digitus DN-7003GR (VPR 1.0)
• Edimax EW-7318USg
• GW-US54HP
• Hawking HWUG1
• Linksys WUSB54 x
• Sitecom WL113 v1-002

See Also

• [:WiFi/HowToUse: How To use Wifi network adapter]

• [http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/] - enhanced legacy and next-generation driver homepage.

CategoryHardware