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Atheros AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213, AR5414, AR242x wireless devices (ath5k)

This page describes how to enable support for Atheros AR5xxx wireless chipsets using the ath5k driver on Debian systems.

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ath5k is a module for Atheros AR5xxx wireless LAN chipsets.

Unlike the [:WiFi/ath pci:?MadWifi] driver, ath5k does not require a binary HAL (hardware abstraction layer) for its use. No firmware is required to be loaded from userspace. It is a completely free and open-source driver.

Missing Features

As stated?FootNote(http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ath5k#features) on the Linux Wireless ath5k driver page:

If required, the above features are available in the [:WiFi/ath pci:?MadWifi] driver.

Known Issues

The ath5k driver is in a constant state of development, with varying levels of support for chipsets depending on their age.

In particular, the newer AR242x chipset (found on the Acer emachines D620 laptop, among others) suffers from a "noise floor calibration timeout" bug, which means the wireless may not function after installing Lenny RC2. The bug is fixed in 2.6.28.1, but you will have to compile an up-to-date kernel yourself until one becomes available in Sid.

Installation

ath5k is included in the mainline Linux kernel since 2.6.25. It is present in Debian kernel images since 2.6.24.

Switching from MadWifi to ath5k

The following section can be [#configuration skipped] if [:WiFi/ath pci:?MadWifi] was not previously used.

?Anchor(configuration)

Configuration

  1. Install the wireless-tools package:

    aptitude update
    aptitude install wireless-tools
  2. The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:

    modprobe ath5k
  3. Verify your device has an available interface:
    iwconfig
  4. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:
    ifconfig wlan0 up
  5. [:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.

Supported Devices

Devices containing Atheros AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213 or AR5414 chipsets are supported by ath5k:

The following list is based on the alias fields of  modinfo ath5k on Lenny.

See Also


CategoryHardware


ToDo: Move ath5k-specific content from ["DebianEeePC/HowTo/UseUpstreamAtherosModules"] to here?