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Date:      Thu, 18 Nov 2004 12:28:18 -0700
From:      "Tom Connolly" <tomc@cqg.com>
To:        "'Andrew L. Gould'" <algould@datawok.com>
Cc:        freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   RE: PCMCIA Wireless Card Question
Message-ID:  <03bc01c4cda4$c42ed270$9a11a8c0@d3stomc>
In-Reply-To: <200411181321.58329.algould@datawok.com>

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Andrew L. Gould wrote:
> On Thursday 18 November 2004 12:42 pm, Tom Connolly wrote:
>> Andrew L. Gould wrote:
>>> On Tuesday 16 November 2004 12:30 pm, Tom Connolly wrote:
>>>> Hello List,
>>>> I have just put FreeBSD 5.3 Release on my Dell Latitude C600
>>>> laptop. I wish to go wireless but I'm new to this technology.  I
>>>> have looked through the hardware compatibility notes and have found
>>>> several supported wireless cards.  My question is, what do I have
>>>> to do (ports to install, configuration, etc.) to get the wireless
>>>> connection up and running.=20
>>>>=20
>>>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>>>=20
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>=20
>>>> Tom
>>>=20
>>> Based on your email, I will assume that you purchased a compatible
>>> wireless adapter.=20
>>>=20
>>> 1. Make sure your pccard slots work in FreeBSD 5.3.  There's no use
>>> in struggling with the pccard if the slots don't work.
>>>=20
>>> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/laptop/x58.html
>>>=20
>>>=20
>>> 2. Make sure your kernel is configured for your hardware.  You may
>>> have to add devices to your kernel:
>>=20
>> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/kernelconfi
>> g.h tml=20
>>=20
>>> 3. Configure your wireless connection:
>>=20
>> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/network-wir
>> ele ss.html=20
>>=20
>>> Have fun,
>>>=20
>>> Andrew Gould
>>=20
>> Oops, I guess I missed the top line in the Handbook that I can skip
>> making device nodes since I am using FreeBSD 5.3.  I assume I still
>> have to add the entry for the kernel though.  Is that correct?  Then
>> I assume I have to recompile the kernel which I have never done
>> before. Is this also correct?  Sorry for the remedial questions.  I
>> as still a newbie.=20
>>=20
>> Tom
>=20
> For the atheros chipset, you'll need to add the following to your
> kernel=20
> config file:
>=20
> device ath
> device ath_hal
>=20
> Since this is your first time recompiling a kernel, you might consider
> the following advice:
>=20
> 1. Start with a copy of GENERIC.  Since you're currently running it,
> you=20
> know it works.
>=20
> 2. Put additions at the bottom of the file so that you can find them
> easily.
>=20
> 3. When you comment out unused options or devices, comment them out
> with=20
> a combination of characters so that you can find/reverse your changes
> easily.  For example, rather than simply add a '#' to the front of a
> line, you could add 2 #'s and your initials (in my case, that would be
> '##ag').
>=20
> Good luck,
>=20
> Andrew Gould
> _______________________________________________
> freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list
> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To
> unsubscribe, send any mail to
> "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" =20

Thanks a ton Andrew.  This is very good information.  I also appreciate
you taking the time to explain it to me in very simple terms.  Like I
said, I'm a complete newbie and I need things explained to me like I was
2 years old.  I now have enough confidence to continue.

Regards,
Tom



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