Wireless wi-fi dongle

Oh dear.
No recommendations, even after 2 weeks.
Sigh.

You sort of answered your own question. A service tech will vastly exceed the cost wi-fi dongle.

This inexpensive USB dongle works in Ubuntu 16.04 without the need for additional drivers and is available locally : http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX32454

Cheers,
Randall.

I plugged it in. Nothing happened.

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 006: ID 2357:0107
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c52f Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:2100 Suyin Corp. Sony Visual Communication Camera
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$

Under -> Settings -> Network I see my wired connection, I see the onboard wireless which I can't activate because it has been physically switched off, and Network Proxy.

Maybe https://askubuntu.com/questions/817847/tp-link-wn821n-23570107-not-working-with-ubuntu-16-04 helps.

Hi Manfred,

Here's the terminal session.

Still not working. See errors below in bold.

I really appreciate your help Manfred. I've been spinning in circles for months around this issue and this is the third dongle I've tried. When Randall recommended this one as basically plug and play I was a happy camper.

Thanks

Randy

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ sudo apt-get purge rtlwifi-new-dkms
[sudo] password for mentor:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package rtlwifi-new-dkms

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ sudo apt-get install rtl8192eu-dkms
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package rtl8192eu-dkms

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hanipouspilot/rtlwifi
 This is ppa for Realtek drivers from Larry Finger's github.

rtl8192eu is packaged from the Realtek site with some compat patches.
 More info: https://launchpad.net/~hanipouspilot/+archive/ubuntu/rtlwifi
Press [ENTER] to continue or ctrl-c to cancel adding it

gpg: keyring `/tmp/tmpwinigoow/secring.gpg' created
gpg: keyring `/tmp/tmpwinigoow/pubring.gpg' created
gpg: requesting key 2F22E44A from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: /tmp/tmpwinigoow/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created
gpg: key 2F22E44A: public key "Launchpad PPA for Pilot6" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg: imported: 1 (RSA: 1)
OK

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ sudo apt-get update
Ign:1 http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable InRelease
Hit:2 http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable Release
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease [102 kB]
Hit:4 https://repo.skype.com/deb stable InRelease
Get:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/hanipouspilot/rtlwifi/ubuntu xenial InRelease [18.1 kB]
Hit:7 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Get:8 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease [102 kB]
Hit:9 http://repository.spotify.com stable InRelease
Hit:10 http://ppa.launchpad.net/slgobinath/safeeyes/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Hit:11 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Get:12 http://ppa.launchpad.net/hanipouspilot/rtlwifi/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages [748 B]
Get:13 http://ppa.launchpad.net/hanipouspilot/rtlwifi/ubuntu xenial/main i386 Packages [748 B]
Get:14 http://ppa.launchpad.net/hanipouspilot/rtlwifi/ubuntu xenial/main Translation-en [256 B]
Get:15 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease [102 kB]
Get:16 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 Packages [578 kB]
Get:17 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main i386 Packages [559 kB]
Get:18 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe amd64 Packages [504 kB]
Get:19 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe i386 Packages [488 kB]
Fetched 2,455 kB in 2s (1,101 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ sudo apt-get install rtl8192eu-dkms
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  guile-2.0 libaqbanking-data libaqbanking35 libaqbanking35-plugins
  libaqebics0 libaqhbci22 libaqofxconnect7 libclass-singleton-perl
  libdate-manip-perl libdatetime-locale-perl libdatetime-perl
  libdatetime-timezone-perl libdbi1 libfinance-quote-perl libgoffice-0.8-8
  libgoffice-0.8-8-common libgwengui-gtk2-0 libgwenhywfar-data libgwenhywfar60
  libhtml-tableextract-perl libjavascriptcoregtk-1.0-0 libjs-jquery
  libktoblzcheck1v5 libmodule-implementation-perl libmodule-runtime-perl
  libofx6 libosp5 libparams-classify-perl libparams-validate-perl
  libtry-tiny-perl libwebkitgtk-1.0-0 libwebkitgtk-1.0-common libxmlsec1
  linux-headers-4.8.0-54 linux-headers-4.8.0-54-generic
  linux-image-4.8.0-54-generic linux-image-extra-4.8.0-54-generic
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  rtl8192eu-dkms
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 43 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,190 kB of archives.
After this operation, 10.3 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://ppa.launchpad.net/hanipouspilot/rtlwifi/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 rtl8192eu-dkms all 4.4 [1,190 kB]
Fetched 1,190 kB in 2s (564 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package rtl8192eu-dkms.
(Reading database ... 326917 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../rtl8192eu-dkms_4.4_all.deb ...
Unpacking rtl8192eu-dkms (4.4) ...
Setting up rtl8192eu-dkms (4.4) ...
Loading new rtl8192eu-4.4 DKMS files...
First Installation: checking all kernels...
Building only for 4.8.0-58-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 4.8.0-58-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 4.8.0-58-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/make.log for more information.

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 2357:0107
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c52f Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:2100 Suyin Corp. Sony Visual Communication Camera
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

____________________________________________________

On 2017-07-18 12:04 AM, Manfred Hampl wrote:

Your question #645282 on Ubuntu Vancouver Technical Support changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu-vancouver-loco-tech-support/+question/645282

    Status: Open => Answered

Manfred Hampl proposed the following answer:
Maybe https://askubuntu.com/questions/817847/tp-link-wn821n-23570107
-not-working-with-ubuntu-16-04 helps.

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ uname -a
Linux SonyViaoVPCF119GS 4.8.0-58-generic #63~16.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Mon Jun 26 18:08:51 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

"...
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 4.8.0-58-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/make.log for more information.
..."

What error details are there in the make.log file?

Hi again,

Thanks for your help. But I think I have to look under the hood...see
below for rfkill list

make.log

DKMS make.log for rtl8192eu-4.4 for kernel 4.8.0-58-generic (x86_64)
Wed Jul 19 08:31:13 PDT 2017
make ARCH=x86_64 CROSS_COMPILE= -C /lib/modules/4.8.0-58-generic/build
M=/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-4.8.0-58-generic'
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_cmd.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_security.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_debug.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_io.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_ioctl_query.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_ioctl_set.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_ieee80211.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_mlme.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_mlme_ext.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_wlan_util.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_vht.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_pwrctrl.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_rf.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_recv.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_sta_mgt.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_ap.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_xmit.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_p2p.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_tdls.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_br_ext.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_iol.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_sreset.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_btcoex.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_beamforming.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/rtw_odm.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/core/efuse/rtw_efuse.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/osdep_service.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/os_intfs.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/usb_intf.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/usb_ops_linux.o
   CC [M] /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/ioctl_linux.o
/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/ioctl_linux.c: In
function ‘rtw_ioctl_wext_private’:
/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/ioctl_linux.c:15716:5:
error: implicit declaration of function ‘is_compat_task’
[-Werror=implicit-function-declaration]
   if(is_compat_task())
      ^
cc1: some warnings being treated as errors
scripts/Makefile.build:289: recipe for target
'/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/ioctl_linux.o' failed
make[2]: ***
[/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/os_dep/linux/ioctl_linux.o] Error 1
Makefile:1491: recipe for target
'_module_/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build' failed
make[1]: *** [_module_/var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-4.8.0-58-generic'
Makefile:1685: recipe for target 'modules' failed
make: *** [modules] Error 2

Alas, we believe the issue is hardware. Sat with Kim tonight at Free
Geek and he played around a bit.

mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$ rfkill list
0: sony-wifi: Wireless LAN
     Soft blocked: no
     Hard blocked: yes
1: sony-bluetooth: Bluetooth
     Soft blocked: no
     Hard blocked: yes
2: phy0: Wireless LAN
     Soft blocked: no
     Hard blocked: yes
mentor@SonyViaoVPCF119GS:~$

The wifi dongle was also plugged in and showed as hardware blocked.

I'll be going to the Hackery I guess. Perhaps they can reconnect the
internal hardware switch which seems to be the source of the wifi woos.

Thanks for your help.

Randy

On 2017-07-19 09:05 AM, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #645282 on Ubuntu Vancouver Technical Support changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu-vancouver-loco-tech-support/+question/645282
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> "...
> Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 4.8.0-58-generic (x86_64)
> Consult /var/lib/dkms/rtl8192eu/4.4/build/make.log for more information.
> ..."
>
> What error details are there in the make.log file?
>

The compilation error has been experienced also by other persons and it has already been reported as Bug #1637059

If the root cause is a problem with the hardware switch, then I do not see any possibility to repair it by software.