PCMCIA Wireless Card Question

[Tom Connolly]

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. 
>>>> 
>>>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> 
>>>> Tom
>>> 
>>> Based on your email, I will assume that you purchased a compatible
>>> wireless adapter. 
>>> 
>>> 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.
>>> 
>>> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/laptop/x58.html
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 2. Make sure your kernel is configured for your hardware.  You may
>>> have to add devices to your kernel:
>> 
>> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/kernelconfi
>> g.h tml 
>> 
>>> 3. Configure your wireless connection:
>> 
>> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/network-wir
>> ele ss.html 
>> 
>>> Have fun,
>>> 
>>> Andrew Gould
>> 
>> 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. 
>> 
>> Tom
> 
> For the atheros chipset, you'll need to add the following to your
> kernel 
> config file:
> 
> device ath
> device ath_hal
> 
> Since this is your first time recompiling a kernel, you might consider
> the following advice:
> 
> 1. Start with a copy of GENERIC.  Since you're currently running it,
> you 
> know it works.
> 
> 2. Put additions at the bottom of the file so that you can find them
> easily.
> 
> 3. When you comment out unused options or devices, comment them out
> with 
> 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').
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Andrew Gould
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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