Sunday, June 3, 2012

RaspBerry PI - Using a USB Dongle Sagem XG-760N for WiFi connexion

I received my Raspberry Pi 3 days ago and started playing a bit with it.

Being able to connect a WiFi card was really looking mandatory since the beginning.

I had this WiFi USB Dongle "Sagem XG-760N" bundled with my LiveBox (Orange ISP DSL Box) and never used before, but this modele was not showing in the HCL (HardWare Compatibility List now updated on the eLinux WiKi).

I tried to plug it and connect, but i couldn't configure it.

After a few minutes of frustration, I discovered this message in the log that was pointing to the solution :
pi@raspberrypi:~$ dmesg
zd1211rw couldn't load firmware

Fortunately the zd1211 chips that comes with the Sagem dongle is a pretty common chip and here is how to install it :

Prereq : OS Debian "squeeze" SD Card image (debian6-19-04-2012)

Step 1 : Connect the dongle to the Raspberry Pi USB Port

Step 2 : Make sure it is detected using the lsusb shell command
Something similar to this should show up :
pi@raspberrypi:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 079b:0062 Sagem XG-76NA 802.11bg
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9512 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Step 3 : Install the firmware (You should of course be connected first to the internet through ethernet)
pi@raspberrypi:~$ sudo apt-get install zd1211-firmware

Step 4 : Configure your WiFi connexion :

You can configure it manually or with wicd, that take care of every thing for you :

wicd ->

a - Install wicd-curses :
pi@raspberrypi:~$ sudo apt-get install wicd-curses

b - Configure your connexion :
pi@raspberrypi:~$ wicd-curses
Manually -> http://xmeblog.blogspot.fr/2012/06/manually-configuring-wifi-acces-on.html

That's it


And ... One (2) more thing(s) :

It works being connected directly to the Raspberry Pi USB port <- no need for any additional powered USB Hub

This WiFi dongle can work in master mode : You can turn your Raspberry pi into an acces point !!

4 comments:

UpsiPhil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
UpsiPhil said...

great! thanks

Unknown said...

MODEL XG-760 will working well too?

Unknown said...

XG-760A*