USB Wifi Not Working [Ubuntu 20.04]

[0xdf]

Hello,

We've recently moved, and the desktop my kids use is no longer accessible to ethernet. I've got an old Anewkodi USB Wifi adapter I'm trying to get working.

Based on reading other threads, I've tried adding the multiverse and universe repos, and installing `rtl8812au-dkms` (and rebooting with the USB plugged in), without success. There's no wireless adapter shown in my settings.

Some other command output based on other threads:

root@pumpkinpie:~# lspci |grep Network
root@pumpkinpie:~# lsusb
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0bda:a811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8811AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN Adapter
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 03f0:134a HP, Inc Optical Mouse
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 1c4f:0002 SiGma Micro Keyboard TRACER Gamma Ivory
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 009 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm very comfortable on the command line, and if there are other commands I can run to help diagnose the issue, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[Brickwizard]

Welcome, this is a brand I am not familiar with,
1] which distribution [and build number] are you using]
2] have you checked the wi-fi is enabled in the network connection
3]it may be a desk top but dose it have a hard block on [flight mode]

can you run inxi -Nnz and paste back the results

 

[0xdf]

Welcome, this is a brand I am not familiar with,
1] which distribution [and build number] are you using]
2] have you checked the wi-fi is enabled in the network connection
3]it may be a desk top but dose it have a hard block on [flight mode]

can you run inxi -Nnz and paste back the results

1]

root@pumpkinpie:~# cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=20.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=focal
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS"
root@pumpkinpie:~# uname -a
Linux pumpkinpie 5.15.0-46-generic #49~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Thu Aug 4 19:15:44 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

2] I'm not 100% sure I'm following. If I run `nmtui` and then select "Activate a connection", it only shows the wired connection.

3] The only place I know to look for airplane mode is in the wifi settings, which just show "No Wi-Fi Adapter Found".

Interestingly, I don't have the `inxi` command on my system. When I went to try to install it, there was an error that said to run `dpkg --configure -a`, and that shows this:

root@pumpkinpie:~# sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up rtl8812au-dkms (4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg-0ubuntu13~20.04.4) ...
Removing old rtl8812au-4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg DKMS files...

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Loading new rtl8812au-4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg DKMS files...
Building for 5.15.0-46-generic
Building initial module for 5.15.0-46-generic
Done.

8812au.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - No original module exists within this kernel
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/5.15.0-46-generic/updates/dkms/

depmod.....

DKMS: install completed.
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.9) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ...

After installing `inxi`, here's the result:

root@pumpkinpie:~# inxi -Nnz
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
  driver: r8169
  IF: enp1s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8811AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN Adapter type: USB
  driver: usb-network

Device-1 is the wired connection (really long ethernet cable running through the middle of three rooms, temporary solution only). It seems that the system is seeing the WiFi device as Device-2.

Still, despite the driver re-install, I still don't see a wifi device in the network settings, even after a reboot.

 

[Brickwizard]

well we appear to be half way there, at least It's now being seen. I am on holiday at the moment and internet is sparse, RTL are always a pain in the butt. Do a quick check in the main BIOS just to make sure usb is fully enabled, hopefully one of the lads may pop up with another idea

 

[kc1di]

Still, despite the driver re-install, I still don't see a wifi device in the network settings, even after a reboot.

Make sure secure boot is turned off if it has it.
also what does the output of

rfkill list

have to say?

 

[0xdf]

well we appear to be half way there, at least It's now being seen. I am on holiday at the moment and internet is sparse, RTL are always a pain in the butt. Do a quick check in the main BIOS just to make sure usb is fully enabled, hopefully one of the lads may pop up with another idea

No worries, and thanks for the help so far! I took a look at the BIOS, and everything about USB was enabled (including legacy mode).

Make sure secure boot is turned off if it has it.
also what does the output of

rfkill list

have to say?

No secure boot here.

rfkill list returns nothing.

 

[kc1di]

this ask ubuntu thread may be of help.
Ask Ubuntu

 

[0xdf]

Awesome! Thank you, @kc1di and @Brickwizard! That worked.

For anyone in the same position, the commands that fixed it were (as root):

dkms remove rtl8812au/5.7.0 --all
dkms remove 8812au/5.6.4.2_35491.20191025 --all
dkms remove 8812au/5.9.3.2_37279.20201012 --all
add-apt-repository "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kelebek333/kablosuz/ubuntu focal main"
apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys 23E50C670722A6D9
apt update
apt install rtl8812au-dkms