Ubuntu Unleashed

Basically the Belkin USB adapter aka "rt73" driver was a big pain in the ass when I first installed ubuntu, the thing is, it really isnt hard at all. Here is what I do, everytime I install ubuntu or compile another kernel.

Things you need
1. Ubuntu installed with usb adapter unplugged, yes unplugged!
2. Linux kernel headers from synaptic it looks like /linux-headers-*kernel version*
3. Build-essential packages from synaptic or apt-get build-essential
4. Rt73 Serialmonkey Drivers.
5. I dont like network-manager-gnome, it doesnt work properly with our card so I removed it, it may conflict with your setup. I use Rutilt and I supplied the latest Rutilt v0.15 in .deb made with check install later in this post.

This is all you do

wget http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/rt73-cvs-daily.tar.gz

tar zxvf rt73-cvs-daily.tar.gz

cd rt73* <-- extracted dir
cd M* <-- Modules dir
make
strip -S rt73.ko
make install
echo rt73 >>/etc/modules



Now Plug in your Belkin USB dongle.

modprobe rt73

Then type iwconfig and it will be listed as wlan0 or wlan*

If you do not know how to setup your /etc/network/interfaces file you can use a utility called Rutilt which I use to replace gnome-network-manager

How to install Rutilt

wget http://io.storm.googlepages.com/rutiltv0.15_20070805-1_i386.deb

dpkg -i rutiltv0.15_20070805-1_i386.deb

Press Alt F2 after install and type in rutilt to run this, u can add this to gnome-session-properties for autostart

If for some reason this .deb doesnt work for you grab rutilt src from
http://cbbk.free.fr/bonrom/

Examples How to properly setup /etc/network/interfaces for WPA with your Belink USB:

# WORKING STATIC AES/WPA CONFIG
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 192.168.2.3
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.2.1
pre-up ifconfig wlan0 down
pre-up macchanger -A wlan0 # this changes my mac every time I connect to sp00f wifi networks
pre-up ifconfig wlan0 up
pre-up iwconfig wlan0 essid MYROUTERNAMEHERE
pre-up iwconfig wlan0 mode managed
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set Channel=11 #channel where Access point is set, can be set to "auto"
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set AuthMode=WPAPSK
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set EncrypType=AES
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set WPAPSK="wpa password from wpa_passphrase"
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set TxRate=0
mtu 1454

# WORKING DYNAMIC AES/WPA CONFIG
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
pre-up ifconfig wlan0 up
pre-up iwconfig wlan0 essid MYROUTERNAMEHERE
pre-up iwconfig wlan0 mode managed
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set Channel=11 #channel where Access point is set, can be set to "auto"
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set AuthMode=WPAPSK
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set EncrypType=AES
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set WPAPSK=Password_from_wpa_passphrase_via_cmd_line
pre-up iwpriv wlan0 set TxRate=0
mtu 1454

# static configuration for static belkins wep
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 192.168.2.3
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.2.1
wireless-essid ROUTERER ESSID
wireless-key yourhexkeyhere

# dynamic working config for dynamic belkins wep
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wireless-essid ESSID
wireless-key hexkeyhere