Completely new to Kubuntu. Newly installed, no WiFi access at all

[hubris]

So I just installed Kubuntu alongside Windows 11. Everything went smoothly until I tried to connect to WiFi. For some reason the networks tab only displays ‘No available connections’. As such, I am unable to install inxi and run the inxi -F command. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Relevant information:
Network controller: MEDIATEK Corp. MT 7902 802.11ax PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [Filogic 310]
obtained from running lspci | grep Network

Kubuntu version 24.04
KDE Plasma version 5.27.12
KDE Frameworks version 5.115.0
Qt version 5.15.13
Kernel version 6.11.0-26-kfocus (64-bit)
Graphics platform X11

From what I do understand I might need to get a WiFi driver? But I’m unsure of the installation process.

[kc1di]

Hello hubris Welcome to the Forum.
We need to know a bit more about your system specifically what wifi card is in it? Then we can direct you to the right setup. If you are not sure what card you have, go to a terminal and copy this command and post the result back here.
sudo lshw -C network

[hubris]

kc1di thank you for replying, here’s the copy pasted result:

*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Network controller
product: MT7902 802.11ax PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [Filogic 310]
vendor: MEDIATEK Corp.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
version: 00
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:d0700000-d07fffff memory:d0800000-d0807fff

[claydoh]

Kernel version 6.11.0-26-kfocus (64-bit)

Is this a Kfocus device?
(I am wondering why they don't have the more current 6.14 kernel that most LTS users will have, or have hardware that doesn't work in Linux)

MT7902 802.11ax PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [Filogic 310]

As far as I can tell, there are no Linux drivers for this specific chip currently, or rather nothing that isn't still very much a WIP

Which is odd, as mediatek WiFi usually works fine in most cases. This one seems to be a cheap and windows-specific chip that no one has reverse engineered or hacked on as of yet.

[hubris]

Is this a Kfocus device?
(I am wondering why they don't have the more current 6.14 kernel that most LTS users will have, or have hardware that doesn't work in Linux)

I assume so? I’m not that sure, how do I check?

As far as I can tell, there are no Linux drivers for this specific chip currently, or rather nothing that isn't still very much a WIP

Which is odd, as mediatek WiFi usually works fine in most cases. This one seems to be a cheap and windows-specific chip that no one has reverse engineered or hacked on as of yet.

Is there a workaround for this? Or do I have to deal with the fact that I impulsively installed an operating system that I can’t use to connect to the internet?

(If so, what are some alternatives that are also beginner friendly and don’t have to deal with the same problems?)

[claydoh]

I assume so? I’m not that sure, how do I check?

You purchased it from KFocus? otherwise I assume you got the ISO image from them to install their custom Kubuntu, or added their custom kernel

Is there a workaround for this

If there is no working driver available, you can either use Ethernet (if you can), tether to mobile, replace the WiFi card with a good Intel one, or (last resort) get a USB dongle that is well reported on Amazon and elsewhere to be working with Linux. A LOT do not, or take a lot of work. These I can vouch for from personal experience, and should work out of the box.

[hubris]

I got the Kubuntu ISO from https://kfocus.org/try/index.html and created a bootable USB drive. I installed Kubuntu proper by booting my PC from that drive, I hope that answers your question

Also your Amazon (I assume) link (which is the final one in your post) doesn't appear to be working? I'll try to get Ethernet set up in the meantime

[Snowhog]

Also your Amazon (I assume) link (which is the final one in your post) doesn't appear to be working?

I fixed it.

[kc1di]

Bad News that wifi card is not well supported in Linux. I've seen a couple work arounds but nothing out standing. One uses RTL drivers but not all MT7902's have Rtl chips in them. Go asl ohters have said Think i would invest in a good intel card or usb dongle. They are not that expensive any longer. Also since you got the Kubuntu .iso from the manufacturer I would contact them maybe they have a work around for that card. Good luck and don't give up on Kubuntu it's a great Distro once you get everything working

[hubris]

I'll look into a wifi dongle, thanks everyone for helping

[Snowhog]

I got the Kubuntu ISO from https://kfocus.org/try/index.html and created a bootable USB drive. I installed Kubuntu proper by booting my PC from that drive, I hope that answers your question

No, not really. Your answer tells us where you got the Kubuntu .iso from, but we don't know what Manufacture, Make and Model of PC you have.

[claydoh]

I installed Kubuntu proper

Yes, and no. This is a modified version of Kubuntu. But only slightly modified.

This isn't a negative, but they do use a custom built kernel for supporting their hardware better, add some things, and probably other changes as well

Kubuntu proper will come from https://kubuntu.org.

[kc1di]

I'll look into a wifi dongle, thanks everyone for helping

These are known to work well with Linux.
https://www.pandawireless.com/Produc...0Wireless.html

[hubris]

Small update: I looked around and managed to find a tplink ax300 nano wifi 6 usb adapter. The website says it’s adaptable with Linux kernels 3.10 and after, but I’m asking to be sure.

About my device manufacturer, the only thing I’m sure of is that it’s an ASUS Vivobook. The details will have to wait until I can get my hands on it later, I’ll update them

[claydoh]

It is not always clear, as it depends on the actual chip it has , which can change in later revisions of a device. Without a direct link to the exact device, and more preferably what USB ID, actual support, and what possible steps that might be needed, *might* be unreliable.

This one?
https://www.tp-link.com/au/home-netw...nano/#overview

TP Link are usually honest as far as I have seen with it working in Linux, compared to say, Netgear.


OH:
They have Linux downloads. Looks like this chip/manufacturer is one I have not seen before.

https://www.tp-link.com/au/support/d...her-tx1u-nano/

If my poking into the driver files has been read correctly (not 100% sure) this may be the same chip used in a new Brostrend device

This also means the device is a bit 'funky' in that it acts as a USB storage device initially, some extra steps are used to eject or stop that behavior.
The TPlink driver install does take care of this by setting up a rule to eject the storage device, which then causes the wifi part to initialize.

Brostrend's driver probably does similar things, but has a page on troubleshooting this. (I provide this as an example of possible issues, not necessarily the correct fixes)
https://linux.brostrend.com/advanced...%20storage,MSC

I need to get me one of these, tbh. Cheap enough.

This person on Linux Mint (aka Ubuntu 24.04, possibly using an older kernel) back in August never noticed the Linux drivers available from the manufacturer (dated as far back as January), so used a third party source code to build a driver. Not sure this is necessary. The TPLink driver install script just copies firmware files and sets up the USB rule, pretty simple.


The only real issue I see immediately is the kernel support advertised by the driver downloads. I'd use the EU one, I think, so it supports our 6.14 kernel, supposedly. But future kernels, say in Kubuntu 25.10+, or in (K)Ubuntu 24.04 after a kernel upgrade coming in February.