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No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? (/showthread.php?tid=18314)

No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - SmittyWerbenyegermanjenson - 06-05-2023

I've got a brand new PineTab2 that arrived in the mail today. I've done nothing but:
- Create a new admin account
- Delete the default admin account
- Change plasma theme to breeze dark

I can't figure out how to connect to either wifi or ethernet. No networks found even with a USB-C to Ethernet adapter. I've tried manually creating a wifi connection, typing in my network name and password, and it's not showing up in the available connections.

[Image: xFvSyhE.jpg]

ifconfig only shows lo
iwconfig command not found

RE: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - frtodd - 06-06-2023

(06-05-2023, 09:25 PM)SmittyWerbenyegermanjenson Wrote: I can't figure out how to connect to either wifi or ethernet. No networks found even with a USB-C to Ethernet adapter. I've tried manually creating a wifi connection, typing in my network name and password, and it's not showing up in the available connections.

I think you're on the right track: configuring connections in the Network tool. The next question is whether the kernel can see your network device.

I found this guide super-helpful: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration/Wireless

Basically, I identified the chipset on my (ancient!) USB dongle. It turned out that while it is supported, some some of the driver files were missing. So I downloaded the driver package for my chipset from archlinux, copied the files onto a microSD card, shoved the card into the PineTAB, and placed the files in the specified directory. Upon reboot, wifi connected automatically!

RE: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - User 26942 - 06-06-2023

Based on the information provided by Pine64 the Wifi is at this point not working, because there are no stable drivers.
What I did was using my mobile phone (USB tethering) and have it plugged in to the USB C port next to the volume button. With that I can use the internet.

RE: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - frtodd - 06-06-2023

(06-06-2023, 08:09 AM)Tinkerer Wrote: Based on the information provided by Pine64 the Wifi is at this point not working, because there are no stable drivers.
What I did was using my mobile phone (USB tethering) and have it plugged in to the USB C port next to the volume button. With that I can use the internet.

Wow, that's very cool. I just plugged in my iPhone (lightning cable to USBA/USBC adapter) into that same middle port. It asked me if I trusted the computer and then demanded my PIN. After that, a "Wired Internet connection" appeared on the #pinetab2 as if by magic! No additional software/drivers required on either device.

RE: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - RocketGod - 06-06-2023

My iPhone didn't perform as well. It wasn't recognized at all.

Does anyone know the manufacturer/model# of the rtl/bt chip being used? The website is vague.
I'd like to try and get some drivers working myself.

RE: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - zoward - 06-06-2023

I got my PineTab2 onto the internet using an old Cisco wireless dongle, and a USB female A to male C adapter, plugged into the upper (non-power) USB port.  If you have any old linux-compatible USB wireless hardware kicking aorund, give it a try.

Once I plugged it in. the list shown in the picture above (which read "No Available Connections") was populated with the list of access points in my area, at which point I used the same settings to connect to my wireless routine as I do on my laptop (whuch also uses KDE Plasma).

Good luck!

Posted from my PineTab2.

RE: No WiFi or Ethernet on vanilla PineTab 2 from the factory? - fxc - 06-06-2023

(06-06-2023, 12:59 PM)RocketGod Wrote: My iPhone didn't perform as well. It wasn't recognized at all.

Does anyone know the manufacturer/model# of the rtl/bt chip being used? The website is vague.
I'd like to try and get some drivers working myself.

BES2600, see the wiki https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineTab2#Known_Issues