Ubuntu Wireless Problem Solved - Simply

When I first installed Ubuntu I got a message saying that as my B43 WLAN was proprietary I would have to install the firmware myself.

So I did what I normally did and googled my way through a dozen pages with instructions on installing B43 wireless firmware that didn’t really help me.  I tried a couple of step by step command line methods and none of them worked without errors.

I’d resolved to hit the IRC channels on the weekend and see if I could get some help there.

I was perusing the menus and clicked a few things and now I have wireless working.

In brief here’s what I did

  1. In the toolbar go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
  2. Enter your password(almost like Vista’s UAC but not often enough to complain)
  3. Click the search button and search for B43
  4. Select B43-fwcutter
  5. Accept everything that comes after that
  6. Restart Ubuntu

That’s it, I know have working wireless.