Wifi for Acer Aspire 3023 WLMi for Ubuntu 7.10

Problem: Wifi for Acer Aspire 3023 WLMi for Ubuntu 7.10 does not work

Resolution: (not trivial)

This is common issue (broadcom wireless) but with little addition. Acer Aspire 3023 WLMi has Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller is described here as 'usually not working'. I don't know in what other notebooks it is mounted but I found resolution for Acer Aspire 3023 WLMi. Problem is in those special buttons - precisely in WiFi button. Adding broadcom firmware does not cause wifi working.

Ok, here is resolution:

Part 1 - install Broadcom wireless bcm4318
Start with this page.
In shortcut:
- obtain windows driver for wireless from here
- unzip it
- install bcm43xx-fwcutter
- use this bcm43xx-fwcutter on downloaded driver

# bcm43xx-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware ./bcmwl5.sys
# bcm43xx-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/`uname -r` ./bcmwl5.sys

With other broadcom controller now you should have wifi

Part 2 - enable wifi button
There is module written for this purpose - acerhk
In shortcut:
- download this or this and untar
- enter directory
- edit file acerhk.c and change first uncommented line

#include <linux/config.h>

to

#include <linux/autoconf.h>

- # make && make install
- edit file /etc/modules and add following lines:

acerhk poll=1 autowlan=1
bcm43xx

After rebooting notebook it should work. Now you have gleaming wireless button (and mail client button flashing :) - don't ask, I don't know why).