I bought the MediaTek (Ralink) UWN100 Wi-Fi adapter from Logic Supply because they had the BBB in stock and I didn’t want to pay separate shipping. Apparently it works immediately in Ubuntu 13, but not before 12.10. I already had 12.04 installed before learning this, so I thought, “How hard could it be to get it working in 12.04?”
Here’s the answer. Hard. Or at least frustrating… Of course I’d probably have run into most of these issues eventually, so I guess it was good education.
Despite its tiny size, the 7601 chip puts out a stronger Wi-Fi signal than my 12" tablet or my Moto Electrify. Seems to work great now.
The play-by-play adventure (possibly not all essential):
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:/$ sudo apt-get -y install lxde lxde-core lxde-icon-theme
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:/$ sudo reboot
[insert USB Wi-Fi adapter]
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:/$ sudo reboot
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 148f:7601 Ralink Technology, Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
[This Quick Installation failed]
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-CIGQYdk8ZhU3D3UCNn70jc7C9HdXvEZAsiNW71fGIE/edit?pli=1
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ sudo mkdir -p /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ sudo apt-get install curl
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ curl -kO https://googledrive.com/host/0B_JlgOR4VNe0Sjg4ei00ySEY4aUE/mt7601.tar.gz
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ sudo tar xzvf mt7601.tar.gz -C /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/ RT2870STA.dat
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ sudo tar xzvf mt7601.tar.gz -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/ mt7601Usta.ko mtutil7601Usta.ko mtnet7601Usta.ko
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ sudo depmod -a
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:~$ sudo echo mtnet7601Usta > /etc/modules-load.d/mt7601.conf
[That file structure didn’t seem to exist for me, I edited the one I found manually:]
ubuntu@ubuntu-armhf:/etc$ nano modules
[paste mtnet7601Usta]