On 23/12/2014 01:07, Robert Peters wrote:
> On 23 December 2014 at 08:19, Timothy Pearson
> <kb9vqf@...> wrote:
> <snip>
>
>> Off the top of my head Ubuntu ships with non-free firmware by default and
>> allows insecure operations (such as using WEP--WEP is practically useless
>> and provides no real protection) by default.  Debian has a more privacy-
>> and security-conscious stance, and does not ship non-free firmware by
>> default among other restrictions.
>>
>> Personally I prefer the Debian approach, but that is due to my years of
>> experience with Linux and my preference to know of potential security
>> problems.  Most users (including myself when I was just getting started so
>> long ago) instead find this frustrating and spend long hours with Google
>> trying to figure out why things are not working. ;-)
>>
>> Tim
>
> Thanks.  I'll look for a wired connection or WPA-secured network and
> have a go at the Debian version.
> Robert
>
>
I haven't been following the thread so apologies if I'm repeating stuff. 
As Tim says, firmware/security seem likely culprits. This link may help;

http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/WL:Wifi_Configuration

Mike.

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