Install RT2870 usb wireless adapter in Ubuntu 10

Step 0 : At terminal, aaa@ubuntu:~$ sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf. Add “blacklist rt2870usb” without quote at the end of the file, then save it.

Step 1 : Download the latest rt2870 driver (here) from Ralink.

Step 2 : Untar the file and save to your home folder, and name it. (eg. the folder name is rt2870)

Step 2.51 : According to the instruction I found in the internet, there should be another three steps done with the dongle: firstly, without plug your wireless usb at this moment, at terminal aaa@ubuntu:~$ type lsusb.

Step 2.52 : Then plug in the wireless usb to the computer, type lsusb again, the wireless usb ID (8 digits) will be found. Write it down.

Step 2.53 : Check it at aaa@ubuntu:~/rt2870/os/linux$, sudo gedit usb_main_dev.c. If the usb device is not included, add the wireless usb ID. Save the file. For example, the additional two lines are:
{USB_DEVICE(0x0B05,0x1761)}, /* Asus */
{USB_DEVICE(0x1761,0x0B05)}, /* Asus */

Step 3 : In Makefile, set the "MODE = STA" in Makefile and chose the TARGET to Linux by set "TARGET = LINUX". Then, change the directory of RT28XX_DIR in line 7 by "aaa@ubuntu:~$ shell pwd". Finally, via the command "aaa@ubuntu:~$ shell uname -r", define the linux kernel source include file path LINUX_SRC modify to meet your need.

Step 4 : At same terminal , sudo gedit config.mk, and change two settings.
# Support Wpa_Supplicant
HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=n → y
# Support Native WpaSupplicant for Network Maganger
HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=n → y

Step 5 : At aaa@ubuntu:~/rt2870$, sudo gedit Makefile, check the folllowing at the top of the file:
RT28xx_MODE = STA
TARGET = LINUX
CHIPSET = 2870
If ok, close the file. If not, change the setting as above.

Step 6: rt2870 2.2.00 version do not support kernel 2.6.31-14-generic, so you have to do a patch. The download link is here, and the patch is via "patch -p1 < rt2870-2.6.31.patch".If you get a message of unable to patch, then download and install Patch_2.5.9-5_amd64.deb.

Step 7 : At aaa@ubuntu:~/rt2870$, do the compilation.
sudo make uninstall
sudo make clean
sudo make
sudo make install

Step 8 : At aaa@ubuntu:~$ sudo modprobe rt2870sta

Step 9 : At aaa@ubuntu”~$ sudo gedit /etc/rc.local, add following two lines prior to exit0.
ifconfig ra0 up
pkill NetworkManager
save it, then at same terminal, sudo gedit /etc/modules, add rt2870sta, then save the file.

Step 10 :At aaa@ubuntu:~$ ifconfig or iwconfig, you will see your wireless is up as ra0 or wlan0.

Step 11 : Now configure networkmanager, use wep instead of wpa-psk or wpa2-psk. Your wireless will be able to connect to the internet. If there's no connection, then do step 12.

Step 12 : Update networkmanager. Go to System – Software Sources – Other software, add the following line
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/network-manager/trunk/ubuntu karmic main

That's the end.