Re: WiFi on RPI4 - still unconfigured in 2026?

[Ramiro Aceves <ea1abz%gmail.com@localhost>]

El 21/1/26 a las 15:52, Frank Wille escribió:
> Hi,
>
> I'm quoting a posting on this list from 2022:
>
>  >> mayuresh%acm.org@localhost (Mayuresh) writes:
>  >>    bwfm0: Found NVRAM file: brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry Pi 4 Model 
> B.txt
>  >>08 Aug image:
>  >>    bwfm0: autoconfiguration error: NVRAM file not available
>  >
>  > There is a file
>  >
>  > /libdata/firmware/if_bwfm/brcmfmac43455-sdio.raspberrypi,4-model-b.txt
>  >
>  > create a symlink "brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry Pi 4 Model B.txt" to
>  > that file so that it is found also with the different name.
>
> This is still necessary? I got the same autoconfiguration error after 
> installing the 10.1 release image together with UEFI.
>
> After I added the link to "brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry Pi 4 Model 
> B.txt", the missing NVRAM file was found, and I also saw the message 
> "CHIPACTIVE". But afterwards, shortly after going multiuser, the system 
> hard-resets and corrupts the file system.
>
> It never did that before, so it is very likely a result of the WiFi chip 
> activation. Is there any chance to run RPi4/UEFI with wireless network?
>
> Regards,

Hello Frank,

I bought my RPI4 and installed NetBSD-10.0  1.5 years ago under 
github/https://github.com/pftf/RPi4  UEFI firmware. I also remember to 
make that symbolic link. But I use my RPI4 over ethernet, my case is 
metallic and I did not expect good WIFI coverage. Also did not have good 
experience with bfwm driver in the RPiZeroW, so I decided to go the 
ethernet route. Good decission, it works solid.

But now I have just issued the following commands, it even picks some 
access points inside the metallic case:


netbsd-raspa4# ifconfig bwfm0 up
netbsd-raspa4# ifconfig bwfm0 list scan
SSID                 BSSID              CHAN RATE  S:N     INT CAPS
MOVISTAR-WIFI6-D588  2c:96:82:a8:d5:88    1   54M 186:0    100 EPS  RSN
Vodafone-marta       a0:2d:13:77:a4:ad    2   54M 191:0    100 EP   RSN
REPETIDOR            b0:4e:26:c4:c4:27   11   54M 207:0    100 EP   WPA
MOVISTAR_58ED        34:57:60:90:58:ee   11   54M 181:0    100 EP   RSN
MOVISTAR-WIFI6-79C0  2c:96:82:dc:79:c0   11   54M 183:0    100 EPS  RSN
MiFibra-3422-5G      6a:8d:26:32:34:24  100   54M 178:0    100 EP   RSN
Livebox6-A05B        ac:b6:87:7a:a0:59    4   54M 169:0    100 EP   RSN
Livebox6-A05B-5G     8a:b6:87:7a:a0:5a    4   54M 170:0    100 EP   RSN
                     8a:b6:87:7a:a0:5b    4   54M 169:0    100 EP   RSN
MOVISTAR_PLUS_58ED   34:57:60:90:58:f6   44   54M 167:0    100 EP   RSN
MOVISTAR_58ED        26:57:60:90:58:f6   44   54M 168:0    100 EP   RSN
DIGIFIBRA-PLUS-bRdd  50:42:89:56:8c:19   64   54M 173:0    100 EPS  RSN
                     52:42:89:46:8c:19   64   54M 173:0    100 EPS  RSN
Livebox6-3FCF        34:19:4d:80:3f:cd    4   54M 177:0    100 EP   RSN
                     72:19:4d:80:3f:cf    4   54M 177:0    100 EP   RSN
Vodafone-marta       82:2d:13:77:a4:ad    4   54M 179:0    100 EP   RSN
netbsd-raspa4#

netbsd-raspa4# dmesg | grep bwfm
[     1,588428] bwfm0 at sdmmc0 function 1
[     2,734920] bwfm0: Firmware file default:    brcmfmac43455-sdio.bin
[     2,734920] bwfm0: Firmware file model-spec: 
brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry Pi 4 Model B.bin
[     2,788298] bwfm0: Found Firmware file: brcmfmac43455-sdio.bin
[     2,838298] bwfm0: NVRAM file default:    brcmfmac43455-sdio.txt
[     2,838298] bwfm0: NVRAM file model-spec: 
brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry Pi 4 Model B.txt
[     2,838298] bwfm0: Found NVRAM file: brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry Pi 
4 Model B.txt
[     2,848299] bwfm0: CLM file default:    brcmfmac43455-sdio.clm_blob
[     2,848299] bwfm0: CLM file model-spec: brcmfmac43455-sdio.Raspberry 
Pi 4 Model B.clm_blob
[     4,308328] bwfm0: CHIPACTIVE
[     4,408330] bwfm0: address d8:3a:dd:99:78:46
[     4,408330] bwfm0: wl0: Mar  1 2015 07:29:38 version 7.45.18 
(r538002) FWID 01-6a2c8ad4
netbsd-raspa4#

Hope someone had fixed it in the next NetBSD-11 Release.

Regards.
Ramiro.