Do you know how to boot into the 3.2.0-29 kernel ?
If so, do it and test wireless … if it still doesn’t work … try recompiling/installing the drivers whilst booted into 3.2.0-29 … then modprobe rt3290sta again.
No … turn off your PC … turn on your PC, and immediately start stabbing the “Shift” key … you should be presented with the GRUB boot menu.
At the GRUB boot menu … scroll down to “Other Linux” or “Earlier Linux versions” or similar, and hit enter … then scroll down to the
3.2.0-29
entry … and hit “Enter” to boot.
don’t select the 3.2.0-29 (Recovery Mode) option.
Also remember that if at any stage you reboot … you’ll have to do this again … as this boots the older kernel for a SINGLE boot (which is currently all we want … we3 don’t want to make it permanent unless it works).
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Actually … before you try that, can you download this firmware:
https://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/dwmw2/linux-firmware.git;a=blob_plain;f=rt3290.bin;hb=HEAD
put the rt3290.bin file in your home directory, then run:
sudo mv -v ~/rt3290.bin /lib/firmware/rt3290.bin
then
sudo modprobe -r rt3290sta
then
sudo modprobe rt3290sta
then post the output from:
iwlist ra0 scanning
It not works with wireless on 3.2.0-29, it not works with reinstaled driver on 3.2.0-29, it not works with downloaded firmware, the behavior is the same, only ra0, no ip adress, no ssid, RT3290_AsicTxAlcGetAutoAgcOffset: Incorrect desired TSSI or current TSSI
I noticed this strange message in dmesg:
[ 8713.029173] RTMPSetPhyMode: channel is out of range, use first channel=1
Is it necessary to edit this config file?
/etc/Wireless/RT2860STA/RT2860STA.dat
What wireless channel is set in your router ?
What is the make/model of router ?
Straight GWP-301, I have cable to the Zotac as eth0
Do you know how to change the wireless channel in the router ?
And why is it necessary? I would like to have Zotac as router. It is not possible? 
OK, let’s try this a different way … first make sure that firmware file is still in place
What’s the output from
ls -al /etc/firmware/rt3290.bin
I’m back in 3.2.0-36-generic, there is no /etc/firmware/rt3290.bin
but
rad@rad-ZBOX-ID82:~$ ls -al /lib/firmware/rt3290.bin
-rw-rw-r-- 1 rad rad 4096 led 21 22:17 /lib/firmware/rt3290.bin
OK, we’re going to install the 3.7.2 kernel then use rt2800pci as the wireless driver.
Just in case this breaks something else … remember, you will still be able to boot to the older kernel (3.2.0-36) the same way you booted 3.2.0-29 … then we’ll remove 3.7.2
OK, run these commands in sequence:
mkdir ~/kernel-3.2.7
then
cd ~/kernel-3.2.7
then
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.7.2-raring/linux-headers-3.7.2-030702-generic_3.7.2-030702.201301111424_amd64.deb
then
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.7.2-raring/linux-headers-3.7.2-030702_3.7.2-030702.201301111424_all.deb
then
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.7.2-raring/linux-image-3.7.2-030702-generic_3.7.2-030702.201301111424_amd64.deb
then
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.7.2-raring/linux-image-extra-3.7.2-030702-generic_3.7.2-030702.201301111424_amd64.deb
then
sudo dpkg -i *.deb
now open /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf with:
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
and add a NEW line at the bottom that reads:-
blacklist rt3290sta
SAVE the file, and REBOOT
Check the rt2800usb driver is loaded with:
lsmod | grep rt2800pci
If nothing is returned run:
sudo modprobe rt2800pci
Check your wireless can see your router with:
iwlist scanning
Then come back here and tell me what happened … as we may need to tell the system to load rt2800pci at bootup
And REMEMBER … if anything else breaks, such as wired networking … you can always boot the older kernel, then come back here.
For future readers … This method should also work for Ubuntu 12.10
but along with updating the kernel to 3.7.2, don’t forget to install the firmware as described below.
Download this firmware:
https://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/dwmw2/linux-firmware.git;a=blob_plain;f=rt3290.bin;hb=HEAD
Put the rt3290.bin file in your home directory, then run:
sudo mv -v ~/rt3290.bin /lib/firmware/rt3290.bin
to move it to the /lib/firmware directory.
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After install:
rad@rad-ZBOX-ID82:~$ uname -a
Linux rad-ZBOX-ID82 3.7.2-030702-generic #201301111424 SMP Fri Jan 11 19:25:11 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
rad@rad-ZBOX-ID82:~$ lsmod | grep rt
parport_pc 32867 0
ip6t_rt 12530 3
rt2800pci 18755 0
rt2800lib 67474 1 rt2800pci
xt_addrtype 12714 4
crc_ccitt 12708 1 rt2800lib
rt2x00pci 14579 1 rt2800pci
rt2x00lib 55504 3 rt2800pci,rt2800lib,rt2x00pci
ip6_tables 27686 2 ip6t_rt,ip6table_filter
mac80211 569091 3 rt2800lib,rt2x00pci,rt2x00lib
cfg80211 208484 2 rt2x00lib,mac80211
eeprom_93cx6 13345 1 rt2800pci
x_tables 29892 12 xt_hl,ip6t_rt,ipt_REJECT,xt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,xt_addrtype,xt_state,ip6table_filter,ip6_tables,iptable_filter,ip_tables
parport 46563 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
What happens if you run:
sudo modprobe rt2800usb
then
sudo lshw -C network
and
iwlist scanning
After sudo modprobe rt2800usb:
rad@rad-ZBOX-ID82:~$ lsmod | grep rt
rt2800usb 27046 0
rt2x00usb 20780 1 rt2800usb
parport_pc 32867 0
ip6t_rt 12530 3
rt2800pci 18755 0
rt2800lib 67474 2 rt2800usb,rt2800pci
xt_addrtype 12714 4
crc_ccitt 12708 1 rt2800lib
rt2x00pci 14579 1 rt2800pci
rt2x00lib 55504 5 rt2800usb,rt2x00usb,rt2800pci,rt2800lib,rt2x00pci
ip6_tables 27686 2 ip6t_rt,ip6table_filter
mac80211 569091 4 rt2x00usb,rt2800lib,rt2x00pci,rt2x00lib
cfg80211 208484 2 rt2x00lib,mac80211
eeprom_93cx6 13345 1 rt2800pci
x_tables 29892 12 xt_hl,ip6t_rt,ipt_REJECT,xt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,xt_addrtype,xt_state,ip6table_filter,ip6_tables,iptable_filter,ip_tables
parport 46563 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
and the output from:
sudo lshw -C network
and
iwlist scanning
rad@rad-ZBOX-ID82:~$ sudo lshw -C network
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 06
serial: 00:01:2e:47:95:d3
size: 1Gbit/s
capacity: 1Gbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=full firmware=rtl8168e-3_0.0.4 03/27/12 ip=10.0.8.82 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes port=MII speed=1Gbit/s
resources: irq:48 ioport:e000(size=256) memory:f0004000-f0004fff memory:f0000000-f0003fff
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: Ralink corp.
vendor: Ralink corp.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
logical name: wlan0
version: 00
serial: 94:db:c9:a9:a5:bf
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rt2800pci latency=0 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn
resources: irq:19 memory:f7d40000-f7d4ffff memory:f7d30000-f7d3ffff
rad@rad-ZBOX-ID82:~$ iwlist scanning
eth0 Interface doesn't support scanning.
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: B2:8A:C8:C2:17:6C
Channel:1
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=70/70 Signal level=0 dBm
Encryption key:off
ESSID:"test"
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Bit Rates:24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Mode:Ad-Hoc
Extra:tsf=0000000000000000
Extra: Last beacon: 87660ms ago
IE: Unknown: 000474657374
IE: Unknown: 010882040B160C121824
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: Unknown: 06020000
IE: Unknown: 32043048606C
IE: Unknown: DD070050F202000100
So if you (normal left) click on the Network Manager icon by the clock … is your router listed ?
if so, click it … you should be prompted for your wireless key … enter it, and click Connect.
did it connect ?
Actually it’s using rt2800pci not rt2800usb <— my mistake
So it may be a good idea to unload rt2800usb:
sudo modprobe -r rt2800usb
Or just reboot … then test your wireless.
I have noticed the router called “test” appears to be in ad-hoc mode … why ?
.
heureka, it works 
Make sure it survives a reboot.