On my IWL1000 wireless card, ad-hoc mode can only be entered when the channel is set to 1. When the card was connected to an AP with channel !=1, and then attempts to enter ad-hoc, this will happen: # iwconfig wlan0 mode ad-hoc Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) : SET failed on device wlan0 ; Operation not supported. and the connection will fail. However, this works: # iwconfig wlan0 channel 1 # iwconfig wlan0 mode ad-hoc NetworkManager should set the channel itself prior to setting the mode to ad-hoc, to guarantee proper operation. also see: https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-925380.html
> However, this works: > # iwconfig wlan0 channel 1 > # iwconfig wlan0 mode ad-hoc > > NetworkManager should set the channel itself prior to setting the mode to > ad-hoc, to guarantee proper operation. If you want to know whether NetworkManager is the right place to do that, and get it fixed, please file bug to the upstream bugzilla. NetworkManager uses bugzilla.gnome.org.
If still valid with 0.9.8.2, please report to upstream and post link here -> bugzilla.gnome.org
I am not sure if it is still relevant, as I do not have an IWL1000 anymore. My 5300 doesn't seem to have this problem. NEEDINFO is probably the best status, I think.
