Ubuntu – WiFi Issues on HP Stream 14 with Broadcom BCM43142 Network Controller and no Ethernet Port

16.04broadcomdrivershpwireless

I just switched my HP Stream 14 laptop to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS from Windows. I have experienced the same problem as many others: I cannot see any wireless networks. Other threads have pointed to the driver as the issue, and I have tried to fix it as suggested here and here, but neither of these worked (I am creating this question because I have yet to find an existing source that can guide me through how to fix my connection issues). It is possible that I did the suggested fixes wrong, as I am relatively new to Ubuntu. Can someone walk me through, step by step, how I can fix this issue? I have spent many hours on it already, and could use some expert help. I have re-installed Ubuntu, so it is the factory version I am working with.

Important info:

lspci -nn | grep Network 

returns

01:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM43142 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4365] (rev 01)

Under "System Settings" > "Software & Updates" > "Additional Drivers", It says

"Broadcom Corporation: BCM43142 802.11b/g/n
This device is using an alternative driver.
Using Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver source from bcmwl-kernel-source (open source)"

(This part makes me think the driver is not the issue).

Additionally, this laptop does not have an ethernet port, so I can only use the USB I used to install Ubuntu and a separate computer with an internet connection.

Best Answer

As per our comment and as a very rare cases (Thanks to Charles Kocher for the testing). The user can follow this guide Installing Broadcom Wireless Drivers either for OFFLINE installation or ONLINE installation but on both cases they would need to disable Secure Boot.

This is the same case when installing Ubuntu from a LiveUSB / LiveDVD and you select "install 3rd party software and drivers" and the installer asks to disable Secure Boot. It appears this applies to the HP Stream 14 to. I have known about 2 other cases but I see there are more to come. So thank you Charles.