I use this function after reading in  many forums, it works for connecting  my slackware since version 14.0 to rtl8187 notebook. I don’t do any change to its setting.

But now, in my slackware 14.2 with different notebook, it is not working. I have to change the setting in  Preference – Advance Setting – change the driver of wpa supplicant from wext to nl80211.

Then the wifi signal is detected and I can connect to it.