I can raise a new issue if appropriate but I believe I am having the same / very similar issue. With a Dell Vostro 3750.
user@s3750:~$ sudo rfkill list [sudo] password for user: 0: hci0: Bluetooth Soft blocked: no Hard blocked: no 1: phy0: Wireless LAN Soft blocked: no Hard blocked: yes This machine does not have a hard switch. I can use a 'fn + wireless' key combination to block all and from then I seem to be able to execute a 'sudo rfkill unblock all' user@s3750:~$ uname -a Linux s3750 3.5.0-19-generic #30-Ubuntu SMP Tue Nov 13 17:48:01 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux user@s3750:~$ sudo lshw -C network [sudo] password for user: PCI (sysfs) *-network description: Wireless interface product: AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) vendor: Atheros Communications Inc. physical id: 0 bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0 logical name: wlan0 version: 01 serial: e4:d5:3d:9d:ec:8f width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath9k driverversion=3.5.0-19-generic firmware=N/A ip=192.168.1.134 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn resources: irq:16 memory:f2a00000-f2a0ffff user@s3750:~$ sudo lsmod Module Size Used by hid_generic 12493 0 usbhid 46947 0 hid 100366 2 hid_generic,usbhid joydev 17457 0 snd_hda_codec_realtek 77876 1 coretemp 13400 0 kvm_intel 132759 0 kvm 414070 1 kvm_intel dell_wmi 12681 0 sparse_keymap 13890 1 dell_wmi arc4 12529 2 dell_laptop 17369 0 dcdbas 14438 1 dell_laptop snd_hda_intel 33491 3 snd_hda_codec 134212 2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel snd_hwdep 13602 1 snd_hda_codec snd_pcm 96580 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec snd_seq_midi 13324 0 snd_rawmidi 30512 1 snd_seq_midi microcode 22803 0 snd_seq_midi_event 14899 1 snd_seq_midi snd_seq 61521 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event snd_timer 29425 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq snd_seq_device 14497 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq uvcvideo 76749 0 videobuf2_core 32851 1 uvcvideo videodev 120309 2 uvcvideo,videobuf2_core videobuf2_vmalloc 12860 1 uvcvideo btusb 22474 0 psmouse 95552 0 serio_raw 13215 0 lpc_ich 17061 0 videobuf2_memops 13368 1 videobuf2_vmalloc ath9k 131308 0 mac80211 539908 1 ath9k ath9k_common 14055 1 ath9k ath9k_hw 395218 2 ath9k,ath9k_common ath 23827 3 ath9k,ath9k_common,ath9k_hw snd 78734 15 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device cfg80211 206566 3 ath9k,mac80211,ath soundcore 15047 1 snd snd_page_alloc 18484 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm mei 40690 0 parport_pc 32688 0 ppdev 17073 0 rfcomm 46619 12 bnep 18140 2 bluetooth 209199 22 btusb,rfcomm,bnep mac_hid 13205 0 lp 17759 0 parport 46345 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp ext2 72880 1 xts 12880 8 gf128mul 14951 1 xts dm_crypt 23011 2 vesafb 13797 0 nouveau 895609 1 ttm 83595 1 nouveau ghash_clmulni_intel 13180 0 aesni_intel 51037 340 cryptd 20403 18 ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel aes_x86_64 17208 1 aesni_intel i915 520629 3 drm_kms_helper 46784 2 nouveau,i915 drm 275528 7 nouveau,ttm,i915,drm_kms_helper r8169 61650 0 i2c_algo_bit 13413 2 nouveau,i915 mxm_wmi 12979 1 nouveau wmi 19070 3 dell_wmi,nouveau,mxm_wmi video 19335 2 nouveau,i915 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1038626 Title: After suspend or reboot Airplane Mode is on -- Atheros AR9285 ath9k To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1038626/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs