free usb8388.bin

[Richard Smith]

>  Then it seems that something shuts off the wireless chip.
>  Random guesses are that the driver and/or NetworkManager
>  asks the EC to cut the power.

You can't cut power to the WLAN while running the CPU or you lose +3.3
and your system crashes.

The driver does however tell the EC to reset the WLAN if it thinks the
firmware download fails.  My guess is that the last time through that
loop it resets the chip and then drops out.  Leaving you with no
firmware.  Look in the libertas driver for the details

-- 
Richard A. Smith