Not installed? The ath9k_htc_linux_driver package install script copied both
the htc_7010.fw and htc_9271.fw files after the execution into the
/lib/firmware folder, so are you sure?? The output of the ls /lib/firmware
also showed that both of the files were in-place.
The README file on the open-ath9k-htc-firmware GitHub page describes what are
those AR7010/AR9271 NICs. The system needs the driver, which in turn requires
the firmware for the respective chip in order to communicate with the chip(s)
and making the device able to work.
The reason to keep them both installed is to be able to use all of the
ath9k_htc compatible wireless adapters, which are using different chipsets (a
combination of one or two different chips), typically in a three different
configurations:
Atheros AR9271 alone
Atheros AR7010+AR9280
Atheros AR7010+AR9287
