Writing this post from a live session in Sparky Linux (Debian Testing based). Packages versions are:
[code]live@live:~$ sudo apt show plasma-desktop
Package: plasma-desktop
Version: 4:5.8.4-1
…
live@live:~$ sudo apt show libkf5activities5
Package: libkf5activities5
Version: 5.28.0-1
…
live@live:~$ sudo apt show libqt5quick5
Package: libqt5quick5
Version: 5.7.1-2
…
live@live:~$ sudo apt show network-manager
Package: network-manager
Version: 1.6.0-1
…
live@live:~$ sudo apt show wpasupplicant
Package: wpasupplicant
Version: 2.5-2+v2.4-3+b1
…
live@live:~$ sudo apt show firmware-atheros
Package: firmware-atheros
Version: 20161130-2
…
live@live:~$ lsmod | grep ath
ath9k_htc 65536 0
ath9k_common 32768 1 ath9k_htc
ath9k_hw 446464 2 ath9k_htc,ath9k_common
ath 32768 3 ath9k_htc,ath9k_hw,ath9k_common
mac80211 651264 1 ath9k_htc
cfg80211 573440 4 ath9k_htc,mac80211,ath,ath9k_common
usbcore 249856 8 ath9k_htc,usbhid,usb_storage,ehci_hcd,ohci_pci,uas,ohci_hcd,ehci_pci
[/code]
No trouble at all to connect with my wifi network, using the same computer an wifi usb stick. Besides, there is no any file under /etc/modprobe.d with a special configuration for ath9k_htc.
I hope this information would help you to improve Netrunner Desktop.