Just spitballing here, but sometimes it's the simple things.

The amd64 6.1.0 netinstall media cannot load the firmware for the realtek rtl8723be. Kernel messages during boot:

rtl8723be: Using firmware rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin (-2)
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin (-2)
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin (-2)
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin failed with error -2
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin (-2)
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin (-2)
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin (-2)
rtl8723be 0000:03:00.0: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8723befw_36.bin failed with error -2
rtlwifi: Loading alternative firmware rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
rtlwifi: Selected firmware is not available
rtlwifi: rtlwifi: wireless switch is on

The installer correctly detects the card but it doesn't detect any networks, and manually entering the ssid and passphrase won't connect. installing via a usb tether or ethernet works fine on my machine: ASUS P2520L/P5520L with i3-4005U

Debian trixie netinstall loads the firmware just fine, so does the devuan 6.1.1 xfce live iso and connecting to a wi-fi network works.

Anyone has an idea as to why the netinstall specifically cannot load the needed firmware? i believe debian and devuan share the same modified linux kernel and i don't get why the device works in debian's netinstall and devuan's live, but not in devuan's netinstall.

Anticipated thanks,
devvy600