Netgear WPN311 Madwifi WPA2 Configuration Help

[Grok Mogger]

Hey,

	I cannot get my wifi working at all.  I have a Netgear WPN311. 
  This is my first wifi experience on Linux, and between 
Madwifi, wpa_supplicant, network-manager, network-manager-gnome, 
wlanconfig, iwconfig, iwlist, /etc/network/interfaces/, 
/etc/default/wpa_supplicant, and god-knows-what else that I 
probably left out, I have no clue what I'm doing.

	My network is using WPA2, and is not broadcasting its SSID. 
But for starters, I'd like to try getting the card to just 
pickup the unencrypted, broadcasting wireless networks in my 
area.  I know there are some nearby thanks to my Windows machines.

	Can anyone help me get started?  I'm using the desktop install 
of Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft.  I actually installed the Netgear card 
after I installed Ubuntu, if that might matter.  This is a new 
system, so if a fresh install of a different distribution would 
make things easier, I'm all for it.  I'd really appreciate it if 
someone could just help me understand how to set this up as 
painlessly as possible.

Thanks,
- GM