Newbie questions

Hi Folks,

  New here. Downloaded 0.2.2 version of the driver for a Fedora Core 4 
(2.6.11.1_1369) kernel. Compiled and installed well. I am currently using 
a linksys Compact Flash card (Model WCF12) with a Compact Flash adapter on 
the PCMCIA slot in the IBM T-41

  When I insert the card the "prism2_cs" module loads up. But even if I 
have used the SSID_wlan0="" (so that it could associate with any AP), it 
doesn't do that. In fact, the card shows a solid green light, but iwconfig 
shows wlan0 has no wireless extensions (not up). Why is that ? Is there 
something I am not doing right ?

  Additionally, I then execute the following command (although, it was 
noted in the README that this was only for pci usage)

  wlanctl-ng wlan0 lnxreq_ifstate ifstate=enable

  This brings up wlan0 with wireless extensions, and the green light now 
blinks, but iwconfig reports the following:

#iwconfig wlan0

wlan0     IEEE 802.11-DS  ESSID:""
           Mode:Auto  Channel:0  Access Point: 00:00:00:00:00:00
           Bit Rate:2 Mb/s   Tx-Power:2346 dBm
           Retry min limit:8   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
           Encryption key:off
           Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
           Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
           Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

The strange thing is that scanning works. I have changed the ESSID and 
Address in the following cut-n-paste

# iwlist wlan0 scan

wlan0     Scan completed :
           Cell 01 - Address: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
                     ESSID:"A name LAN3"
                     Mode:Master
                     Encryption key:on
                     Channel:1
                     Quality:13/92  Signal level:-75 dBm  Noise level:-88 dBm
           Cell 02 - Address: yy:yy:yy:yy:yy:yy
                     ESSID:"A name LAN2"
                     Mode:Master
                     Encryption key:on
                     Channel:2
                     Quality:17/92  Signal level:-73 dBm  Noise level:-90 dBm


My question is why is the interface (wlan0) not coming up right away ?
Why do I have to run the wlanctl-ng command ? It was recommended for PCI, 
but without that, I can't get the card working.

I have numerous other questions about not being able to get into ad-hoc 
mode, but I will reserve those for later.

Thanks in anticipation for any help/pointers that anyone can provide

regards...
Vikram