wireless troubles, part 1: unencrypted AP

[Pascal Scheffers]

I installed joyride-258 on my B4 with firmware Q2D04, and my wireless  
doesn't function anymore.

Problem 1:
I cannot connect to my completely open, unencrypted access point 'XO'.
The AP is a Linksys BEFW11S4, other computers can and will connect to  
it.

I double click the AP in the neighborhood and then see in  /var/log/ 
messages:

Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
started...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0/ 
wireless): access point 'xo' is unencrypted, no key needed.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device  
eth0.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
cancelling...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
cancellation handler scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
waiting for device to cancel activation.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'INTERFACE_ADD eth0		wext	/var/run/wpa_supplicant	'
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost kernel: [  111.044167]  
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth0: link becomes ready
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'AP_SCAN 1'
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'ADD_NETWORK'
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was '0'
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <WARN>   
real_act_stage2_config(): Activation (eth0/wireless): couldn't send  
wireless configuration to the supplicant.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failure scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
cancellation handled.
Nov 12 17:58:41 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
cancelled.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
started...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0/ 
wireless): access point 'xo' is unencrypted, no key needed.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device  
eth0.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
cancelling...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
cancellation handler scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
waiting for device to cancel activation.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'INTERFACE_ADD eth0		wext	/var/run/wpa_supplicant	'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'AP_SCAN 1'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'ADD_NETWORK'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was '0'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <WARN>   
real_act_stage2_config(): Activation (eth0/wireless): couldn't send  
wireless configuration to the supplicant.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failure scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
cancellation handled.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
cancelled.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
started...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0/ 
wireless): access point 'xo' is unencrypted, no key needed.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failed for access point (xo)
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failed.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device  
eth0.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
cancelling...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
cancellation handler scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
waiting for device to cancel activation.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'INTERFACE_ADD eth0		wext	/var/run/wpa_supplicant	'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'AP_SCAN 1'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was 'OK'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: sending command  
'ADD_NETWORK'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  SUP: response was '0'
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <WARN>   
real_act_stage2_config(): Activation (eth0/wireless): couldn't send  
wireless configuration to the supplicant.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failure scheduled...
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
cancellation handled.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0):  
cancelled.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failed for access point (xo)
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failed.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device  
eth0.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failed for access point (xo)
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Activation (eth0)  
failed.
Nov 12 17:58:42 localhost NetworkManager: <info>  Deactivating device  
eth0.