Looking for opinion on wireless config...

[Ineluki12]

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 with a Truemobile 1300 11b/g mini-pci card in it. I'm pretty new to Linux, and I've been shuffling through the muck, and so far I've picked up that ndiswrapper is the best solution for setting up my wireless card. I was wondering if I was correct in this assessment. Also, is there a good gui-based util to manage wireless networking from kde?

As a side note, I was working on my laptop the other day, and I noticed the 'antenna' (so dell calls it) connected to the mini-coax that goes to the wireless card is nothing but a small metal plate that shorts the other end of the coax....what a wonderful antenna I've always been very dissappointed with the reception this thing gets; I might pick up two networks in range, while my roommate is getting 5 or 6. Anyway, I was thinking of soldering an sma panel-jack to the coax and mounting it to the metal/plastic rectangle Dell calls an antenna. This way I could hook an assortment of antennas to the sucker, and maybe get some decent reception. Has anyone else done a similar thing, and if so, how'd it go?

P.S. I there anyway I can set KDE up so that I can shutdown as a non-root user while in KDE. Right now, I'm logging out of KDE, switching to root, and then shutting down.....I've been too busy with other stuff to figure out another way.

Thanks!!!
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"Before insulting a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, he's a mile away and without shoes." --unknown

[Ineluki12]

Someone has to have a clue. If you don't identify with second question, just disregard it; the first is my primary concern. Thanks
_________________
"Before insulting a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, he's a mile away and without shoes." --unknown