How do I connect to a wireless network in Linux?

I don't know a lot about Linux, so please explain everything.
I clicked the connect to network thing and entered ethe password, but it doesent work. I am using a netgear WG11v2 54mbps wireless USB adapter.
Ubuntu distro

Related posts:

1. How do you install a wireless network adapter on linux ubuntu?
2. Which is the best Linux distribution to use to turn an old PC into a print server?
3. Is there any simple way to get any Linux distribution to connect to internet?
4. Netgear WG311 54Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter 32bit PCI
5. Netgear WG111 Wireless 54Mbps USB 2.0 Adapter