Ok, let's see if you have a module installed for your wifi adapter.
Try What are the results?
jdk

root@shaolindragon]#lsmod | grep ath

ath5k 143237 0
mac80211 188441 1 ath5k
ath 7145 1 ath5k
cfg80211 110779 3 ath5k,mac80211,ath

Ok, so you seem to have the right drivers. Are you sure your wifi adapter is turned on on your laptop? I am worried that the results of which shows a wlan0 interface but with atheros chips I would expect an ath0 interface. I believe that ath5k is the correct driver. Can you check again the above command. Also are you quite sure that your router/modem provides a wifi signal?
ciao,
jdk

Have been using the modem for almost a year nw and it work fine on windows...what do you think about madwifi,am thinking of installing it maybe things will change.

I doubt very much that madwifi will help you. What kernel are you using? You seem to have the correct drivers installed for your card. I repeat my last question: are you sure your router/modem is sending out a wifi signal?
jdk

I'd double-check and get back to you....my kernel is :2.6.35.6-45.fc14.i686

lest i forget,everything i av showed you has been pre-installed in the fedora,have not been able to do any installation myself..

And yes i dönt know if this output will be of much help in solving my problem..here it is

root@shaolindragon]#iwconfig

l0 no wireless extensions

eth0 no wireless extensions

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg mode:managed access point:not-associated Tx power =20 dBm retry long limit:7 Rts thrff fragment thrff Encryption keyff power managementff

Please use code tags for your output. Your text is almost unreadable. I'm referring to this:
l0 no wireless extensions

eth0 no wireless extensions

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg mode:managed access point:not-associated Tx power =20 dBm retry long limit:7 Rts thrff fragment thrff Encryption keyff power managementff

Please tell me if your router/modem is sending a wifi signal, yes/no. If you don't know say, "I don't know". If your router/modem is not sending the signal we are simply wasting our time here. Has that same router/modem ever functioned for wifi before?
jdk

2 lights are on the modem-red and yellow.red light is stable while yellow light is suppose to be blinking when connected but here it only blinks for some seconds and stops (i guess that means its not sending wifi signal)....modem isnt even showing up in network manager.

Am sorry for giving you a hard time...let me just say i dont know and yes have been using it for wifi before on windows

Ok, can you use the modem to create a wired connection (eth0)?
jdk

Yes i can do it but i cant get a cable around me now,when am through wit it i'll let you know...... Here's a positive,i bought a box fone of the same manufacturer as the usb modem,connected it and was automatically detected. I edited the wvdial.conf and attempt was made to connect(was thinking couldnt connect due to lack of subscription)...thanks for everything...@jdk

You're most welcome. Sorry I wasn't more help. Please ask if you have any more/different problems. If you're happy with this situation then marked the thread as [SOLVED]. Ciao,
jdk

You havent been of help? i'd be very ungrateful to say that!! But i cant mark this thread as solved until i find a way to make the usb modem work...Someone advised me to download and install WINE which would allow me to install the windows driver on linux,whats your advice on it

And again do i need to have windows running on my system to be able to use WINE?linux is the only OS running on my laptop now.