YES .. This WORKED

Finally.. It is still a bit weak in the room. BUT IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM..

here is the solution -
The problem is with the Atheros 5001x onboard card conflict.
Code:
sudo su
apt-get install subversion
cd /usr/src
svn checkout http://madwifi-project.org/svn/madwifi/trunk madwifi
tar cfvz madwifi.tgz
cd madwifi
make && make install

echo "blacklist ath5k" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
echo "ath_pci" >> /etc/modules

modprobe ath_pci

sudo reboot
original thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10884683

Hope this works for you all.. Thanks

Now if I can get the sound to work as loudly as in Lucid & Graphics in VLC improve.. I am sorted.. yay!!!

This is the real solution.
Wifi now works as it should !
Only comment:
the "tar cfvz madwifi.tgz" command produces the comment:
"refusing to create empty archive".

The 'c' in the tar command stands for create. I believe you wanted the 'x' command for extract.

Should that be "tar xfvz madwifi.tgz" ?

Meanwhile, the wifi now works, so should I bother doing the tar command again ?

Yes, it would. And I wouldn't worry about it too much now, unless you want to keep messing with it.

Cheers,

Josh

Thanks
 

Thanks you all.
Works for me. Ubuntu 10.04 and Toshiba Satellite A105-S2061.
02:04.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR2413 802.11bg NIC (rev 01)

Thanks again!