This is how I got my wireless device up and running. I will give little details so that it can help other newbies save time and patience. Remember this is in openSUSE11 with KDE.
Go to
Http://packages.opensuse-community.org. Pick your openSUSE version and search for the chipset manufacturer or the chipset itself, in this case “ralink”. This will give you the option to install the firmware thru YaST. Click on the “Install” button (usually first option); when the opening window pops up click on “open with YaST Meta Package Handler” and click on “OK”. Choose all the default settings and click on “Next”. Once the firmware is installed open YaST, then click on “Network Devices”, then “Network Settings”. Under the “Overview” tab you'll see your “*** WLAN” device “Not configured”. Highlight it and click on the “Edit” button. When you get the message “The device needs a firmware to funtion properly...” click on “Continue”. Under the “General” tab in the “Device Activation” section choose “At Boot Time”; under the “Address” tab “Dynamic Address DHCP”, under the “Hardware” tab in the “Kernel Module” section make sure you choose “rt73usb” or the available one. Click on Next and Finish. Go back to the “Network Settings” window and under the “Global Options” tab in the “Network Setup Method” section, choose “User Controlled with Network Manager”. Click on Finish. Close all your windows.
Go to the start menu, System, Desktop Applet, and click on Network Manager. This will give you an icon on your lower right next to the clock where you'll see your wireless usb device active and ready to connect to your wireless gateway.
I hope this can help others as well.
I forgot to mention, this will work with any wireless device with the rt73 chipset not only the one above. I tested this with my other wireless device without needing to modify Network Settings. I only had to reconnect to the wireless signal.